WALKING THE STREETS NEAR THE ROYAL PALACE IN PHNOM PENH

Phnom Penh plans to open a riverside walking street in late January 2025, which local small vendors hope will generate more income from tourists, though they have requested that the government organize proper spaces for them.

Khuong Sreng, Governor of Phnom Penh, told Kiripost on January 6, 2025, that the capital’s "walking street" project along the riverside—stretching from the Post Office to the Royal Palace—is scheduled to launch at the end of January 2025. A key part of this project aims to transform the area into a major tourist destination. The 57-hectare project will include food and shopping zones, cultural and creative zones, as well as green spaces, and will be open exclusively to pedestrians from Friday to Sunday, between 6:00 PM and 11:00 PM.

The Governor stated: "We will close this area [to traffic] for three days a week, from Friday evening through Sunday, and will reopen [to traffic] on Monday morning."

He added that while the launch will take place at the end of the month, development is not yet complete and will be done gradually. "We are not fully ready yet; we are just working to get people into the habit of walking and closing traffic to prevent cars from entering the area," he explained, adding that all transportation around the zone will be restricted, including bicycles and cyclos.

Nhek Phalla, a 27-year-old snail vendor near the Royal Palace, told Kiripost that he felt excited upon hearing about the project. He expects an increase in sales because the project will bring in more tourists who will walk, buy food, and interact with vendors more than they do when simply driving past.

Phalla has been selling snails for over five years, working from 2:00 PM until 4:00 AM and earning about $20 a day. He hopes to earn more once the project begins. "I’m happy because when people walk, they buy more. When they drive, they don't buy as much. When they walk, they will interact with food vendors, and sales will increase," he added.

However, Phalla requested that the government organize proper and fair spaces for vendors, making it easier for them to sell from booths, as he currently sells from a cart that he moves from place to place. "When I move, it's hard for customers to find me," he continued.

Another street food vendor, identified only as Sila, who sells fried rice and fried noodles, said he is waiting to see the actual results regarding the number of tourists, which he believes will increase if the organization is handled well. "It depends on the organization by the district governor. If there are more tourists and the governor arranges a proper location for us to sell, I think it will be good," he added.

Sila mentioned that a few years ago, he used to earn about $100 to $120, but now he barely makes $75 a day, excluding expenses.

Regarding business growth, Governor Sreng stated that the current priority is creating a safe space for people to walk, and helping local businesses grow is a subsequent step to be explored. He added: "Regarding how we can organize it—we want to help, but we have to see the possibilities of how we can help."