A haven from the civil war, Cambodia’s Hotel Le Phnom | War Hotels

[@ct0903]

Tragic part of Cambodian history my mother was able to escape and I was born in Thailand such a hard time for the Khmer people . How lucky I am to be alive .

[@maayaa3921]

I hate siam people

[@sonievkay]

my dad has said to me before, “ if the pol pot never happened, khmer would never want to leave the country” the country was bliss and people were very happy. now that the war is over, corruption is whats left.

[@darooster5787]

No corruption in Cambodia it is call tips

[@sonievkay]

@@darooster5787 to say theres no corruption would be a lie. Even the most peaceful nation has corruption in their government. The differences are the levels.

[@darooster5787]

@@sonievkay no curruption just tips

[@Sterling410]

Obviously the war was terrible. One of the worst genocides in modern history. Unfortunately the khmer people are still suffering from the consequences to this day, but at some point the khmer will have to take responsibility for allowing this terrible civil war to take place. Cambodia had many problems that lead to the war. The hardships of the khmer people started long before Pol Pot and without taking responsibility they will continue long after. Corruption is woven into the history of cambodia

[@KoyOuch]

Your dad is right, Cambodia before the war just like lost paradise we has had everything we need we do not owe any foreign debt like today, as long as you are not lazy there is plenty of land for everyone not like today even the mountain are belong to people in power and also that's why Vietnamese (YOUN) has got their eye on Cambodia very long time ago and now they control everything in the country and without YOUN control Khmer probably has another civil again.

[@davidcoleman757]

I'd recommend three books on this period. Jon Swain's 'River of Time' is mentioned elsewhere in the comments: it's superb, as is Bizot's 'The Gate'. For a Cambodian perspective, Haing Ngor's 'Survival in the Killing Fields' is as heart-rending a book as you will ever read.

[@KoyOuch]

I was 16 years old when the Khmer Rouge took over and after KR overtake the Phnom Penh everybody thought the country would be back to normal and the King Sihanouk will be in his throne, but not in the case and they just told us you must get out before the American drop the bomb so everyone got out and never came back. I was in Khmer rouge the whole time i still can't believe alive and i still has nightmare to these days sometime i asking myself how did i get through and still alive while most people around died of hunger, starvation and not working hard enough and suppose i was worked so hard so they can't pinpoint at and their word were if you useless no point keeping you and you just waste of space. today I've been in England since 1981 but never forgot what i've been through and hope all Khmer learn new lesson and never allow Cambodia to happen again and KHmer should learn to live with one another in peace and harmony, learn to help each other, learn to forgive one another above all learn TO STOP HOLD THE GRUDGE to each other as you can seen while the Khmer Rouge took over Lon-Nol regime the Pol-Pot created hate and killed between the rich and poors, between educated and uneducated.

[@tonyzarif6124]

First bong... I loved having spent the first 5 months of the pandemic in this amazing country. I will always have a place in my heart for Cambodia 🇰🇭 ♥️

[@tonyzarif6124]

Great piece, by the way 👏🏽

[@linivann2892]

Thank you

[@ouksophal8064]

Thank you! Warmly welcome to visit our beautiful Cambodia country again!

[@colmlim5127]

Thanks so much for covering this part of Cambodian history.

[@meilychhon4845]

what a heart wrenching documentary about the Le Royal Hotel and to see Jon get so emotional, i can't hold my tear. It's January again 2024, every year in this first month of the year I really like to read articles or watch video or listen to podcast about the war during the 70s and 80s in Cambodia. April is also a month of history in Cambodia too during that period.

[@glow1815]

Amazing story well covered. Thank you!

[@Jerry-Cam]

Very informative documentary and of course very devastating to watch what Cambodian people have been through. Thanks for sharing this story.

[@hengang4571]

So sad..when your dark memories return. Thank you for a wonderful documentary from our motherland..

[@barbarastepien-foad4519]

Cambodian is a beautiful country which I very much enjoyed, it is still natural in most parts however it is being taken advantage of by both Thailand and Vietnam. It's history is dreadful from the start of the war and what happened, it suffered more bombings than the whole of the bombing in the second world war, it is a wonder that any living creature survived this atrocity and all living creatures are still being blown up by the masses of landmines left unchecked in the land. The Cambodian people are still suffering from being exploited by their powerful neighbours who illegally log thus causing flooding inland, plunder it's gemstones in the west of the country etc and the people do not feel free as they should...It is a crying shame what these poor people have had to contend with, the bombings day and night must have been a nightmare and I am sure has affected all those concerned. I pray for you Cambodia xxx 17.21 says it all when we live like Kings and Queens in England.

[@davidcoleman757]

It's very complicated. Cambodia has often been in an impossible position, but there has also been a degree of complicity from Cambodia's own leaders. Corruption within Cambodia has often been its biggest curse. Your point about landmines [and ordnance dropped during the US bombings] is well made. I thoroughly recommend the movie 'Until They Are Gone', which I think may still be on KZbin.

[@ishrendon6435]

Vietnam helpsd pur a stop to pol pots atrocities wtf are you on about? China and the americans supported the genocidal regime of pol pot

[@fred789]

The rouge haunts me in my nightmares even though I wasn't born around then the hotel still stands here in the capital City and my after-school classes are just a few miles away from it I will never forget the people who died in the genocide

[@seun9957]

😍😍😍Le Phnom means The Mountain. Great documentary. I escaped Khmer Rouge, but my uncle was by Khmer Rouge in 1975.

[@chensoiphoin6890]

Such as a sad story of Cambodia in modern history, this will be the part of history that can’t anyone change 😢😢

[@jackket6708]

Thanks for telling us the story of LePhnom hotel and how western journalists survived the Khmer Rouge-American war.

[@bunlyphiev7823]

I am Cambodia,it still have Khmer route because when Vietnamese soldier came to relieve Cambodia, I saw Khmer route ran to the mountain

[@kennydurkin]

Jon Swain, River of Time, a fabulous, loving portrait of his war years in Indochina

[@davidcoleman757]

Absolutely. River of Time is a profoundly moving account of his time there.

[@rbeeler81]

Love that book, read it at least five times.

[@petekhauv2476]

The journey that Cambodian took to get to the western countries should be a good episode for you to write. Every families suffered tragedy during the KR.

[@trytobefairhistorybuff9063]

Amazing history, but so sad

[@Omm3693]

I have lived in Cambodia 13 years and have a Khmer son .had a traditional Khmer wedding. Alot of people are still scared. i think from the Khmer Rouge. Its good to learn more about the history. I have seen the Killing fields movie and other history documentaries .there is always more to learn

[@glow1815]

@@Omm3693 I'm scared just by watching all the documentaries on KZbin. And I live in the USA. Born in Cambodia in 1975. I don't think I can visit my country because of the nightmare I had.

[@peckie102]

Jon Swains book River of time is one of the finest books I’ve ever read (and re-read )

[@chetramino43]

To those who are reading this, When it comes to Cambodia, it's all about genocide, poverty, corrupt government and more negatives things about us, that's how the west sees us or the Media portrays us. As a native Cambodian, It's sad to know that the visibility of good things that are actually happening to our lives, that drastically change our lives here are invisible. The world here seems to be quite opposite. I hate the media, the outsiders.

[@thefirstofitskind895]

go on. tell us what's good about cambodia

[@Russellsagecline]

Cambodia never ceased to be beautiful. Always was, always will be. Each country, every society has their evil elements. Humans have a terrific, paradoxical desire to take that which is incredibly beautiful and crush, twist and smash it until it is so ugly no one would admit they ever coveted it. As the greatest of God's creatures, we sell our souls for the idea we can find utopia, yet once it is found, we go to great lengths to ensure no one ever enjoys it. Maybe we ALL deserve the blame for any conflict that destroys a country like Kampuchea.

[@renatarenata1423]

Not true, there are many documentaries about wonderful Angkor Wat, for exemple. But, I must say when I visited Angkok Wat long ago for the first time, I was just overwhelmed ... because of what happened in Cambodia in the seventies.

[@glow1815]

Truth needed to be told. Spreading awareness to educate for generations to come is anything but negative. There are plenty of videos about Cambodians/Cambodia today as well not just the passed.

[@michaelanielsen7679]

U can still feel their trauma speaking about it. Good documentary

[@LMardy]

Thank for your information. Love to hear more from these journalists.

[@bellaroatana5735]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ always in my heart where ever I go ! Back to home country soon !

[@bunlyphiev7823]

Thanks, I like it, I am Cambodia, I was in the war for 3yers 8 months 20 days it was scary ,even now I don't want to visit, only except ceremony my family pass away in Pol Pot

[@wazzup233]

And it is said that Jacqueline Kennedy had went to that hotel when shed visited to Cambodia in 1967 and she had an old picture of her together with the former Cambodian prince and its been displayed on Royal Hotel. So its already a historical symbol there.

[@yokosakachan8888]

i'm a cambodian and funny how , from what i learn at school in history class back then cambodia been at war with alot of neighboring country yet we never lose , we were so powerful that the only opponent we can fight was our own blood ! son killing father , father killing son family after another family for royal possession , like we just like killing ourselves for some reason and the neighboring country was like hey you guy need help ? ill help you for some land. to be honest i don't blame people who invaded us i blame our own people who keep killing our flesh and blood .

[@povpooh]

Appreciate the video very much but the music at the beginning is a bad choice.. really

[@anandnair5223]

RiP to all who lost their lives.🙏🏽 Those who survived I hope you find peace. 🙏🏽

[@samajammy]

It's now Raffles Hotel Le Royal (or just Raffles). It's one of the nicest hotels in Phnom Penh - they've just done a lot construction and renovations.

[@TheJayJayYoung]

Why was it renamed Raffles hotel?

[@thihienmainguyen4314]

Whether we like it or not, geography, destiny, .... have made the fate of people in Cambodia - Laos - Vietnam into 1; that is, if any of those 3 countries is troubled, unstable, war-ravaged, ...., then the rest would go the same way: troubled, unstable, war-ravaged. # It's ONLY WHEN ALL THREE COUNTRIES are stable, peaceful, prosperous, then the people in those 3 countries could enjoy peace, stability and prosperity. # Thus, the people in those 3 countries must safeguard their peace, stable environment, prosperity TOGETHER, UNITED.

[@alandavis3019]

I believe Kate web was kidnapped by the PAVN - essentially the Viet Minh - and not the Khmer Rouge. Nobody taken by the Khmer Rouge ever got released as far as I know. Even in the early 90s, they took and 'disappeared' some tourists. Separately, I remember the Hotel Royal/Phnom from 1989 when it had essentially been taken over by the handful of NGOs that were then working in the country. No tourists then - not even a single working traffic light still. And the main journalists' hotel had become the much smaller (and cheaper) Monorom.

[@neilwatkins6868]

Brilliant documentary so sad what these people have gone through ! I now live in Cambodia but in the country side on a little farm it's beautiful ! Best thing I done is moved to the countryside! Nicer people ! Not like phnom phen at all

[@MupChoi]

When you look at the wars in Indochina, you must first look at the fight against colonialism. For Vietnam, it was started when the French took the stronghold of King Sisowath called Cochin China in 1862 as a protectorate. The Vietnamese fight for independent lasted until 1975. As for Cambodia, the fight for independent started even prior to the Nguyen Dynasty in 1802. During the era of Ang Chan II and Ang Mey in Cambodia, every administrative and official from every provincial and local township were fill with the official known in Vietnamese as the Chu-Han because the Vietnamese classified themselves as the Han Nhen. When the French tried to governed Cambodia directly, the Chu-Han sensing they were loosing power in Cambodia, they immediately started rebellions movement supporting Acha Swa, Pou Kompo and the 10 years long of Si Votha. The rebellion was mostly bases from Kratie province with access to the Mekong River and Tonle Sap River. For 200 years of Chu-Han controlled over Cambodia, there were only a brief 16 years of Sihanouk truly Cambodia independent. Pol Pot and Ieng Sary were descended from the Chu-Han or at least from the Chu-Han family.

[@Tobi-ln9xr]

I hope that there will also be an episode about the hotel Adlon in Berlin. it is one of the most famous hotels in Berlin and was completely destroyed and rebuilt several times. I am surprised that there isn't already an episode about that hotel. Its the one right at the Brandenburg gate.

[@hebneh]

As I've watched other episodes of "War Hotels" I've thought of the Adlon as well. I suspect it might not qualify for this series, however, as they mostly focus on hotels where journalists stayed while covering a war. That didn't happen at the Adlon during WWII because there pretty much were no foreign journalists in Berlin to write about it.

[@novsovannara8574]

this is so like the killing fields

[@pubgworldkh]

There were like 100 Pol Pot soldiers who graduated from France and won Lon Nol soldiers who were trained by US. It doesn’t even make sense.

[@Cyan_Nightingale]

It was only logical since the domino effect of the Fall of Saigon in 1975 made the communist movement grew popular on the local population (especially since Cambodia was near Vietnam). Govt. soldiers defected to rebels side. Plus Pol Pot had the chinese support.

[@thihienmainguyen4314]

Please, please .... pause, and calmly, honestly, impartially think .... # Without the Vietnamese coming to RESCUE them (Cambodian people) from the barbaric GENOCIDE perpetrated by Pol Pot under direction of his expansionist Chinese mentors-masters, and to SHARE with them their (Vietnamese people's and soldiers') meager food rations while they (the Vietnamese soldiers) themselves were close to starvation, there would not be many Cambodians left in Cambodia now (let alone a Cambodia BURSTING WITH LIFE today). Instead, Cambodia would have been completely filled with Chinese advisers, soldiers (coming to rescue Pol Pot) and colonizers, turning Cambodia into another Xin-Jiang (of the Uyghur people, but now a conquered province of China), but a new Xin-Jiang without any Cambodians left (wiped out by the China-directing-Pol_Pot-executing genocide) # Also, please, please .... pause, and calmly, honestly, impartially think .... # Around 1979, Vietnam was still an UTTER RUIN after the devastating liberation war to win back their independence against the MOST MIGHTY power on earth, the neo-colonialist USA. The Vietnamese were rock-bottom poor and very, very close to FAMINE, due to the US Administration's total embargo and encirclement of Vietnam, exacting vile REVENGE on the Vietnamese for having dared to shoot down their B52s and kick them out of their country Vietnam. # The mighty USA combined with mighty China's expansionist ruler Deng Xiao-Ping, combining with the maniacal, genocidal Pol Pot, all savagely attacking Vietnam. Please, just pause and imagine, USA-China-Pol_Pot combination to attack the rock-bottom poor and near starvation Vietnam ! # They wanted Vietnam DEAD ! # But Vietnam refused to die, saved itself, and saved the Cambodian people as well.

[@bellaroatana5735]

Cambodia were supposed to be one of the best country in south east Asia. The civil war destroyed every single thing so make the country started from year zero. Hope Cambodia will be back to be one of the best place in one day. ! Cambodia never fighter with other ! Cambodia always live under invasions from neighboring country plus western and European countries .

[@casioak1683]

Ironically Cambodia's Khmer Rouge / Pol Pot regime wiped out its citizens because of the total hatred toward anything "west" (even those wearing eyeglasses were suspected, considered "western educated"). And since Pol Pot was backed by China (who supported Pol Pot to put pressure on pro-Soviet Vietnam), it was actually both of them who were responsible for it.

[@wildwildwest1662]

Thanks VN , I am still alive .🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏.

[@fasthracing]

Stayed there a couple of times.

[@mysonjimmy1337]

They separated my family's members mom 👩 and dad 👨 and brother 😢 💔 and sister and me I was only 9 year old 👧 girl and my dad 👨 almost get kill lucky they only gave him warning ⚠️

[@jaybatican]

It a raffles le royal hotel.its nice 5 star luxury hotel

[@tainanking]

What people don’t understand is that this country is still very very bad in situation. Just no war going on. But really there isn’t much difference in current government. Horribly corrupt. This country still doesn’t have a highway

[@povpooh]

LOL "This country still doesn't have a highway" Are you okay bro?

[@tainanking]

@@povpooh they don’t even have a highway… I’m not kidding

[@tainanking]

@phon phengly well if you can’t see, most men and people in this country are also fairly lazy which is why they rather higher Chinese or foreign workers and pay them double. Such as construction workers. A Chinese worker cost twice as much but gets the job done twice as fast

[@seattledreamer9901]

Same thing in Vietnam. Corruption ‘s terrible. It was worse during the pandemic. Tyranny ‘ always horrible . No justice! No humanity!

[@glow1815]

​@@tainankingyour statement make you look ignorant 💯 %.

[@SokhomPrins]

First of all between U. S. A, Mao’s China/ Pol Pot holocaust 11 millions Khmer people. I was in this Hotel in 2004 while working in Cambodia for 5 months. I am an author of Love of Life - A Miraculous Story! I rewrite aspect of world history in it also Cambodia. My memoir will be published soon. Written in English, will be available in all platforms.

[@mrrlik7159]

Cambodia 🇰🇭🇰🇭🇰🇭🇰🇭🇰🇭🇰🇭

[@tainanking]

This country has barley developed at all since the war. Yeah you see a few malls and nice western franchises here and there but it’s all mostly from the last 5-10 years mostly because of China money. It’s not good money.

[@chetramino43]

My family came out of genocide then began a new life as farmers and now that we have more than enough things.

[@naroaththeamrun2651]

My article will make you understand what happened to Cambodia. Ankor wat Facing to the west, because our ancestors built this monument for the future even, when the second sun comes ,the west will become to be the east , and a very even will happen in Cambodia. You know a richest country in the last day ,that your Bible says An island in the east and the island in the west, where ? It's Cambodia , not Philippines. Our ancestors still alive, they are preparing for a time comes, they do meditation and live in a deep inside of mountains. Sorry i forgot how English called it. We are Khmer but the word khmer was written in complex style ,was read as khem mac rac not khmer. When Thai occupied Cambodia they read this word as khmen(r) not in the complex style, in normal style, so the word khmer was born , so we have to names khmer and Khem mac rac. Khmer had the killing field because of Vietnamese they pretending to be khmer like Pol Pot , even Hun Sen , too. Now Hun Sen is pushing khmer to very danger of nuclear by giving land to China, our ancestors, too predicted that...

[@fasthracing]

16:40 is not KR by the way. Just saying.

[@HongXiuquanDerPolderen]

1:52 fake!

[@01vichet]

What's ....! Using VN music

[@malthy9324]

😰😰😰🇰🇭❤️

[@ThienHoang-tr3dh]

Vietnam saved Cambodia from the Cambodian killing each other.

[@boulx]

here we go again...

[@rtth4378]

After you helped Pol Pot. So don't be so proud

[@sonsen25]

Typical lying viet.

[@ct0903]

Both Cambodia & Vietnam suffered alot from America using both our countries for there proxy wars i am also Khmer and I also love my Vietnamese brother's & sisters who came to the aid after seeing and witnessing the terror the pol pot regime committed on its own people aswell as Vietnamese people . Nothing but love for our peoples.

[@barbarastepien-foad4519]

Absolute RUBBISH Vietnam is still exploiting the Cambodian people...

[@thihienmainguyen4314]

BURSTING WITH LIFE, PEACEFUL LIFE! Yes, that is Cambodia now, BURSTING WITH PEACEFUL LIFE. Thanks to whom ? Please answer honestly and impartially.

[@wildwildwest1662]

Honestly , Thanks VN 🙏🙏🙏🙏.