Village Francophone Showcases Temples War Damage

Detailed summary

PHNOM PENH – Cambodia is displaying replicas of three important temples at the center of its conflict with Thailand to international visitors at the ...

PHNOM PENH – Cambodia is displaying replicas of three important temples at the center of its conflict with Thailand to international visitors at the Village Francophone.

The venue is one of the main events running alongside the Francophonie Summit in Phnom Penh.

A replica of Ta Krabei temple has been built, with a replica of Ta Moan Thom temple alongside it.

Both temples are historical and cultural sites on Cambodian sovereign territory. They have also been at the center of an ongoing territorial and cultural sovereignty dispute with Thailand.

A replica of a damaged section of Preah Vihear temple is also on display to draw international attention to the damage inflicted on Cambodia’s cultural heritage during the conflict.

The Preah Vihear Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an important symbol of Khmer national identity and heritage, suffered extensive damage during armed clashes along the Cambodia-Thailand border in July and December 2025.

Nearly 85,000 stone fragments from the temple have been collected and registered, paving the way for restoration work and collaboration in human resource development, according to the National Authority of Preah Vihear.

The display offers visitors a glimpse of the wider destruction suffered by the revered site during last year's border fighting.

Village Francophone, running from November 13 to 18, will bring Francophone communities together in Phnom Penh to celebrate cultural diversity, encourage dialogue, and promote business opportunities and solidarity.

Opening of the article, excerpted from Cambodianess. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.