Village de la Francophonie : Phnom Penh mise sur le « sourire khmer »
From 13 to 17 November, the Wat Botum Watey garden becomes the Francophonie Village. National pavilions, a daily stage, debates and food from across the French-speaking world, all free of charge. More than 100,000 visitors are expected, at the heart of a busy week built around the first Francophonie Summit ever held in Cambodia.
The countdown has begun. In less than two weeks, Cambodia will host the leaders of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), which brings together 90 states and governments: 53 members, 5 associate members and 32 observers. Alongside the official meetings, Phnom Penh is opening a space designed for the general public: the Francophonie Village.
Tourism Minister Huot Hak sees it as a chance to present the cultures and traditions of more than 90 member states, along with products from Cambodian and foreign entrepreneurs, to more than 100,000 expected visitors.
The “Khmer smile” as a common thread
The theme is set: “The Khmer Smile will be the Smile of Francophonie.” For Huot Hak, who is also vice-chairman of the national committee organising the Summit, the Village is a source of national pride and a showcase for Cambodian hospitality.
Dr Ing Kantha Phavi, Minister of Women's Affairs, is leading the project. She chairs the sub-committee in charge of the Summit's side events. “The Francophonie Village was organised to showcase cultural diversity and strengthen solidarity among French-speaking nations, as well as to foster connections between citizens and promote tourism, the economy, and culture. Furthermore, it adopts the ‘smile of the Khmer people’ as the identity and symbol of the summit,” she said.
The minister stresses cultural diplomacy. With international tensions running high, she sees food and culture as bridges between OIF members. For the Cambodian public, it is also a chance to discover the traditions of neighbouring countries, ASEAN and the wider French-speaking world.
From Paris to Phnom Penh
The Village goes hand in hand with the Francophonie Summits. At the previous one, in Paris, it was inaugurated on 2 October 2024 in the presence of Cambodian Foreign Minister Sok Chenda Sophea.
For Asia, the event is rare. As Cambodia's ambassador to France pointed out, Phnom Penh will mark the return of the Francophonie to the continent, nearly thirty years after the 1997 Hanoi Summit.
The venue changed along the way. The Summit was meant to take place in Siem Reap, at the foot of the Angkor temples. It was moved to Phnom Penh in February 2026. In early March, Huot Hak and Ing Kantha Phavi toured several sites in the capital with Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary-General of the OIF. The Wat Botum Watey garden was chosen.
Siem Reap served as a rehearsal. In November 2025, the French Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia (CCI France Cambodge) held a first Francophonie Village on the riverbanks there, drawing several thousand visitors a day.
What to expect at Wat Botum
According to the Ministry of Tourism, the Village is built around five components:
• national pavilions representing OIF member states;
• daily cultural and artistic performances on the central stage;
• conferences and seminars;
• a general exhibition area;
• a Francophone gastronomy village.
The plan presented in June also included an area for Cambodian products and a media lounge. Booths will showcase regional trade, investment opportunities, handicrafts and heritage products. Khmer dishes and Francophone cuisines will share the space.
The Village is not only a festival. Debates and workshops will cover tourism, education, youth, gender equality, peace and the preservation of cultural heritage.
Final preparations
Dr Chuk Chumnor, Director General of Tourism Development and International Cooperation, is managing the Village. He says infrastructure, security and logistics are progressing on site. Several inter-ministerial working groups are finalising the last details.
In June, a working session had already brought together more than 100 participants: senior officials, ambassadors, representatives of French-speaking embassies, development partners, chambers of commerce and businesses.
A Francophone week in Phnom Penh
The Village opens the day before the Ministerial Conference on 14 November and closes the day after the Summit of Heads of State and Government, held on 15 and 16 November under the theme “Reinvest in Peace for Shared Prosperity and Sustainable Stability.”
Around it, events are multiplying. To help people find their way, Confluences, the business-access firm led by Soreasmey Ke Bin, has compiled the events taking place in Phnom Penh throughout the month into a single calendar. Soreasmey Ke Bin is also ambassador of the Alliance of Francophone Employers' Federations for Southeast Asia and helps coordinate the Meeting of Francophone Entrepreneurs. Here are the main events. Times, venues and registration are handled by each organiser.
10 to 12 November
• Cambodia Cashew and Pepper Trade Forum, organised by the Ministry of Commerce with the European Union Delegation and Germany.
12 November
• EuroCham Francophonie Networking evening, with CCI France Cambodge: a briefing on the business environment and the signing of two memoranda of understanding, with AFPICE Romania and with CanCham Cambodia.
12 and 13 November
• Paris Bar International Meetings in Phnom Penh, bringing together French, Cambodian and international lawyers.
13 to 17 November
• Francophonie Village, Wat Botum Watey garden.
14 November
• General Assembly of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie (APF).
• 48th session of the Ministerial Conference of La Francophonie.
• VIP opening reception of the Black Swan Summit.
• Nuit Sauvage, a major party on the rooftop of the Rosewood Phnom Penh.
14 to 16 November
• FrancoTech, at the Koh Pich Convention and Exhibition Centre, under the theme “One Francophone Community, One Digital Future.” Organisers announce more than 200 exhibitors and more than 5,000 visitors. It is the fair's second edition, after Paris in 2024.
• French Tech Asia Forum, organised by La French Tech Phnom Penh within FrancoTech, with a start-up pavilion, a talk, a panel discussion and a networking breakfast.
• 6th Meeting of Francophone Entrepreneurs, organised by the Alliance of Francophone Employers' Federations and hosted by the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, chaired by Neak Oknha Kith Meng.
15 November
• Official opening of the Summit, presided over by King Norodom Sihamoni.
• FrancoTech innovation competition awards ceremony, at the Koh Pich Convention and Exhibition Centre.
15 and 16 November
• 20th Francophonie Summit.
• Black Swan Summit, hosted by the National Bank of Cambodia and GFTN under the theme “Disruptive by Design.” Day one focuses on digital public infrastructure, day two on economic corridors between Southeast Asia and the French-speaking world.
16 and 17 November
• France–Cambodia Business Forum, organised by CCI France Cambodge and the French Foreign Trade Advisors, with Prime Minister Hun Manet confirmed to attend.
18 November
• Study in Europe Fair, organised by the European Union Delegation.
The official website francophonie2026.gov.kh, in Khmer, French and English, publishes the programmes of the official events. The Confluences calendar is available from the Cambodge Mag home page.
Practical information
• What: Francophonie Village
• When: 13 to 17 November 2026
• Where: Wat Botum Watey garden, Phnom Penh
• Admission: free
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