“Madame Cigarettes? Yes, of course, she’s still working,” Patrice, a Frenchman and restaurateur who has lived in Battambang for 11 years, tells me. And at 75 years old, Madame Chir Kim Hao, alias “Madame Cigarettes,” still enjoys undeniable notoriety because she continues to practice a trade—cigarette rolling—of which she is one of the very last representatives in Cambodia. This portrait will also serve to recall the turbulent recent history of this country.

An Example of a Great Place to Live in Cambodia: Battambang, the City with a Hint of French Charm, Where Time Seems to Flow So Slowly and Peacefully… Report by Steve King.

INearly 80 years ago, amid the turmoil of the post-war period, Thailand – then Siam – buckled under diplomatic and military pressure to return territories conquered at the expense of Cambodia and French Indochina.

The banks of the Sangker River turned into a powerful symbol of unity and resilience on January 25, 2026, as participants of the Sangker River Charity Run 2026 crossed the finish line.

Until November 8, 2025, Battambang ignites with creativity with the official opening of the 4th edition of the S’Art Urban Art Festival, an event confirming the city as the beating heart of the contemporary Cambodian artistic scene.

From November 3 to 8, 2025, the historic city of Battambang, Cambodia, is preparing to become a true living canvas of colors, rhythms, and artistic expression. The 4th edition of the SArt Urban Arts Festival, organized by Phare Ponleu Selpak and supported by the TUI Care Foundation, this year highlights the theme "Colorful Cultures", celebrating the richness of cultures and the unifying power of art.

Next November, the streets of Battambang will come alive with creativity, color, and cultural celebrations during the fourth edition of the S'Art urban art festival, organized by Phare Ponleu Selpak and the TUI Care Foundation.

Cambodge-Phare Ponleu Selpak vient d’annoncer que la 12e édition du Festival international de cirque Tini Tinou se tiendra à Battambang...