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106-756: The history of the Khmer Special Forces began in October 1971, when the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) was organized at Phnom Penh under the command of Lieutenant colonel (later, Brigadier general ) Thach Reng . The Khmer SF were actually a creation of Lt. Col. Ronnie Mendoza , a Special Forces-qualified US Army officier assigned to the American Military Equipment Delivery Team, Cambodia (MEDTC) assistance program earlier in June 1971. A prominent member of

212-521: A century after it is said to have taken place, the legend of the founding of Phnom Penh tells of a local woman, Penh (commonly referred to as Daun Penh ( Lady Penh in Khmer ), living at Chaktomuk, the future Phnom Penh. It was the late 14th century, and the Khmer capital was still at Angkor near Siem Reap 350 km (217 mi) to the north. Gathering firewood along the banks of the river, Lady Penh spied

318-488: A floating koki tree in the river and fished it from the water. Inside the tree she found four Buddha statues and one of Vishnu. The discovery was taken as a divine blessing, and to some a sign that the Khmer capital was to be brought to Phnom Penh from Angkor. To house the new-found sacred objects, Penh raised a small hill on the west bank of the Tonle Sap River and crowned it with a shrine, now known as Wat Phnom at

424-551: A former Khmer Rouge prison. The National Museum hosts celebrations of Cambodian dance and music, including a popular classic Apsara dance show of traditional folk dances as well as original creations. At this time, Phnom Penh celebrates Cambodian New Year , an occasion increasingly popular with tourists. During this typically hottest part of the year, water gets thrown around adding to the party atmosphere along with dancing and music. The precise date changes year-by-year but this holiday lasts, at least, three days. This festival marks

530-569: A fusion of Bauhaus , European post-modern architecture , and traditional elements from Angkor . The most prominent architect was Vann Molyvann , who was nominated chief national architect by the king himself in 1956. Molyvann created landmark buildings such as the Preah Suramarit National Theatre or the Vann Molyvann House . Other architects helped construct the newly founded Royal Khmer University ,

636-406: A government status equal to that of the provinces. The autonomous municipality is subdivided into 14 administrative divisions called khans (sections). The district s are subdivided into 105 sangkats (quarters), and further subdivided into 953 phums (villages). All khans are under the governance of Phnom Penh. Dangkao , Meanchey , Porsenchey , Sen Sok and Russey Keo are considered

742-574: A handful of Special Forces personnel managed to evade enemy patrols and reach the Thai-Cambodian border; the rest was either killed in action or captured and sent to the Khmer Rouge-run labour camps (also known as the “ Killing Fields ”), where they died after enduring the terrible working and living conditions during the late 1970s. A highly capable and well-trained force, unfortunately the Khmer Special Forces remained too small to have

848-472: A large percentage of Khmer Krom repatriates, but gradually native Cambodian recruits began to supplant them over time. Unlike the previous two groups, 3rd SFG, brought to strength in December 1972 and also sent to Thailand for training, had few experienced Khmer Krom members. In fact, one of its A-detachments was filled entirely by Khmer Loeu highlanders from northeastern Cambodia. The missions performed by

954-840: A lengthy dry season from January to August and a shorter wet season from September to December, when 1,029 mm (41 in) of the city's total annual rainfall of about 1,300 mm (51 in) is received from the north-east monsoon. During the wet season extremely heavy rainfall from typhoons is not uncommon, though the city is shielded from the worst winds. Nha Trang is subdivided into 22 wards and communes, of which 14 are urban wards: Vĩnh Hải, Vĩnh Phước, Vĩnh Thọ, Vạn Thạnh, Phương Sơn, Ngọc Hiệp, Phước Hòa, Tân Tiến (founded in November 2024), Phước Hải, Lộc Thọ, Vĩnh Nguyên, Vĩnh Trường, Phước Long, Vĩnh Hòa; and 8 suburban communes: Vĩnh Phương, Vĩnh Trung, Vĩnh Thạnh, Vĩnh Thái, Vĩnh Hiệp, Vĩnh Ngọc, Vĩnh Lương, and Phước Đồng. Since 1998, due to

1060-663: A massive breakout by land to the south-east towards the South Vietnamese border. Although the Khmer Special Forces escape force managed to sneak out across the southern suburbs of the capital, they never reached the border and were all presumed killed in action. The remaining Khmer Special Forces teams defending the last government-held holdouts at Battambang, including the teaching staff of the Recondo School, and Siem Reap reportedly tried to escape in small groups to Thailand by treeking across hostile territory. Only

1166-463: A noble called Đoan Quận công Bùi Thế Đạt, the name Nha Trang Hải môn (Nha Trang Sea Gate) was also cited. In Vietnamese recorded historic bibliographies, these books are perhaps the earliest ones that mentioned this place name. In a work by Lê Quý Đôn called Phủ biên tạp lục (1776), many Nha Trang-related names were mentioned, such as đầm Nha Trang, dinh Nha Trang, nguồn Nha Trang, and đèo Nha Trang . Kauthara, also translated as an ancient clam,

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1272-537: A processing center, with textiles, pharmaceuticals, machine manufacturing, and rice milling. Its chief assets, however, were cultural. Institutions of higher learning included the Royal University of Phnom Penh (established in 1960 as Royal Khmer University), with schools of engineering, fine arts, technology, and agricultural sciences, the latter at Chamkar Daung, a suburb. Also located in Phnom Penh were

1378-569: A record eight-month-long siege by Khmer Rouge forces, with the local civilian population already suffering from starvation. Deviating from the Cambodian Army's standard communications procedures, the garrison made desperate radio appeals to Phnom Penh for relief, a fact that arouse suspicions in the FANK High Command. Fearing that Government relief forces were being lured into a trap, it was decided to send first observers to assess

1484-454: A second-class municipal city. On April 22, 2009, former Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng recognized Nha Trang City as a first-class municipal city. Nha Trang city has a metropolitan area of 251 km (97 sq mi) and population of about 500,000. It borders Ninh Hòa town in the north, Cam Ranh city in the south, Diên Khánh town in the west and the East Sea to the east. The city

1590-444: A strategic impact in the war. Casualties and manpower shortages affected their tactical deployment which rarely matched the proposed organization, with many 'A' Detachments actually falling below strength. Khmer Special Forces personnel often found themselves being employed in unsuitable tasks to which they had not been trained – in reality, many FANK regional commanders misused them as conventional shock troops on many occasions, such as

1696-558: Is Vattanac Capital Tower at a height of 188 metres (617 ft), dominating Phnom Penh's skyline with its neighbour skyscraper Canadia Tower (OCIC Tower). The tower was completed in December 2014. Modern high rises have been constructed all around the city, not concentrated in any one particular area. The Central Market Phsar Thmei is a tourist attraction. The four wings of the yellow colored market are teeming with numerous stalls selling gold and silver jewelry, antique coins, clothing, clocks, flowers, food, fabrics and shoes. Phsar Thmei

1802-483: Is a common Cham and Montagnard place name, same as Ia Drang Valley . As far as the recorded naming of Nha Trang is concerned, in Toàn tập Thiên Nam Tứ Chí Lộ Đồ Thư , a geographical book written by a Vietnamese scholar with the family of Đỗ Bá in the second half of the 18th century, the name Nha Trang Môn ("Nha Trang gate") was mentioned. In another map dating to the 17th century, known as Giáp Ngọ Niên Bình Nam Đồ by

1908-415: Is a constituent state of the empire-leading kingdom and its ruling area is located in the area from today's Fu A province to Cam Ranh. Yanpunagara, the capital of Yangpu, occupies the faith of a man and is deeply influenced by religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism. However, in addition to that, the gods who formerly occupied ruled the indigenous faith in the motherland, such as Çri Maladakuthara (釋利摩落陀古笪羅) in

2014-463: Is a stopover for annual yacht races starting in Hong Kong. In recent years, the city has welcomed many five-star sea cruises. In addition to sailboat racing, Nha Trang provides a rich variety of tourist activities for visitors. Island hopping, scuba diving, water sports and other sporting activities can be enjoyed. The Nha Trang Tourist Information Center (a non-governmental organisation), located near

2120-457: Is an abbreviation of the full name, given to it by King Ponhea Yat : Krong Chaktomuk Mongkol Sakal Kampuchea Thipadei Serei Theakreak Bavar Intabat Borei Roat Reach Seima Moha Nokor ( Khmer : ក្រុងចតុមុខមង្គលសកលកម្ពុជាធិបតី សិរីធរបវរ ឥន្ទបត្តបុរី រដ្ឋរាជសីមាមហានគរ [kɾoŋ catomuk mɔŋkɔl sakɑl kampuciətʰəpaɗəj serəj tʰeareaɓɑːʋɑː ʔenteapat ɓorəj rɔətʰariəcsəjmaː mɔhaːnɔkɔː] ). This loosely translates as "the place of four rivers that gives

2226-552: Is located by Cam Ranh Bay, 28 km (17 mi) south of the city and was (as of 2007) the fourth busiest airport in passenger traffic in Vietnam serving more than 683,000 passengers in 2008. As of 2016, the airport has domestic connections to Hanoi , Hồ Chí Minh City , Hải Phòng, Đà Nẵng , Vinh . The city is next to the National Route 1 , the backbone north–south road of the country. The Reunification Railway crosses

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2332-477: Is meant to bolster the city landscape. The Bureau of Urban Affairs of Phnom Penh Municipality has plans to expand and construct new infrastructure to accommodate the growing population and economy. High rise buildings will be constructed at the entrance of the city and near the lakes and riverbanks. Furthermore, new roads, canals, and a railway system will be used to connect Camko City and Phnom Penh. Other projects include: With booming economic growth seen since

2438-469: Is on the beautiful Nha Trang Bay, which was chosen by Travel + Leisure in two succeeding years as one of 29 most beautiful bays in the world. Nha Trang is surrounded on all three sides by mountains and a large island and four smaller ones on the fourth side (in the ocean directly in front of the city's main area), blocking major storms from potentially damaging the city. Nha Trang has a tropical savanna climate ( Köppen climate classification : As ), with

2544-425: Is particular are among the largest contributors to Vietnam's annual budget revenues. Lobster farming on the sea is an important industry for the people living in suburban areas. To the south of the city, by Cam Ranh Bay, several industrial parks are under construction and have been partly available for investors. Once the construction of the deep-water port on Vân Phong Bay has been completed, this area will become

2650-491: Is subject to the tropical monsoons . The southwest monsoon blows inland bringing moisture-laden winds from the Gulf of Thailand and Indian Ocean from May to November, sees high temperatures accompanied by high humidity. The dry season lasts from December to April; when overnight temperatures can drop to 22 °C (72 °F). Phnom Penh is an autonomous municipality of area 678.46 square kilometres (261.95 sq mi) with

2756-559: Is the capital and most populous city of Cambodia . It has been the national capital since the French protectorate of Cambodia and has grown to become the nation's primate city and its economic, industrial, and cultural centre. Before Phnom Penh became capital city, Oudong was the capital of the country. Phnom Penh succeeded Angkor Thom as the capital of the Khmer nation but was abandoned several times before being reestablished in 1865 by King Norodom . The city formerly functioned as

2862-815: Is undergoing under a major renovation, along with the creation of newer stalls. The Japanese Supplementary School of Phnom Penh, formerly known in English as the Phnom Penh Japanese School, is a part-time Japanese School , operated by the Japanese Association of Cambodia (JACAM;カンボジア日本人会 Kambojia Nihonjin-kai ). It is in Sangkat Toek Thla in Sen Sok. It was established in 2002. It had 60 students in June 2011. Phnom Penh also has its own dialect of Khmer . Speakers of

2968-624: Is viewed with mixed emotions by the Cambodians. A period of reconstruction began, spurred by the continuing stability of government, attracting new foreign investment and aid by countries including France , Australia , and Japan . Loans were made from the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank to reinstate a clean water supply, roads and other infrastructure. The 1998 Census put Phnom Penh's population at 862,000; and

3074-464: The Cho Dam Market has been set up to provide information for visitors. The local cuisine is most famous for fresh seafood and barbecued pork rolled in rice paper. The area's bird's nest soup is deemed one of the best in Vietnam. Bird's nests are collected in the wild, on bird farms on the islands off the coast and even in some houses in the inner city. The farmed bird in question belongs to

3180-603: The Khmer Air Force (KAF) at the Ream infantry training centre. In addition, the Khmer Special Forces provided LRRP instructors for the FANK Recondo School at Battambang which first opened in November 1972. Besides unconventional warfare and training operations, the Khmer Special Forces were also engaged on some notable combat operations in support of FANK regular troops. The first true combat assignment of

3286-507: The Khmer Air Force in carrying out successfully aerial resupply drops on behalf of FANK ground units defending the retaken city. This coordinating role was again resumed on June–July 1974 during the siege of the district capital of Kampong Seila in Koh Kong Province , located some 135 Kilometers (84 Miles) south-west of Phnom Penh, down Route 4 . At the time, this small town and its beleaguered Government garrison were enduring

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3392-722: The Pasteur Institute of Nha Trang , one of the many famous Pasteur Institutes . The French-Swiss bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin , discoverer of the Yersinia pestis bacterium lived in Nha Trang for 50 years and was affectionately known as Ông Năm . He established the Indochinese Pasteur Institute (now known as the Pasteur Institute of Nha Trang ), devoted to researching the bubonic plague . Yersin died in Nha Trang on 1 March 1943. A street in

3498-637: The Royal Thai Army Special Forces (RTSF) and Royal Thai Police (RTP) Police Aerial Resupply Unit (PARU) at the latter's Phitsanulok and Hua Hin training camps. Advanced Ranger / LRRP and radio communications' courses also took place in early 1973 at the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) Recondo School at Nha Trang , South Vietnam, manned by the USSF Detachment B-36, and at

3604-765: The S-21 prison camp, where people were detained and tortured. Pol Pot sought a return to an agrarian economy and therefore killed many people perceived as educated, "lazy", spies, or political enemies. Many others starved to death as a result of failure of the agrarian society and the sale of Cambodia's rice to China in exchange for bullets and weaponry. The former high school is now the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum , where Khmer Rouge torture devices and photos of their victims are displayed. Choeung Ek (the Killing Fields ), 15 kilometers (9 mi) away, where

3710-504: The South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is bounded on the north by Ninh Hoà town, on the south by Cam Ranh city and on the west by Diên Khánh District . The city had a population of about 422,600 in 2019. An area of 12.87 km (4.97 sq mi) of the western communes of Diên An and Diên Toàn is planned to be merged into Nha Trang which will make its new area 265.47 km (102.50 sq mi) based on

3816-482: The swiftlet group, popularly referred to as yến hàng ( Aerodramus fuciphagus and A. germani ). Scuba diving and kite boarding are available, as are catamaran sailboats. Winds are steady. Local culinary specialities that attract people are bánh canh chả cá ( bánh canh with fish cakes and fish broth), bún cá sứa (rice vermicelli with jelly fish) and bánh xèo mực (crepes with squid). When Cam Ranh Bay used to be an important naval base, Nha Trang Airport

3922-437: The 1990s, new shopping venues have opened, such as Sorya Center Point, Aeon Mall Phnom Penh, Aeon Mall Sen Sok City, Aeon Mall Mean Chey and Olympia Mall. Many international brands have opened such as Mango , Salvatore Ferragamo , Hugo Boss , Padini Concept Store, Lily, Timberland , Jimmy Choo , CC Double O, MO, Brands Outlet, Nike , Converse , Pony , Armani Exchange , and Super Dry . The tallest skyscraper in Phnom Penh

4028-581: The 19th century, Nha Trang was a deserted area rich in wildlife (animals like tigers ) and was a part of Hà Bạc, Vĩnh Xương County, Diên Khánh Province. After just two decades in the early 20th century, Nha Trang underwent a rapid change. On August 30, 1924, the Governor-General of French Indochina decreed Nha Trang as a townlet (urban centre). Nha Trang Townlet was established from the ancient villages of Xương Huân, Phương Câu, Vạn Thạnh, Phương Sài, and Phước Hải. During French Indochina , Nha Trang

4134-512: The 2008 census was 1.3 million. By 2019, its population reached over 2.2 million, based on general population census. Phnom Penh is in the south-central region of Cambodia, and is fully surrounded by the Kandal province . The municipality is on the banks of the Tonlé Sap , Mekong , and Bassac Rivers. These rivers provide freshwater and other natural resources to the city. Phnom Penh and

4240-423: The 27 administrative departments. Every khans also has a chief. As of 2019 , Phnom Penh had a population of 2,129,371 people, with a total population density of 3,136 inhabitants per square kilometre in a 679 square kilometres (262 sq mi) city area. The population growth rate of the city is 3.92%. The city area has grown fourfold since 1979, and the metro area will continue to expand in order to support

4346-678: The Institute of Foreign Languages, and the National Sports Centre. With the growth of the upper and entrepreneurial middle classes, new suburbs were built in the 1950s and 1960s. Although these buildings survived the Khmer Rouge era and the civil war, today they are under threat due to economic development and financial speculation. Villas and gardens from that era are being destroyed and redeveloped to make place for bigger structures. The landmark National Theatre by Molyvann

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4452-664: The Khmer Rouge began their final assault on the Cambodian capital. Aside from three 'A' Detachments operating in Battambang and two in Siem Reap , the bulk of the Khmer Special Forces under Brig. Gen. Thach Reng were withdrawn to Phnom Penh to assist in its defense. Two teams secured the Phnom Penh Olympic Stadium , where seven KAF UH-1H transport helicopters were being kept to evacuate key members of

4558-454: The Khmer Rouge marched prisoners from Tuol Sleng to be murdered and buried in shallow pits, is also now a memorial to those who were killed by the regime. The Khmer Rouge were driven out of Phnom Penh by the People's Army of Vietnam in 1979, and people began to return to the city. Vietnam is historically a state with which Cambodia has had many conflicts, therefore this liberation was and

4664-412: The Khmer Rouge were "tipping out patients from the hospitals like garbage into the streets....In five years of war, this is the greatest caravan of human misery I have seen". All of its residents, including the wealthy and educated, were evacuated from the city and forced to do difficult labour on rural farms as " new people ". Tuol Sleng High School was taken over by Pol Pot 's forces and was turned into

4770-405: The Khmer Special Forces during the war were many and varied, ranging from long-range strategic and tactical reconnaissance to deep-penetration raids, pathfinding , and reinforcement duties. In the special forces' unconventional training role, they also raised paramilitary self-defense village militias in rural areas situated behind enemy lines, as well as training airfield security battalions for

4876-542: The Khmer Special Forces occurred in May 1972, when they participated in a search-and-destroy operation alongside Army units around Phnom Penh to clear its northern outskirts of Khmer Rouge and NVA light artillery teams, who were harassing the quarters of the Cambodian capital with 122mm rocket and 75mm recoilless rifle fire. In September 1973, the Khmer Special Forces spearheaded the combined Cambodian Army - Khmer National Navy (MNK) amphibious operation "Castor 21" to retake

4982-624: The MEDTC's Plans and Programs Section, Lt. Col. Mendoza focused on providing the Cambodian Army unconventional warfare units capable of carrying out guerrilla operations in the northern and eastern Cambodian provinces under the control of both the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and their Khmer Rouge allies. Two other SF groups, the 2nd Special Forces Group (Airborne) and the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) were activated in

5088-436: The Phnom Penh dialect often elide syllables, which has earned it a reputation for being lazy speech. Phnom Penh is also known for its influence on New Khmer Architecture . Phnom Penh is notable for Ka tieu Phnom Penh, its variation on rice noodle soup, a dish available in sit-down cafes as well as street cafes. The city hosts a number of music events throughout the city. Indie bands have grown in number due also in part to

5194-897: The RTA Recondo School co-located at Ft. Narai, Thailand, before "Freedom Runner" was concluded on July that year. The Khmer Special Forces were closely modelled after the United States Special Forces (USSF) and the defunct South Vietnamese Army of the Republic of Vietnam Special Forces (LLDB), with a total unit strength of 350 officers and enlisted men, being organized in July 1973 into one separate Headquarter 'C' Detachment, along with three 'B' Detachments and 18 'A' Detachments in turn organized into three Special Forces Groups (SFGs). Unlike an American A-Team however, Khmer SF 'A' Detachments could field up to 15 men,

5300-578: The Royal University of Agronomic Sciences and the Agricultural School of Prek Leap. The city was nicknamed the "Pearl of Asia" for its early 20th century colonial French architecture, which included Art Deco works. Phnom Penh, along with Siem Reap and Sihanoukville , are significant global and domestic tourist destinations for Cambodia. Founded in 1372, the city is noted for its historical architecture and attractions. It became

5406-574: The Sea Festival, held biennially. According to some researchers, the name Nha Trang derives from a Vietnamese spelling of the Cham language name of the site Ea Dran (literally "Reed River"), the name of the Cai River as referred to by the Cham people . From the name of this river, the name was adopted to call what is now Nha Trang, which was officially made Vietnam's territory in 1698. Ea Dran

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5512-825: The USSF Detachment B-51, assisted by New Zealand Army instructors from the 2nd NZ Army Training Team Vietnam (2 NZATTV) and modelled on the USSF/LLDB own training programs, the course began with four weeks of basic SF skills followed by training in one of six SF job skills: operations and demolitions, light weapons, heavy weapons, humint , radio communications, tactical emergency medical. Other advanced additional courses included anti-tank warfare, combat and patrolling techniques in urban areas, combat search and rescue, counter-ambushes, executive protection, exfil, forward observer, hand and arm signals, hand-to-hand combat, infiltration by helicopter, jungle warfare, living off

5618-491: The World Travel and Tourism Council, tourism made up 19.2 percent (US$ 2,053 million) of Cambodia's GDP in 2009 and accounts for 13.7 percent of total employment. One of the most popular areas in Phnom Penh for tourists is Sisowath Quay , alongside the Tonle Sap River. Sisowath Quay is a five kilometre strip of road that includes restaurants, bars, and hotels. The US$ 2.6 billion new urban development, Camko City ,

5724-612: The additional personnel being psychological warfare specialists. They were structured as follows: Khmer Special Forces members' were all airborne-qualified volunteers, though most of the initial cadre was actually formed by "repatriated" ethnic Khmer recruits from the Khmer Krom minority living in South Vietnam . Traditionally aggressive, the Khmer Krom brought with them years of combat experience gained while fighting in

5830-513: The ancient Gur'an region in the south, are one of those who can preserve the old God Most of the old gods who dominated the motherland were replaced by brahmanist gods such as the goddess Yan Pu Nagara (楊浦那竭羅) and the Bhagavati (妻婆伽婆底), Replaced, located in Nha Trang near today. Bhagavati is mixed with Yan Pu Nagara, a goddess in the local faith, which is quite revered by the people and has dedicated ancestral temples to enshrine it. From 1653 to

5936-477: The ancient villages merged to make the town: Xương Huân, Phương Câu, Vạn Thạnh, Phương Sài, and Phước Hải. On 27 January 1958, the president of the Republic of Vietnam , Ngô Đình Diệm by Decree 18-BNV abrogated the town status of Nha Trang and divided Nha Trang into two rural communes: Nha Trang Đông (Eastern Nha Trang) and Nha Trang Tây (Western Nha Trang), under the administration of Vĩnh Xương County. During

6042-743: The approval of the Prime Minister of Vietnam in September 2012. Historically, the city was known as Kauthara under rule of the Kingdom of Champa . The city is still home to the famous Po Nagar Towers built by the Champa. Being a coastal city, Nha Trang is a center for marine science based at the Nha Trang Oceanography Institute . The Hon Mun marine protected area is one of four first marine protected areas in

6148-469: The capital city of a newly independent country. King Sihanouk was eager to present a new style of architecture and thus invigorate the process of nation building. A new golden era of architecture took off, with various projects and young Khmer architects, often educated in France, given opportunities to design and construct. This new movement was called " New Khmer Architecture " and was often characterised by

6254-457: The city is named after him, and a shrine has been built over his tomb. There is a Yersin Museum dedicated to his achievements. Nha Trang's economy relies largely on tourism. In the suburban areas around the city, the shipbuilding industry has developed and contributed significantly to the local economy. Fishery and services are also important to the city. Khanh Hoa Province in general and Nha Trang

6360-515: The city's growing population and economy. A survey by the National Institute of Statistics in 2017 showed that 95.3% of the population in Phnom Penh are Khmer , 4% Chams , and 0.7% others, predominantly Chinese, Vietnamese, and other small ethnic groups who are Thai , Budong, Mnong Preh , Kuy and Chong. The official language is Khmer , but English and French are widely used in the city. The number of slum -inhabitants at

6466-675: The city, constructed in 1373. The main tourist attractions are the Royal Palace with the Silver Pagoda , and the National Museum , constructed during the French colonial era in the late-19th century in the classical Khmer style and hosting a vast collection of Khmer antiquities. The Independence Monument (Khmer: Vimean Akareach ), although from the 1950s, is also constructed in the ancient Khmer style. The French, who were

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6572-517: The city. The economy is based on commercial interests such as garments, trading, and small and medium enterprises. In the past few years the property business has been booming, with rapidly increasing real estate prices. Tourism is also a major contributor in the capital as more shopping and commercial centres open, making Phnom Penh one of the major tourist destinations in South East Asia along with Siem Reap and Sihanoukville . According to

6678-631: The coast. The possibly most beautiful street of Nha Trang is Tran Phu Street along the seaside, sometimes referred to as the North-South Expressway East of Vietnam. Lying off Nha Trang is the Hon Tre Island (Bamboo Island), with a major resort operated by the Vinpearl Group. The Vinpearl Cable Car , a gondola lift system, links the mainland to the five-star resort and theme park on Hon Tre Island. Nha Trang

6784-527: The colonial masters from the 19th century to the 1940s, also left their mark, with various colonial villas, French churches, boulevards , and the Art Deco market Phsar Thom Thmei . A notable landmark of the colonial era is the Hotel Le Royal . Starting with independence from the French in the 1950s and lasting until the era of the Khmer Rouge in the 1970s, Phnom Penh underwent tremendous growth as

6890-459: The emergence of private music schools such as SoundsKool Music (also operating in the city of Siem Reap), and Music Arts School (registered as a non-governmental organization ). The Cambodian fishing dance originated in Phnom Penh at the Royal University of Fine Arts in the 1960s. The two most visited museums in the city are the National Museum , which is the country's leading historical and archaeological museum, and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum ,

6996-440: The end of 2012 was 105,771, compared with 85,807 at the start of 2012. Note: As stated in the "History" paragraph (The 1998 Census put Phnom Penh's population at 862,000; and the 2008 census was 1.3   million. ) the information collides with the information provided in the "Historical population" table. Needs editing. Religion in Phnom Penh (2019 census) The state religion is Theravada Buddhism . More than 97.8% of

7102-460: The entire city after taking it, in what has been described as a death march : François Ponchaud wrote that "I shall never forget one cripple who had neither hands nor feet, writhing along the ground like a severed worm, or a weeping father carrying his ten-year old daughter wrapped in a sheet tied around his neck like a sling, or the man with his foot dangling at the end of a leg to which it was attached by nothing but skin"; Jon Swain recalled that

7208-477: The following year. Under the auspices of Operation "Freedom Runner" – a FANK training program set up in November 1971 by the United States Special Forces (USSF) –, Khmer Special Forces teams began to be sent to South Vietnam to attend Parachute courses at the ARVN Airborne Training Centre in Long Thành , and the Special Forces' (SF) course at the Army of the Republic of Vietnam Special Forces (LLDB) Dong Ba Thin Training Centre near Cam Ranh Bay . Manned by

7314-427: The government by Decree 357-ĐUHC/NC/NĐ dated 5 June 1971 divided Nha Trang into 11 urban zones. On 2 April 1975, communist ( Viet Cong / PRG / VPA ) forces captured the city. On 4 April 1975, Khánh Hòa Military Commission ( Ủy ban Quân quản Khánh Hòa ) divided Nha Trang into three administrative districts: District 1, District 2 and Vĩnh Xương District. In September 1975, the districts were merged to become one entity,

7420-478: The government. On the morning of April 17, 1975, after supervising the heliborne evacuation of only a handful of top officials and their families from the improvised helipad at the Olympic Stadium (three of the helicopters had to be abandoned due to technical malfunctions), Brig. Gen. Reng handed over the command of the Khmer SF to Colonel Kim Phong and boarded the last helicopter to abandon the Stadium. Left to fend for themselves, Col. Phong and his subordinates planned

7526-419: The happiness and success of the Khmer Kingdom, the highest leader as well as impregnable city of the God Indra of the great kingdom". The initial settlement of Phnom Penh is believed to have been established since the 5th century AD, according to the discovery of ancient kiln site in Choeung Ek commune of Dangkao district, southern part of central Phnom Penh in the early 2000s. Choeung Ek archaeological site

7632-643: The height of the hill northeast of her house and used the Koki wood to build a temple on the hill to house the four Buddha statues, and a shrine for the Vishnu image slightly lower down. The temple became known as Wat Phnom Daun Penh, which is now known as Wat Phnom, a small hill 27 metres (89 ft) in height. Phnom Penh's former official name is Krong Chaktomuk Serei Mongkol ( Khmer : ក្រុងចតុមុខសិរីមង្គល , lit. "city of Brahma 's faces"), in its short form as Krong Chaktomuk (lit. "city of four faces"). Krong Chaktomuk

7738-475: The high pace of urbanization, many urban planned zones have been built: Hòn Rớ, Bắc Việt, Thánh Gia, Đường Đệ, and Nam Hòn Khô. Nha Trang is home to the multidisciplinary Nha Trang University (formerly Nha Trang Fishery University); the Naval and Aviation Academy; a teachers' training college; Khanh Hoa University, as well as the Nha Trang Oceanography Institute a unique institute of oceanography in Vietnam and

7844-747: The irregular counterinsurgency MIKE Force and CIDG units in South Vietnam under the control of the USSF and the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG). The programme began in May 1970 when the Americans assembled a first batch of 2,000 Khmer Krom veteran soldiers and airlifted them to Cambodia. Consequently, by February 1972 both the 1st SFG (raised in Cambodia) and 2nd SFG (formed and trained in Thailand) had

7950-420: The jungle, mountain warfare, parachuting, political warfare, psychological warfare, raiding tactics, reconnaissance tactics, small unit tactics, taekwondo , tracking tactics, use of a map and compass, unconventional tactics, and other skills related to special operations. A two-week 'live-fire' field exercise (sometimes complemented by a field operation against NVA/ Vietcong (VC) forces in the surrounding areas of

8056-427: The late 1960s, the U.S. Army's First Field Force, Vietnam (1FFV) was headquartered in Nha Trang. 1FFV was a corps-level major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV). On 22 October 1970, the government of the Republic of Vietnam by Decree 132-SL/NV reestablished Nha Trang Town on the ground of Nha Trang Đông and Nha Trang Tây and other rural communes. Following that establishment,

8162-437: The municipality and 26,106 ha (64,509 acres) of roads. The agricultural land in the municipality amounts to 34.685 km (13 sq mi) with some 1.476 km (365 acres) under irrigation . Phnom Penh has a tropical wet and dry climate ( Köppen climate classification Aw ). The climate is hot year-round with only minor variations. Temperatures typically range from 22 to 35 °C (72 to 95 °F) and weather

8268-461: The national capital in 1434 following the fall of Angkor , and remained so until 1497. It regained its capital status during the French colonial era in 1865. There are a number of surviving colonial-era buildings scattered along the grand boulevards . On the banks of the Tonlé Sap , Mekong , and Bassac Rivers, Phnom Penh is home to more than 2 million people, approximately 14% of the Cambodian population. The Greater Phnom Penh area includes

8374-575: The nearby Ta Khmau city and some districts of Kandal province . The city has hosted numerous regional and international events, the most notable being the 2002, 2012, and 2022 ASEAN Summit , the 32nd Southeast Asian Games , and the 12th ASEAN Para Games . Phnom Penh will be the first Cambodian city and the second city in Southeast Asia to host the Asian Youth Games in 2029. Phnom Penh (lit. "Penh's hill") takes its name from

8480-477: The north end of central Phnom Penh. " Phnom " is Khmer for "hill" and Penh's hill took on the name of the founder, and the area around it became known after the hill. Phnom Penh first became the capital of Cambodia after Ponhea Yat , king of the Khmer Empire , moved the capital from Angkor Thom after it was captured and destroyed by Siam a few years earlier. There is a stupa behind Wat Phnom that houses

8586-522: The outskirts of the city. Phnom Penh is governed by the governor who acts as the top executive of the city as well as overseeing the Municipal Military Police, Municipal Police, and Bureau of Urban Affairs. Below the governor is the first vice governor and five vice governors. The chief of cabinet, who holds the same status as the vice governors, heads the cabinet consisting of eight deputy chiefs of cabinet who in turn are in charge of

8692-603: The people in Phnom Penh are Buddhists. Chams have been practicing Islam for hundreds of years. A small percentage follow Christianity. Phnom Penh is allocated 12 seats in the National Assembly , making it the largest constituency. Phnom Penh is Cambodia's economic centre as it accounts for a large portion of the Cambodian economy. Double-digit economic growth rates in recent years have triggered an economic boom in Phnom Penh, with new hotels, restaurants, schools, bars, high rises and residential buildings springing up in

8798-417: The permanent seat of government and capital of Cambodia, and the current Royal Palace was built. Beginning in 1870, the French colonial authorities turned a riverside village into a city where they built hotels, schools, prisons, barracks, banks, public works offices, telegraph offices, law courts, and health services buildings. In 1872, the first glimpse of a modern city took shape when King Norodom employed

8904-406: The population was 2–3 million, the bulk of whom were refugees from the fighting. The Khmer Rouge cut off supplies to the city for more than a year before it fell on 17 April 1975 . Reports from journalists stated that the Khmer Rouge shelling "tortured the capital almost continuously", inflicting "random death and mutilation" on millions of trapped civilians. The Khmer Rouge forcibly evacuated

9010-519: The present Wat Phnom (lit. "hill temple"), or from the ancient Funan Kingdom , which existed from the 1st to the 7th century AD in Southeast Asia and was the forerunner of the current Cambodian monarchy . Legend has it that in 1372, a wealthy widow named Penh found a Koki tree floating down the Tonlé Sap River after a storm. Inside the tree were four bronze Buddha statues and a stone statue of Vishnu . Penh ordered villagers to raise

9116-561: The provincial capital of Kampong Cham , which had been stormed by Khmer Rouge forces in August. Just prior to the assault, two 'A' Detachments were inserted by helicopter into the insurgent-held southern quarter of the city and used LAW rockets to neutralize an enemy stronghold. The role of the Khmer Special Forces teams at the Battle of Kampong Cham was not limited to combat assignments though; their radio operators also assisted coordinating

9222-488: The remains of Ponhea Yat and the royal family as well as the remaining Buddhist statues from the Angkorean era. In the 17th century, Japanese immigrants also settled on the outskirts of present-day Phnom Penh. A small Portuguese community survived in Phnom Penh until the 17th century, undertaking commercial and religious activity in the country. Phnom Penh remained the royal capital for 73 years, from 1432 to 1505. It

9328-758: The rule of Norodom Sihanouk . During the Vietnam War , Cambodia was used as a base by the People's Army of Vietnam and the Viet Cong , and thousands of refugees from across the country flooded the city to escape the fighting between their own government troops, the People's Army of Vietnam, the Viet Cong, the South Vietnamese and their allies, the Khmer Rouge , and American air strikes. By 1975,

9434-444: The services of French contractor Le Faucheur to construct 300 brick houses for sale and rental to Chinese traders . By the 1920s, Phnom Penh was known as the "Pearl of Asia", and over the next four decades, Phnom Penh continued to experience rapid growth with the building of railways to Sihanoukville and Pochentong International Airport (now Phnom Penh International Airport ). Phnom Penh's infrastructure saw major modernisation under

9540-461: The sieges and subsequent battles of Kampong Cham and Kampong Seila in 1973–74. Furthermore, a large portion of 2nd Special Forces Group's personnel were siphoned off to protect Phnom Penh from the threat of internal coups d'état, while two more 'A' Detachments from the 3rd SFG were assigned security duties as a VIP protection squad for President Lon Nol when he visited his villa on the coastal city of Kampong Som . The Khmer Special Forces Command

9646-470: The situation at Kampong Seila and to verify the loyalty of the garrison. After two unsuccessful attempts, a Khmer Special Forces team was heli-lifted into the town and after confirming the reports, aerial ressuply operations were sanctioned to alleviate the starvation and allow the Army garrison to hold out against further insurgent pressure. By March 1975 with all land and river routes leading to Phnom Penh cut,

9752-472: The spirit world, living relatives help assuage their misery and guide them back into the cycle of reincarnation. Vesākha is an annual holiday observed traditionally by Buddhists in Cambodia. Sometimes informally called "Buddha's Birthday", it actually encompasses the birth, enlightenment (nirvāṇa), and passing away (Parinirvāna) of Gautama Buddha. The oldest structure is Wat Phnom from the founding days of

9858-479: The strengths of the Khmer marine forces during the Khmer Empire . On 22 November 2010, at least 348 people were crushed to death in a bridge stampede at the festival. Ancestors' Day, also called Pchum Ben, is a very important aspect of Cambodian culture. It may be translated as "gathering together" to make offerings and is a time of reunion, commemoration, express love and appreciation for one's ancestors. By offering food and good karma to those possibly trapped in

9964-493: The surrounding areas consist of a typical flood plain area for Cambodia. Although Phnom Penh is at 11.89 metres (39 ft) above the river, monsoon season flooding is a problem, and the river sometimes overflows its banks. The city, at 11°33′00″N 104°55′00″E  /  11.55°N 104.91667°E  / 11.55; 104.91667 (11°33' North, 104°55' East), covers an area of 678.46 square kilometres (262 sq mi), with some 11,401 hectares (28,172 acres) in

10070-411: The third important economic zone in the province (besides Nha Trang and Cam Ranh). Nha Trang is one of the most important tourist hubs of Vietnam, thanks to its beaches with fine and clean sand and the clear ocean water with mild temperatures all year round. There are several resorts — such as Vinpearl, Diamond Bay and Ana Mandara — and amusement and water parks, in the city and on islands off

10176-652: The town of Nha Trang. On 30 March 1977, the Council of the Government (now the cabinet) of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam by Decision 391-CP/QĐ upgraded Nha Trang to city status, a county-level city under the administration of Phú Khánh Province (a province created by merger of now Phú Yên Province and Khánh Hòa Province ). Seven communes of former Vĩnh Xương County, namely Vĩnh Thái, Vĩnh Ngọc, Vĩnh Hiệp, Vĩnh Lương, Vĩnh Trung, Vĩnh Thạnh, Vĩnh Phương

10282-710: The training centre) completed the SF course. More specialised SF training was carried out in the United States and Thailand since December 1972. Khmer SF trainees attended technical courses at Fort Bragg , North Carolina , by the USSF 5th Special Forces Group and at the Royal Thai Army (RTA) Special Warfare Centre at Fort Narai , Lopburi Province by the US 46th Special Forces Company ; additional Guerrilla and Commando skills were taught by Thai instructors from

10388-482: The turn of the year based on the ancient Khmer calendar and also marks the end of the prior year harvest. The largest annual festival in Phnom Penh, this lively gathering celebrates the reversing of the flow of the Tonlé Sap River. The holiday lasts three days as people flood into the city to enjoy the fireworks, boat races, live concerts, eating and partying. The boat racing dates back to ancient times marking

10494-500: The world admitted by the IUCN . Nha Trang is well known for its beaches and scuba diving and has developed into a popular destination for international tourists, attracting large numbers of backpackers , as well as more affluent travelers on the south-east Asia circuit; it is already very popular with Vietnamese tourists, with Nha Trang Bay widely considered as among the world's most beautiful bays. Tourists are welcomed to participate in

10600-524: Was abandoned for 360 years (from 1505 to 1865) by subsequent kings due to internal fighting between the royal pretenders . Later kings moved the capital several times and established their royal capitals at various locations in Tuol Basan ( Srey Santhor ), Pursat , Longvek , Lavear Em and Oudong . It was not until 1866, under the reign of King Norodom I (1860–1904), the eldest son of King Ang Duong , who ruled on behalf of Siam, that Phnom Penh became

10706-769: Was augmented in late 1974 when they assumed operational control over the newly formed Para-Commando Battalion ( Bataillon de Commandos Parachutistes – BCP in French ). In March 1975, loosely under assignment to the Khmer SF, the Para-Commandos were sent to man the defensive perimeter north-west of Phnom Penh. The Khmer Special Forces used the standard weaponry and equipment of US origin issued to FANK units, complemented by captured Soviet or Chinese small-arms such as AK-47 assault rifles that allowed Special Forces personnel to use ammunition retrieved from enemy caches while on operations. Phnom Penh Phnom Penh

10812-658: Was one of the largest kiln pottery center in Cambodia and the earliest known kiln sites in Southeast Asia to produce the ceremonial vessels known as kendi from 5th to 13th century. Archaeologists stated that a large community is surrounded by a circular earthwork structure that is 740 metres in diameter and 4 metres high, built in the 11th century. In addition, there are remnants of other ancient village infrastructure, irrigation system, inscription, Shiva linga as well as an ancient brick temple foundation and its ornate remains which dated back to Funan era. First recorded

10918-478: Was razed in 2008. A movement is rising in Cambodia to preserve this modernist heritage. Old villas are sometimes being converted into boutique hotels , such as the Knai Bang Chatt . Nha Trang Nha Trang ( English: / ˌ n j ɑː ˈ t r æ ŋ / or / ˌ n ɑː ˈ t r æ ŋ / ; Vietnamese: [ɲaː˧ ʈaːŋ˧] ) is a coastal city and capital of Khánh Hòa Province , on

11024-576: Was seen as de facto capital of Khánh Hòa Province . The colonial administration offices (like Envoy Office, Commanding Office, Trade Office, Post Office) were situated in Nha Trang. Local royal offices like Province Chief, Provincial Judge, Military Commander are in Diên Khánh city (a walled military city 10  km south-west of Nha Trang). On 7 May 1937, the Governor-General of French Indochina by another decree upgraded Nha Trang Townlet to town. At this time, Nha Trang Town had five wards based on

11130-432: Was split from Khánh Xương County to become Nha Trang City territory. On 27 March 1978, the provincial government by Decision 54-BT founded Phước Đồng Commune under Nha Trang City. On 1 July 1989, Khanh Hoa was split from Phu Khanh Province to become Khánh Hòa Province as it was before, Nha Trang was made the capital of Khánh Hòa Province. On April 22, 1999, Phan Văn Khải by Decision 106/1999 recognized Nha Trang City as

11236-541: Was the main airport of the city. This airport was used by the United States Air Force and Republic of Vietnam Air Force during the Vietnam War . When part of Cam Ranh Bay was made an economic development zone by the Vietnamese government, Cam Ranh International Airport (also a military airport built by the United States during Vietnam War) was made the new civilian airport of the city. This airport

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