​Cambodian Ambassador and Staff Enhance Connection with Cambodian Community in Philadelphia

On June 26, Ambassador Chum Sounry and the Embassy’s staff paid a visit to Philadelphia, one among the big Cambodia towns in the US. The visit was arranged by Mr. Chou Hor, President of Philadelphia’s Cambodian American Business Community, at the Ambassador’s request with 3 objectives:

1. To further the good relations between the Embassy - the Cambodian community, and this time focusing on the Cambodian businesspeople.

2. To promote Cambodian food, traditional clothes, made in Cambodia products, etc. 

3. To explore the opportunity to organize in the future an economic / cultural event, like exhibition or performance of Cambodian traditional dances.

During the visit, the Ambassador toured some Cambodian shops, among them a Cambodian restaurant “I Heart Cambodia” that serves Cambodian food, including Korko, M’chu Kroeung, Nhoeum Sdaov, Trey Aing with Tek Trey Svay, etc. He handed over a copy of “the taste of Angkor” to the restaurant owner and encouraged her to serve more Cambodian food. 

Later, the team had lunch (at 3:30pm) at this restaurant, during which Ambassador Sounry handed over to the President of Philadelphia’s Cambodian American Business Community, a hand-made silver plate with Angkor Temple inscription as a token of the Embassy’s appreciation for his services to the Cambodian community and a copy of “the taste of Angkor” for the 2nd Cambodian restaurant in this town.

After touring the Cambodian shops, the team visited the weekend-market at Philadelphia’s public park (well known as Philadelphia Khmer Market), in which 80% of the vendors are Cambodian. The tour was arranged by the Association of Cambodian Vendors with the support of local authorities who provided a police car and security during the visit. The Embassy’s team were warmly greeted by the Cambodian vendors who were surprised and pleased by the visit.

Ambassador Sounry discussed with the leaders of the Cambodian American Business Community and the Cambodian Vendors Association about the possibility to organize an exhibition with the performance of Cambodian traditional dances in this park anytime in the coming months. They shared the Ambassador’s wish to see more Cambodian food, traditional clothes and products on sale in this market. The Ambassador also gave the President of the Vendors Association a copy of “the taste of Angkor”.