Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
About This Museum
People don't come to Tuol Sleng for a pleasant day out; they come to understand a piece of Cambodia's devastating history, and it's a visit that leaves you profoundly changed. Walking through the former high school turned prison, known as S-21, the air feels heavy, the silence broken only by the creak of floorboards under your feet. You'll see the tiny brick cells built in old classrooms and the haunting black-and-white photographs of the thousands who entered and never left. It is an emotionally draining experience, but an essential one for grasping the resilience of the Cambodian people.
Collection Highlights
The most chilling exhibits are the vast galleries of prisoner portraits—faces filled with fear and confusion that stare back at you. Another powerful display is a single floor left exactly as it was found in 1979, with a rusted iron bed frame and shackles, a stark testament to the brutality that occurred here.
Visitor Information
Give yourself a couple of hours to walk through quietly; it's not a place to rush. I'd highly recommend hiring a guide at the entrance or using an audio tour—hearing the personal stories adds a crucial layer of understanding to what you're seeing.
Architecture & Building
The museum is housed in a collection of stark, pale yellow concrete buildings that were originally a high school, which makes its dark history even more unsettling. The upper-floor corridors are still enclosed in the original crude iron bars and barbed wire, installed by the Khmer Rouge to prevent suicides.
Contact & Location
Address: ផ្លូវ ១១៣, សង្កាត់បឹងកេងកងទី ៣, ខណ្ឌបឹងកេងកង, រាជធានីភ្នំពេញ, 120104, ព្រះរាជាណាចក្រកម្ពុជា
Phone: +855 77 252 121
Website: Visit Website
