A new Haussmann-inspired district reflects the development fever that has gripped Phnom Penh. With its developed promenades, its cafés and its claimed elegance, a “ mini-Paris ” is sold as a chic enclave intended for the rich.
The district, called "Élysée", is located on Koh Pich, an island that has become the symbol of the rebirth of the capital. Wealth remains concentrated in the hands of an elite close to former Prime Minister Hun Sen, who ruled the country for nearly forty years.