Siem Reap

Although commonly associated and sometimes synonymous with the ancient city of Angkor, Siem Reap is a town that is more than just a doormat for travelers to step on just to explore the ruins. Siem Reap is rich and vibrant that’s more than Pub Street and has rewarding hidden gems if you know where to look.

In recent years the town has become more cosmopolitan because of the numerous ex-pats who have never left and set up businesses there and the newly built Heritage Walk which is the first step in modernizing Siem Reap. However, the vestiges of Khmer culture don’t just lie within the close by temples but are present in the many streets around town, most of which proudly displaying their wares or peddling their food. Restaurants and bars in the Pub Street area goes to sleep during the day but booms during nighttime.

Visitors will be spoiled with the depth of shopping they could do, from tacky t-shirts to locally made handcrafts and even outlet goods are plentiful. Other attractions include traditional Apsara Dancing and shadow puppet shows, cooking classes, spas, and massages. Then apart from the Angkor Park, guests can take tours to nearby destinations such as Tonle Sap, Phnom Kulen, Beng Mealea, Koh Ker, and Preah Khan. There are loads of annual activities as well and if properly planned, you can participate in the Angkor International Half Marathon and experience Southeast Asia’s longest-running photo fair, the Angkor Photo Festival & Workshop. One advantage the hordes of tourists brings is the endless opportunities that could be done in Siem Reap, so your trip doesn’t necessarily end when your tour of the City of Angkor does.