Explore Cambodia's Most Eerie Destinations

Behind the abandoned places always lie legends, mysterious, chilling tales that no one can authenticate. The ominous atmosphere of these places is an endless source of human imagination and boundless curiosity.

Exploring Cambodia's Most Haunting Destinations 

The so-called 'haunted' places in Cambodia below are no exception – enclosed in the fascinating stories of a dark period in history.

1. Independence Hotel, Sihanoukville

Known as the '7-story Hotel' or the 'Haunted Hotel', Independence Hotel was once an icon of prosperity in the 1960s only to quickly collapse shortly after and eventually be abandoned.

The Independence Hotel was once state-owned, prominently situated on Independence Beach and completed in 1964, under the direction of French architect M. Mondet and interior design by Prince Norodom Sihanouk. The hotel epitomizes contemporary Khmer architecture during the 1953 – 1970 period with carpeted floors throughout the rooms and imported Bohemian crystal chandeliers.

From old photos taken at the hotel's peak, one can witness its exquisite and elaborate architecture. With primary hues such as brick red, orange, black, peppermint green, gold, and meticulous interior design, it truly creates a luxurious retreat. This hotel is a preferred stop for Phnom Penh's elite, attracting special guests like Former US First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and French actress Catherine Deneuve.

However, shortly after, the hotel closed in the mid-1970s due to the Khmer Rouge occupation. Scholars speculate that rumors of prisoner confinement and mass executions remain enigmatic to this day. Perhaps the occupation by the Khmer Rouge, along with their infamous atrocities, contributed to making the place more eerie and mysterious than ever.

The Independence Hotel remained abandoned for many years until it reopened in 1982, only to be occupied by UNTAC troops in the 1990s. By 1999, Independence found itself deserted once again.

The hotel owner mentioned that many tourists come here out of curiosity, but things don't go as planned because there's really nothing happening here. Today, the Independence Hotel has been renovated and put into use with the mission of prospering as it did in its golden age, with hopes for a bright future.

2. Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum

The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is a testament to the Khmer Rouge's genocide atrocities from 1975 to 1979. It was once a high school before being turned into a concentration camp by the Khmer Rouge regime. In 1975, the school was converted into a prison known as Security Prison 21.

During the Khmer Rouge's 4-year reign, approximately 17,000 people (some sources claim 20,000) were held captive here, mostly former Khmer Rouge members or soldiers accused of betrayal. The school underwent renovations such as adding electrified fences, reinforcing the prison's walls, interrogation rooms, and torture chambers.

Upon stepping inside, past the iron gates, a chilling sensation ensues: first encountered are 14 graves blocking the entrance, all uniformly square, deep, without headstones, situated on a pebble-laid concrete courtyard. Photographs of their deaths are preserved inside the torture chambers – where traces of dark bloodstains still linger on the floors and walls.

In the larger detention areas, vivid photographs and paintings from that era are displayed, depicting scenes such as victims seated on iron chairs for photographs, prisoners subjected to brutal beatings, fields littered with the bones of those killed by the Khmer Rouge, and illustrations depicting the torture of prisoners. In some detention rooms, they even display cabinets filled with human skulls with captions: 'These are the bones of those killed by the Khmer Rouge.'

The indiscriminate killings by the Khmer Rouge regime are starkly evident in the torture chambers of the victims. This row of chambers consists of 14 rooms, each containing only an iron bed and a torture apparatus. Victims brought to these rooms were subjected to relentless torture until death.

Through imagery, artifacts, and documentation, the museum now attracts numerous tourists from around the world. However, visitors remain apprehensive due to the museum's gruesome nature, and what they witness therein instills fear.

3. Bokor Palace Hotel

Perched atop a fascinating landscape hill, Bokor was once a bustling tourist town, a retreat under French rule where visitors escaped the stifling heat of the capital Phnom Penh. However, after being abandoned twice, all that remains here is a ghost town with dilapidated buildings.

The stories surrounding the creation of Bokor Palace are quite chilling as well. The abandoned resort areas were commissioned by the French colonialists and constructed over a period of 9 months. By 1925, when the project was completed, over 900 Cambodian workers had perished due to the harsh conditions during construction. This is also the origin of the mysterious phenomena often occurring at this haunted hotel.

Today, Bokor has become a popular tourist destination. Situated within a national park, visitors can explore and learn about the history of the violent conflicts in 20th-century Cambodia.

4. Choeung Ek Killing Fields

Located 14.5km from the capital Phnom Penh and just a 30-minute drive away, the Choeung Ek Killing Fields offer visitors the most authentic and poignant insight into the horrifying events that took place in Cambodia under the rule of Pol Pot.

Under the Khmer Rouge regime (1975-1979, immediately after the Cambodian Civil War 1969–1975), countless Cambodians were ruthlessly killed and buried at a location collectively known as the Killing Fields. According to statistics, at least 1,386,734 people were executed.

Occupying an area the size of a football field, numerous mass graves have been found at Choeung Ek. Visitors must tread carefully and gently here as beneath the soil may still lie the remains of unfortunate victims. During the rainy season, the soil washes away, revealing white bone fragments.

At the heart of the Killing Fields stands a memorial stupa for the unfortunate victims, containing around 8,000 skulls, many of which bear traces of brutal torture with knives, axes, and clubs. This was the ruthless method of killing employed by Pol Pot to conserve ammunition. For children, the barbaric method of execution involved smashing them against trees until death.

In the annals of the most horrifying events of the 20th century, Cambodia ranks high. Preserving images of a painful past serves as a reminder to future generations of a dark period in the nation's history. Furthermore, the traces of suffering also serve as a means for Cambodia to develop various forms of historical tourism that few tourists can resist.

As reported by Yan.vn

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Reference: Travel Guide by Mytour