Cambodia–Vietnam Friendship Monument

The Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Monument is a monument located in Wat Botum Park in central Phnom Penh. It was built when the Vietnamese occupied the country following the ousting of the Khmer Rouge regime in 1979.

Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Monument

The monument is designed in the classic “Soviet realist” style developed in the USSR in the 1930s. It features statues of soldiers as well as a mother and baby.

The monument is not without controversy. After defeating the Khmer Rouge, Vietnamese forces remained in Cambodia until 1992. This period of occupation is not appreciated by many Cambodians. Occasionally the monument will be the scene of anti-Vietnamese demonstrations.

Wat Botun Park

The park is located near a Buddhist monastery (Wat Botun). Monks can often be seen enjoying the relative calm of the early morning or evening time. The park itself is also used for exercise by locals who play badminton and jianzi (foot shuttlecock), football or go running.

During the evening, local skateboard and group exercise activities make this a good place to relax and soak up the atmosphere. There are also plenty of food stalls around for you purchase snacks and drinks.

Nearby Attractions

The monument is around the corner from Norodom Sihanouk Monument and Independence Monument. It is also a short stroll from the Royal Palace. A pleasant walk is to start at Independence Monument, walk along Sihanouk Boulevard past Norodom Sihanouk Monument, then turn left into Wat Botun Gardens past the Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Monument, and on to the Royal Palace before ending up at The Riverside. As always in Phnom Penh, the best time to do this is in late afternoon to early evening when the city slowly springs to life, and you can enjoy a refreshing drink at the end of your walk.