Pchum Ben is Cambodia’s biggest annual religious ceremony, marking the 15 days each year that Yama, the King of Hell, opens the gates to his realm and allows spirits to roam the land of the living. While the first 12 days of Pchum Ben are relatively subdued, the country grinds to a halt during the final three days of the festival (October 13-15 this year), when Cambodians flock to the countryside to visit their families and make offerings at the local pagodas. If you’re staying in Phnom Penh during these three days, you’ll find the roads eerily quiet, tuk tuk drivers scarce, and most business and restaurants shuttered or operating with a skeleton crew. CamboKidz checked around town to see what’s open during Pchum Ben. Here are a few fun ideas on how to enjoy the holiday weekend with your kids. Go Swimming: Escape the heat and cool off in one of the city’s hotel swimming pools. Many of Phnom Penh’s hotels offer pool day-passes to non-guests (often at a small charge, or with a minimum purchase of food and drink). If you’re looking to make an entire day out of it, you’ll want to pick a swimming pool that has cabanas or shaded loungers, a wading area for the kids, and a bar or cafe attached that will deliver food and drinks to you poolside. Recommended: Palace Gate Hotel Jungle Addition The Bale Phnom Penh The 252 Make an Even Bigger Splash: For an even wetter Pchum Ben weekend, head to one of the city’s water parks. Garden City Water Park is a bit of a hike, but well worth the effort for its giant twisting and turning slides, speed slides and lazy river. For something a bit closer to home, head to Water Garden at Aeon Mall Sen Sok, where they turn on the taps at 10 am sharp and crank up the foam cannon once it gets busy. Both water parks have wading areas suitable for smaller children. Garden City Water Park Water Garden – Aeon 2 Chill Out in the Park: Take in the fresh air and greenery at one of the city’s parks, which remain open throughout the entire holiday. Keep in mind that parks with pagodas or shrines – such as Wat Botum Park – will be buzzing with vendors selling food, flowers and incense to Cambodian worshippers. Visiting during the morning rush will help your kids better understand Pchum Ben and Khmer culture. Wat Phnom Wat Botum Park Sisowath Riverside Park For a bit of serenity, head to the multi-use green spaces on Koh Pich, which also have food and activities for the whole family. Coconut Park Treellion Park Hit the Mall: While the city might be a ghost town during Pchum Ben, its major malls teem with life. Families – often in groups three generations thick – arrive early and spend the day in the air-conditioned food courts, arcades, indoor playgrounds and cinemas – which remain open throughout the entire holiday. Recommended: Aeon Mall Sen Sok City Aeon Mall Meanchey Chip Mong 271 Mega Mall Dive into a Ball Pit: Most of Phnom Penh’s indoor playgrounds are located in malls and will be open during Pchum Ben, so all your kids really need is a pair of socks to have fun. They’ll have a blast climbing the padded equipment, scurrying through tunnels and sliding into ball pits. Recommended: Doozii Funderland Kids Park Kmeng Land Putt Putt for Fun Fun: Birdie’s, the outdoor mini golf course in leafy Treellion Park, is fun any day of the year, but come during Pchum Ben and you’ll enjoy a 15% discount. Sink a hole-in-one on any of their 18 par-3 holes and you’ll win a free drink (that’s a beer for mommy and daddy, or a soda for the kids). After the game the family can hang out by the club house and play boardgames or try out their giant Jenga set. The regular ticket price is $6 for adults and $4 for kids, but if you’re heading there during Pchum Ben you can get in on their special offer: $15 for one round of mini golf and all-you-can-eat brunch at The Glasshouse restaurant (Sat & Sun only). Birdie's Mini Golf The Glasshouse Tuck into a Sunday Brunch: The Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh is offering 50% off Sunday family brunch at its Market Cafe Restaurant & Lounge during the month of October. And yes, the offer includes the final day of Pchum Ben, October 15! The buffet-style brunch is more than just an impressive spread of Western and Asian dishes in stylish surroundings. It includes free admission to a children’s play area operated by Funderland, with hilarious clowns, and free balloons and face-painting for the kids. The brunch runs 12pm – 3pm, giving you plenty of time to fill your tummy and relax to live music while your kids play. After discount, the net cost is adults $40, kids $12, and free for children 5 years and under. Call or message (phone/Telegram) +855 23 600 1234 for details or to make a reservation. Cast a Line: The fish are biting throughout the Pchum Ben holiday, so why not take the family out and cast a line? Phnom Penh Fishing Tours still has a few spaces on its charter boat, which leaves the city around 9 am and heads upriver to all the best fishing holes, returning by 5pm. The cost depends on the size of the group, and includes fishing rods and equipment, bait and beverages. For a relaxed fishing experience within the city limits, head to picturesque Samathi Lake Resort, where tilapia and carp can be fished from the resort’s dock. It’s $5 to fish, including a rod and bait, and you only pay for the fish you keep. Phnom Penh Fishing Tours Fishing @ Samathi Lake Come Face to Face with a T-Rex: If your child’s first big word was “Tyrannosaurus” you owe it to them to visit Dinosaurs Alive, a fun and educational dinosaur themepark just across the bridge in Chroy Changvar. Walk, hop on a toy train, or peddle a boat to see the life-sized dinosaurs that populate this jungled park. We have been assured that the dinosaurs are staying in for the holiday, and ticket prices remain the same: Adults $8, Children $5, and kids under 90cm free. Dinosaurs Alive Mix it up a Little: Urban Space & Playground will stay open during the Pchum Ben holiday, giving you one destination with a bit of everything for your kids to try. There is a cafe with indoor and outdoor seating where parents can relax while keeping an eye on their kids. Your little ones will want to explore the whole complex, which includes an indoor playground full of toys, an outdoor playground with slides and a tree fort, and a swimming pool. Urban Space Playground & Cafe Dance on Wheels: Bring the whole family to the CIS Roller Dome on Koh Pich during Pchum Ben for public skate sessions that pay homage to the roller discos of the ‘70s and ‘80s. Lace up a pair of retro-cool four-wheeled rollerskates and glide around the air-conditioned rink. The groovy tunes, colorful lights and rink-side snack bars add to the fun and (for some parents) nostalgia. Public skates are set for 12pm to 6 pm on Oct. 13, and 12pm to 6:30pm on Oct. 14-15. Rollerskating @ CIS Roller Dome Workshop by the Park: Head over to the Ground Market on October 14-15 where dozens of local and artisanal vendors are set up along pathways in a landscaped urban park, and a series of special Pchum Ben workshops will be held in its indoor space. Bond with your kids by enrolling together in the fun and interesting DIY crafts workshops (some are free) that will show you how to make your own scented candles, soap, origami and sleepy elephants chandeliers. Check the schedule for workshop times and fees – and to see what goodies you get to make and take home. Stick around till evening for the free jazz performances. There will also be station with free activities for the kids from 10am – 9pm on both days. The Ground Market Learn to Fly: If your kids are bouncing off the walls at home, then you’ll love this. Fly Phnom Penh, the capital’s premiere trampoline park, is staying open for all of Pchum Ben. So let your kids jump, bounce and fly for an hour, or all day long if you like. A one-hour pass for “Little Flyers” under 120 cm is $6, and an unlimited day pass costs $12 during the holiday. Fly Phnom Penh

As new malls open in Phnom Penh others fade into obscurity. The best malls - for parents at least - are those that combine shopping, dining and entertainment to become destinations in themselves. CamboKidz took the kids mall hopping to narrow down the list of shopping malls that tick all the boxes. These five malls have it all – with shopping for the parents, fun and games for the kids, and dining options for the whole family. And one big plus for activity planners, they’re open 7 days a week rain or shine. Aeon Mall Phnom Penh This was the first modern A-grade shopping mall to open in Phnom Penh in 2013 and is still a popular destination for local and expat families, especially on weekends. The mall has four floors and is anchored by Japan’s Aeon department store. Activities for Kids: Kidzooona Kids Park Dream Games Blu-O Bowling Major Cineplex Aeon Mall Sen Sok City The idea behind Aeon’s second mall in Phnom Penh was to recreate the first but make everything bigger and better. You’ll find most of the same stores, but there are even more fun and entertainment options, including a small amusement park inside the mall and a full-fledged water park just outside. Activities for Kids: Kidzooona Kids Park Dream Games Fun Square Water Garden Blu-O Bowling Major Cineplex Aeon Mall Meanchey The biggest Aeon mall in the city to date, this one is so big that it even has its own indoor exercise track (as if walking the length of this four-floor beast isn’t exercise enough). You’ll find branches of all the stores you’d expect in an Aeon mall, but also a number of special features for families with kids, including a large indoor slide and Komsan Park, an outdoor playground with a sandbox, wading pool, zipline and climbing wall. Activities for Kids: Kidzooona Kids Park Dream Games Dream Kids Komsan Park Major Cineplex Chip Mong 271 Mega Mall A newcomer to the capital’s mall scene, this giant multi-story complex is a convenient destination for those living on the south side of the city. It’s still looking for tenants to fill some gaps, but for now you’ll find some mega fun activities, including the city’s first full-size indoor go-kart track. Activities for Kids: Super Doozii NEO Games NEO Go-Kart Legend Cinemas Fun Mall This community mall may not have the dizzying variety of stores of its bigger counterparts, but it does pack in enough fun to make a great afternoon outing for the whole family. Enter the mall through Fun Street, a cozy collection of shops and restaurants designed to look like a mini Hong Kong. In keeping with its theme, the mall regularly hosts fun and colorful family events, and has a basketball court and play area on the roof for the kids. Activities for Kids: Funmily Power Up

The best way to beat the heat in Phnom Penh is to jump into a cool and refreshing swimming pool. But finding a pool that the whole family will enjoy can be a challenge. Ideally, you want a place with a family-friendly vibe where parents can lounge in comfort on the deck or in cabanas while their kids splash and play safely in the water. A shallow wading section and a bit of shade are always appreciated too. CamboKidz has toured the city in search of the best day-use pools for you and your kids. So grab the sunscreen and check out our favorites. DIB CLUB The Diamond Island Beach Club may not have a beach, but what it does have is a huge, clean outdoor pool with enough activities to keep the kids busy both in and out of the water. The whole pool area smacks of a high-end resort, and that’s ok by us because where else can you get that experience without having to book a room or pay an entrance fee? (Pool access is free when you purchase $5 or more in food and drinks). Weekends can be crowded. We recommend going early or during the week and grabbing a shaded poolside cabana, where there is plenty of room for the family to spread out on cushioned sofas and chairs. The giant pool is visually striking, with an undulating shoreline and a tiny tropical jungle island. Parents have plenty of space to swim, while the kids can walk or paddle around in their own shallow wading area. And one big plus here is that parents can relax or swim knowing there’s a certified lifeguard on duty keeping watch over their little ones. Phokeethra Sports Club (Sofitel Hotel) Long-standing Phnom Penh favorite Sofitel knows what families want from a pool day. Here you’ll find a chilled vibe, a spacious pool deck, and a large and inviting swimming pool surrounded by greenery. The pool has plenty of room for parents to do laps or float around on inflatable loungers and catch some rays. The little ones will gravitate towards the attached wading pool, which has a small slide and a fountain that sprays refreshingly cool water on giggling kids. Admittedly, the day pass for the Sofitel’s pool isn’t cheap. But it does include full access to the hotel’s sports club, which includes tennis and squash courts, as well as various gym and fitness activities. If you’re planning to pack in a few hours of sports then cool off in the pool, then this might be the right choice. Monorom Garden Head south to this daycation resort in Chbar Ampov and you’ll find one of the area’s best children’s swimming pools, as well as a relaxing garden with traditional Khmer BBQ food and activities for the whole family. The highlight for the kids is the large children’s pool and splash pad with a fun and colorful playground set in ankle-deep water that’s safe for even the littlest non-swimmers. There they’ll find slides, climbing areas and some fountains spraying cool, refreshing water. The deeper water at one end of the pool is ideal for teenagers, or for parents who want to take a refreshing dip while keeping a close eye on their playful little ones. House Eco Boutique Hotel When it comes to swimming pools for kids, bigger isn’t always better. And House Eco Hotel is a perfect example of why. The blue-tiled courtyard pool here might be small, but it is visually striking and ticks all the boxes for family day-use. The square wading pool is just a meter deep and has an island of greenery in the middle surrounded by a submerged platform that makes a relaxing underwater perch for sitting. Get the staff to turn on the water jets. For adults, it’s a reinvigorating lower back massage while resting up against the island. For kids, it’s fun and bubbles. Everything in this pool is within arm’s reach of its perimeter. So parents can leave their kids to splash around in the pool worry-free while they tuck into a book on a shaded lounger or sink into one of beanbag chairs and enjoy a cocktail. The 252 Boutique Hotel It’s no surprise that this small pool nestled in a lush garden with a row of cozy cabanas along its flank is a long-time favorite of local and expat families. Day-use visitors typically arrive at lunchtime and stay until the early evening, with parents sipping cocktails in the cushioned cabanas while their kids hit the water. The pool area has a family-friendly vibe and not even a pinch of stuffiness. The pool itself is a comfy size and depth, stretching just short of 15 meters in length and divided into a shallow and a not-as-shallow end. There are some loungers on the deck for the sun-worshippers, but by mid-afternoon much of the property is in shade and parents can let their kids can play in the water without worrying about them getting sunburnt.

Space, the final frontier. Decades of unchecked development has stripped Phnom Penh of its greenery and squeezed drab cement buildings into every available lot. Fortunately, there are still a few enclaves around the city where nature not only survives, it thrives. CamboKidz recently toured the capital in search of greenery and grassy open areas for your kids to play. Here’s our list of our five favorite urban parks for a family outing. Sisowath Riverside Park Explore the busiest and most interesting promenade in the city, which runs for over a kilometer along the east bank of the Tonle Sap River in the city’s lively Riverside neighborhood. Coconut Park A grassy open field sits at the heart of this park, which is a hub of activities and a popular venue for outdoor events. Norea Garden Visit this beautifully landscaped park and garden that has the Phnom Penh skyline as its backdrop. Wat Phnom Climb the stairs to visit the hilltop pagoda, or find a bench and take in the natural beauty and serenity of the forested park that surrounds it. Treellion Park Explore this 1.6 hectare patch of greenery on Koh Pich (Diamond Island) with its leafy pathways, whimsical sculptures and outdoor mini golf course.

Looking for a fun (and educational) trip to take your kids on this weekend? CamboKidz ventured beyond the city limits to seek out 5 fantastic destinations that the whole family will enjoy. All of these daytrips are within two hour’s drive of Phnom Penh, so get an early start and you can visit the sites and be back home in time for your kids’ afternoon nap. Oudong Explore the remains of Cambodia’s old capital and climb to the top of the stupa-covered Oudong Hill, enjoying fantastic views along the way. Silk Island (Koh Dach) Take a ferry ride to this island in the Mekong River that offers beautiful scenery, a glimpse of village life and a chance to see the ancient silk-weaving process from start to finish. Phnom Chisor Climb up to this ancient hilltop temple and check out its intricate carvings and commanding view of the rice fields below. Tonle Bati & Ta Prohm Temple Visit the remains of a stunning Angkorian temple then find a bamboo hut and sink into a hammock for a relaxing afternoon overlooking a picturesque lake. Phnom Tamao Zoological Park Get up close and personal with gibbons, tigers, bears and dozens of exotic species in this forested park that serves as a sanctuary for over 1,200 animals rescued from the wildlife trade.

A spectacular fireworks display caps off all the big holidays in Phnom Penh. So whether it’s the Water Festival, King’s Birthday or New Year’s Eve, you’ll be looking for a good vantage point to watch the action. Here are a few places that the whole family will enjoy. Sisowath Riverside Park It’s usually crowded, but the fun, carnival-like atmosphere makes the lower half of Sisowath Riverside Park one of the most enjoyable places in the city to catch a fireworks display. And it’s free. Get there early to scout out a space on the embankment wall overlooking the water. There are also great vantage points along the trail leading south past the Cambodiana Hotel. Royal Palace Park Bring a picnic mat and stake your claim on the lawn of this park for a beautiful view in both directions, with the Royal Palace behind you, and the river and dazzling fireworks in front. This is arguably the most family-friendly location to watch the fireworks, and there is a festive atmosphere and sense of community among the local and expat families that come here. Riverside There are great views to be had from the rooftop restaurants and bars in the capital’s Riverside district, but you won’t be the only one to think of it so be sure to make a reservation or go early to get a vantage spot. Chroy Changvar For a different perspective, head to Chroy Changvar on the other side of the Tonle Sap River and find a spot along the river near the Sokha Hotel. You’ll see all the fireworks, with the Phnom Penh skyline to boot. River Boat Cruises For a truly memorable experience, join a group or charter your own river boat cruise. Head out just after sunset and your captain will position the boat on the Mekong River so you can catch the dazzling display overhead. North end of Koh Pich There are some great vantage points to watch the fireworks along the boardwalk at the northern end of Koh Pich (Diamond Island). It’s usually less crowded here than in Riverside, and there are plenty of restaurants to choose from if you want to stop for a bite.

By following the recommended immunization schedule, you can protect your child against over a dozen vaccine-preventable diseases like polio, hepatitis and measles by the age of two. But that’s a lot of shots, so you might want to think carefully about where you want to have your vaccinations done. Ideally, you want a clean hospital or clinic that suits your budget, and where your child feels comfortable. CamboKidz has a few suggestions. Khema International Polyclinic - BKK This clean and well-managed hospital (as well as its sister facility in Tuol Kork) is a popular choice as a delivery hospital for expat families. Many newborn babies receive their first jab here – a BCG vaccine given at birth – and their parents continue to bring them back for all their scheduled immunizations. Institut Pasteur du Cambodge Why bring your kids to the Pasteur Institute for their immunizations? Well, for starters, the vaccination center here administers over 30,000 injections per year so they know what they’re doing. And the organization’s reputation is sterling, so you’re assured of the highest quality vaccines and proper cold chain management. It’s also the place to come if your kid needs a rabies shot. Apsara Clinic The clinic looks a bit rundown, but a lot of local and expat parents swear by it for minor medical issues and routine care. And it makes sense if you’re on a budget, as your child will get the same imported vaccines here that you’ll find in the bigger hospitals and clinics - but for a fraction of the price. Maxicare Children Hospital Getting a vaccination shot can be traumatic for babies (and even adults), especially as they start to equate the frequent return visits to a hospital or clinic with a sudden, painful needle jab in the arm or buttocks. One great thing about Maxicare is the colorful and soothing decor of the waiting area, which can help young children feel at ease. Orienda Polyclinic & Maternity There’s a lot to like about this child and maternity-focused clinic: the clean building, the relaxed waiting area, and efficient staff used to dealing with parents and their children. And the price is very reasonable too.