Independence Monument, Phnom Penh

The Cambodia Independence Monument (Vimean Ekareach) in Phnom Penh stands in the center of the city at a busy roundabout where Norodom and Sihanouk Boulevards intersect. Built in 1958 following the country’s independence from France in 1953, it is a towering lotus-shaped structure modeled on the central tower of Angkor Wat.

Khmer Modernism

The multi-tiered monument, built of red stone, was designed by the influential Cambodian architect Vann Molyvann, the father of New Khmer Architecture, who combined the then popular modernist movement with the Khmer tradition of high-spiking roofs. Among his other designs are the Chatomuk Conference Hall and the National Sports Complex. Reminiscent of the Hindu influence, the five levels of the Independence Monument are decorated with a hundred nagas. The Monument is most impressive at night when lit up with red, blue and white floodlights, the colors of the Cambodian national flag.

War Memorial

The Independence Monument also serves as a memorial to Cambodia’s war dead and is sometimes referred to as the Victory Monument. It is the main site for activities during Independence Day on November 9th center and Constitution Day. At that time, a ceremonial flame on the interior pedestal is lit up and wreaths are placed on the stairs.

Surrounding Monuments

The surrounding area of the Independence Monument is dotted with other monuments. Nearby is the Cambodian Vietnamese Friendship Monument, built in 1979, to commemorate the Vietnamese liberation of Cambodia from the ugly years of Khmer Rouge terror. Located beside Sothearos Blvd, its Vietnamese design features a massive sandstone Khmer woman with baby flanked by two Vietnamese liberation soldiers. The National Assembly, a smart looking cream building, is also on Sothearos Blvd. It is a distinctively Khmer building with triple-tiered red tiled roofs and guardian nagas on the edge, topped by five tiered spires. Guardian dog sculptures stand protectively at the gates.