Chroy Changvar Bridge

The Cambodia-Japan Friendship Bridge has an interesting history, with the original bridge being destroyed during Pol Pots’ regime. After the fall of the Khmer Rouge there was simply not enough money to fund the rebuilding of the bridge, and it was not until recent times that with Japanese assistance the bridge was rebuilt. 

The bridge can easily be reached with a 20 minute walk along Sisowath Quay from the riverfront area. Access to the bridge itself is easy, with spiral steps leading up to the bridge itself. Just hold your breath on the steps – they were stinky! You can walk over the bridge – there is a pedestrian “lane”, although bicycles and scooters were veering onto this lane when I walked across (as with all Cambodian traffic, they just rode around me, but just take caution!). Near the middle is a little alcove which affords a degree of protection from the passing traffic and an excellent vantage point of both the river and the Phnom Penh riverfront area.