The killing fields of Choeung Ek is a reflective place in Phnom Penh, and for good measure. This is the place where many local Cambodians were killed during the Khmer Rouge era in the 1970s.

Situated some 15km from downtown Phnom Penh, this is where many locals met their untimely death during the Khmer Rouge regime.

You will find field pits where body remains were exhumed from in 1980. From these pits, the remains of 8,985 people were exhumed. Even so, about 43 out of the 129 communal graves in this place have been left untouched. It is not uncommon to see bone fragments appearing, especially after a heavy downpour.

​There is one particular tree, with the signage included, where babies met their deaths here. It is right here, on that tree, where babies were flung and smashed against the tree to kill them. Adults were also killed using a variety of methods. Most of the time, to save money on bullets, these people were killed with sticks, hoes, wooden clubs, and other makeshift weapons.

Remember to get the audio tour, which is part of the admission price. It is really beneficial as it is explained in detail as you walk around the Killing Fields. You will hear testimonies from both victims of the Khmer Rouge, as well as former guards who speak about what they did during the turbulent era.

At the end of the audio tour, there is a small museum, where you will be able to see a short documentary about the killing fields. Make sure you catch it.