Cambodia's enthralling capital nods to the past as it embraces a bright future Once known as the 'Paris of the East' Phnom Penh was built at the confluence of the Mekong, Tonle Sap and Bassac rivers. While the kingdom’s tumultuous past, which includes being a prominent part of France’s colonial empire, continues to exert a strong influence on present-day Phnom Penh, the city is moving on. On its wide streets, people smile and chat with an ease and friendliness that’s all too rare in big cities.