It may not have the glistening shopping malls of Bangkok or the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City, but Phnom Penh’s laid-back charm and tangible sense of history are slowly establishing the city among the most popular destinations in mainland Southeast Asia.

Those expecting a post Khmer Rouge hangover will be very pleasantly surprised. Although sites like the S-21 detention facility and the Killing Fields still fascinate tourists, the Cambodian capital is also making a name for itself for good food, great bars and a colonial chic that is increasingly difficult to find elsewhere in the region. Think high ceiling fans, pastel colours and refreshing cocktails on the waterfront and you won’t be far off, as seen at Phnom Penh’s ever-popular Sisowath Quay beside the Tonlé Sap river.