Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Monument
Samdach Sothearos Boulevard 3, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Erected in 1979, the Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Monument sits in Botum Park in Phnom Penh’s bustling city center. Its existence speaks to a long and complicated relationship between the two countries: Technically, this serene, gold-topped statue was built during Vietnamese occupation—the country’s Communist army overthrew the Khmer Rouge (the party responsible for the Cambodian genocide) and would hold power until 1989.
The basics
The white-and-yellow statue stands in a large reflecting pool in Wat Botum Park, just a few minutes walk from Silver Pagoda and the Royal Palace. It includes lifesize renderings of Vietnamese and Cambodian soldiers and a woman and baby representing Cambodian civilians. Built in the Soviet Union’s popular socialist-realist style, its communist ties are not subtle.
Most of the time, the statue and its peaceful surroundings are a popular spot for exercise, relaxation, and people-watching. That being said, the sculpture—to some, a symbol of a friendship that does not exist—has been a site of violence and protest, though you’d never know it today.
Things to know before you go
With fountains and benches, the park is a popular spot with locals. Expect crowds.
Wat Phnom, the Royal Palace, and Sisowath Quay are all just a few blocks away.
The park’s public restrooms are just steps from the monument, to the west.
How to get there
Smack-dab in Phnom Penh’s city center, get there via car, taxi, tuk-tuk, or your own two feet from Samdash Sothearos Blvd or other connecting streets. You’ll likely want to pair a stop with a visit to all the other walkable attractions, namely Silver Pagoda, the Royal Palace, and the National Museum of Cambodia.
When to get there
There’s no bad time to visit the Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Monument and the surrounding Wat Botum Park, but for the best people-watching, head here in the morning—you’ll catch locals jogging, practicing their tai-chi, and getting ready for their day. Seeing the park’s various statues and monuments in the early morning light also makes for great photos.
More “friendship” context
At first, the Khmer Rouge and communist Vietnam were allies. But as the Khmer Rouge—the party responsible for the deaths of some 1.3 million Cambodians—feared Vietnam’s rise, that alliance crumbled. Ultimately, it would be the Vietnamese military that toppled the oppressive regime. As such, the countries’ “friendship” is multi-faceted and worth your contemplation while visiting the statue.
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