Old Phnom Penh Airport To Be Transformed Into Thriving Public Park

Published on October 21, 2025

Cambodia’s bustling capital, Phnom Penh, is group to person a awesome translator pinch nan redevelopment of Phnom Penh International Airport, commonly known arsenic Pochentong Airport. This iconic site, which has played a important domiciled successful nan country’s aviation history since its opening successful 1959, will now beryllium repurposed into a nationalist park. The plan, announced by Prime Minister Hun Manet, promises to connection residents and visitors a large, greenish abstraction dedicated to organization recreation, while preserving a conception for emergency aerial traffic.

Phnom Penh’s New Urban Space: A Green Oasis for Tourists and Locals

With nan closure of Phnom Penh International Airport connected September 9, 2025, nan authorities has chosen to sphere its onshore arsenic a organization plus alternatively than waste it to backstage interests. The airdrome will beryllium transformed into a immense nationalist parkland spanning complete 200 hectares. This parkland will connection much-needed greenish abstraction for Phnom Penh’s residents, who are quickly adjusting to modern lifestyles, pinch entree to areas for walking, running, and moreover hosting nationalist concerts.

For visitors and travelers, this recently designed parkland will service arsenic a retreat, providing a comfortable and relaxing situation correct successful nan bosom of nan city. The nationalist parkland will characteristic tree-lined paths, ponds, and unfastened spaces for organization events. The determination to repurpose nan aged airport, complete pinch existing infrastructure, ensures that nan task tin beryllium initiated swiftly, making it 1 of nan astir anticipated municipality greenish developments successful Cambodia.

A Hub of Heritage: Preserving nan Legacy for Future Generations

While nan translator promises to bring modern amenities to Phnom Penh, nan site’s humanities value will not beryllium overlooked. The airport’s infrastructure, designed by notable architects for illustration Pierre Dufau and Vann Molyvann, will beryllium preserved. The aged terminal buildings, pinch their unique architecture, are group to beryllium repurposed arsenic a depository and commercialized spaces, allowing for nan preservation of nan airport’s bequest while generating costs for ongoing maintenance.

Though nan authorities faced nationalist calls to sphere nan airdrome successful its original form, nan determination was made to equilibrium practice conservation pinch organization benefit. The parkland will connection a ocular relationship to nan past while providing much-needed greenish abstraction for residents and visitors alike. The preservation of nan humanities structures will let visitors to admit nan rich | architectural history of Cambodia’s past, peculiarly nan power of French assemblage design.

The Plan for Public Recreation: What Tourists Can Expect

The first plans for nan redevelopment of Phnom Penh International Airport are expansive. The parkland will beryllium designed pinch visitors successful mind, creating a abstraction that is some accessible and engaging. Along pinch nan stepping paths and greenish areas, location will beryllium designated zones for outdoor concerts and different nationalist events, encouraging a vibrant, communal atmosphere. The government’s $3 cardinal yearly attraction fund will guarantee that nan tract remains operational and accessible, pinch ongoing improvements to its infrastructure and services.

For those who bask outdoor activities, nan parkland will connection a unsocial operation of quality and history, wherever visitors tin study astir Cambodia’s aviation history while enjoying nan serene surroundings. With nan completion of nan Techo International Airport, this caller improvement marks a caller section for Phnom Penh, welcoming visitors to an breathtaking municipality abstraction that highlights nan city’s evolving modernity and respect for its history.

Phnom Penh’s Historical Context: From Khmer Republic to Modern Cambodia

Phnom Penh International Airport has seen it all, from nan turbulent years of nan Khmer Republic and Khmer Rouge authorities to nan consequent rebuilding of Cambodia. Originally constructed pinch nan thief of nan French, nan airdrome grew alongside nan nation’s changing fortunes. Following a awesome upgrade successful 1995, nan airdrome reached a capacity of 5 cardinal passengers annually, reflecting Cambodia’s accelerated maturation and expanding world connections.

Since its closure, immoderate historians person advocated for nan airdrome to beryllium preserved arsenic a humanities recreation center, fixed its domiciled successful nan country’s past. While this proposal has not been adopted, nan thought of commemorating its humanities value remains cardinal to nan redevelopment plan. In nan coming years, nan nationalist parkland will go a hub not conscionable for leisure but for remembrance, linking Cambodia’s past and early successful a azygous space.

Exploring Phnom Penh’s Iconic Attractions: A Blend of Culture and History

Phnom Penh, a metropolis rich | successful civilization and history, offers visitors respective must-see landmarks. These iconic sites bespeak Cambodia’s vibrant past, and while nan airdrome parkland will go a awesome attraction, location are different places successful Phnom Penh that shouldn’t beryllium missed.

The National Museum of Cambodia, located connected Street 13 other nan Royal Palace, is location to a singular postulation of creation from Cambodia’s “golden age” of Angkor. Highlights see graceful statues of Hindu gods, ancient stelae, and nan celebrated “Leper King” statue. The museum’s serene courtyard and humanities exhibits make it a cleanable extremity for history enthusiasts. Visitors tin besides find a action of books connected Cambodian archaeology and civilization astatine nan museum’s gift shop.

Another iconic tract is nan Royal Palace and nan Silver Pagoda, located connected Sothearos Blvd, conscionable a short locomotion from Sisowath Quay. The palace remains nan charismatic residence of nan King of Cambodia, but overmuch of nan analyzable is unfastened to nan public. The Silver Pagoda, known for its intricate solid tiles, and nan temple of nan Emerald Buddha are must-see attractions that correspond nan fusion of French exertion and accepted Cambodian design. Visitors should dress modestly to participate nan palace, arsenic due attire is strictly enforced.

For a relaxing stroll, Sisowath Quay on nan Tonle Sap River is nan perfect spot. Known for its lively atmosphere, nan riverside promenade is lined pinch cafes and shops, providing a cleanable blend of section life and tourer attractions. While nan area is bustling, it’s besides a spot wherever Cambodians stitchery successful nan early mornings and evenings to bask outdoor exercise, offering an authentic glimpse into regular life successful Phnom Penh.

A Future-Oriented Phnom Penh: More Green Spaces connected nan Horizon

The Phnom Penh authorities is besides readying an further 70-hectare nationalist parkland adjacent Kob Srov Lake, further expanding its imagination of greenish spaces. As much of nan metropolis becomes urbanized, nan request for parks and recreational areas grows, and these developments bespeak nan government’s committedness to improving nan value of life for some locals and visitors.

Phnom Penh’s translator into a much sustainable and livable metropolis continues, pinch a attraction connected providing spaces for relaxation and leisure. As nan metropolis grows, nan nationalist parks will play a pivotal domiciled successful fostering a balanced municipality situation wherever residents and visitors tin some activity and unwind. In early 2026, nan recently converted airdrome parkland will beryllium officially opened, becoming a awesome destination for some locals and world visitors seeking a blend of history, culture, and recreation.

Image Source: AI