Compared to other museums around the world.. this museum houses a very sad history of Phnom Penh and Cambodia. A must-go for any traveler. May be a good education for children, but the graphic intensive areas should be avoided.
S-21 was a schoolyard turned prison which Pol Pot and his armies set up as one of their interrogation/information gathering prisons in which many people were housed prior to being sent to The Killing Fields for Execution. It is thought that only a dozen or so people ever survived between the two places. Inside of the school building were the same metal beds upon which people tortured and killed along with pictures on the walls documenting the bloated dead bodies which were found when the camp was first entered after the war. Cambodians killing Cambodians is a scar on the otherwise beautiful face of this country and many people here are still healing and need our help love and support. Seeing this site is one way to support the cause by spreading information. I have a 13.5 and 9 year old daughter, and I would not feel comfortable bringing them here due to the graphic content. Having said that, there are warnings in the guided tour which let you know when scenes may be disturbing but as the old saying goes, "there are some things you cannot un-see".
A harrowing insight into the history of Cambodia. Would highly recommend the learning experience.
FYI - you need to buy an audio guide as there are maybe 2 bits of written information. We usually read everything at museums so initially, we bought normal tickets ($5), then realised there wasn’t any information and went back to the entrance where the staff let us purchase an audio tour from inside the gate ($3 extra), which was nice. We had earphones so we just shared one.
We took tuk tuk here and spent about 2 hours there. Audio guide is great.
Bring water as it was very hot.
Real eye opener about how humans can lose sight of the bigger picture and how terrible humans can be - so sad.
Great experience. If you have only time for one visit this is the one.
What was a high school, then a prison and scene of so much torture, is once again a place for educating people, this time on this awful period in Cambodian history. Rent the audio guide, and take time to listen to every segment if you can, although if you go on a tour time may be tight. On our tour we only had an hour and forty minutes, so reserve some time for the final two buildings, particularly the films and photographs. The specific stories of individuals were the most tragic - both the thousands of Cambodians and the half-dozen foreigners, including NZer Kerry Hamill. If you are unfamiliar with this period, take time to watch some of the films and documentaries for more background before you go, including the Killing Fields on YouTube, and First They Killed My Father. Also look out near the exit for two of the men who survived who have written books on their experiences, and are selling them. A signed copy and a photo with them makes a really meaningful item to take home.
