This week, Phnom Penh property expert David Murphy of Independent Property Services explores the southern riverside sangkat of Tonle Bassac.

Tonle Bassac is located on the western shore of the Bassac River, from which it takes its name (Tonle is Khmer for ‘river’). Contained by the river to the east, Sihanouk Boulevard to the north and Norodom Boulevard to the west, Tonle Bassac hooks westward under BKK1 until reaching Monivong Boulevard.

This up-and-coming area is home to a number of small alleys and roads that branch off of the larger boulevards, creating a suburban environment of quiet leafy streets a stone’s throw from the hustle and bustle of central Phnom Penh. In the past few years there has been considerable development activity on Tonle Bassac’s riverside area, including the Sofitel Hotel, Diamond Island, Naga World and some gated community.

New restaurants and entertainment establishments have also popped up in the area, from Korean restaurants along Sothearos to noodle houses on Diamond Island and diverse dining options in Naga World. The wide variety of options within a small area make Tonle Bassac an ideal area for new families arriving in Phnom Penh.

In terms of traffic and transportation infrastructure, Tonle Bassac enjoys access to the dining and entertainment areas of Riverside to the north, easy connection to central Phnom Penh via Sihanouk Boulevard and Norodom Boulevard and convenient journeys to the airport via the Street 271 ring road.

There are three main gated communities located within the Tonle Bassac sangkat. Bassac Gardens, Les Jardins du Bassac and Chamkarmorn City offer a variety of property options within secure, managed environments. Villas in these communities range from $2,000 to $3,500 and apartments can be found in the range of $1,000 to $2,000 per month.

Serviced apartment options in Tonle Bassac are plentiful, including dK Sanctuary, the well-established Green Mansion 1 and the soon-to-be-opened Syphon. Villas in the area are common and of varying quality and size, running from $1,500 to $3,500 per month.

Tonle Bassac’s prime location make it just as appealing for setting up an office as it is for living. There is quite a bit of commercial and office space available in the area, including in newer buildings such as the iCON Professional Building and B-Ray Tower. Expect more office space to come online in the short term in this ascendant part of Phnom Penh.

David Murphy is managing director of Independent Property Services. He can be contacted on 077 959 861, [email protected], or check out their website at www.independentpropertyservices.com.