Oct 282 min read

Phnom Penh & Gastronomy: The successful return of Oktoberfest to the Cambodian capital

More than 1,500 people flocked to the new Connexion centre on Koh Pich to celebrate Oktoberfest this weekend, with beer, folk music and all-you-can-eat German food.

Le grand retour réussi de l'Oktoberfest dans la capitale cambodgienne

In typical Bavarian fashion, the organisers had set up a huge tent with large tables, an endless buffet, beer stalls and a stage to welcome the group Ozapft, the famous ensemble of six German and Austrian musicians and singers who regularly perform at Oktoberfests in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Bangkok.

Within half an hour of the opening, the tables were already well filled, providing an opportunity for Tassilo Brinzer, President of German Business Cambodia (GBC) and the German Ambassador to Cambodia, H.E. Stefan Messerer, to reiterate the importance of this folk event in the world and their enthusiasm about the resumption of this tradition in the Kingdom, which was unfortunately interrupted for six long years for a variety of reasons.

Tassilo Brinzer, President of German Business Cambodia (GBC) and the German Ambassador to Cambodia, H.E. Stefan Messerer

The two men were also quick to point out that it was safer not to drink for those who had to drive after the evening.

Thanks to Hops Restaurants and Hummus House, there were plenty of German specialities available at the buffet, a generous barbecue and above all the opportunity to discover - and taste - an excellent sauerkraut, a dish not so easily found in the Cambodian capital.

The group Ozapft appeared in the middle of the tables, laughing and singing, before taking to the stage and quickly setting the mood by performing a few Bavarian folk classics, as well as some more club-style songs to get the audience stretching their legs on the dance floor.

The audience quickly got into the swing of things, and the atmosphere quickly turned into a popular ball, with the singers circling the tables and inviting the audience to join them in their performance. The guests, many of whom were Cambodian, were more than happy to join in the fun.

Then there were a number of ‘Oktoberfest’ games, including a speech by the President of the BMW Motorrad Club Cambodia, one of the event's partners. Its president, OUM Bunreth, has been travelling on his BMW GS 1250 from Munich to Cambodia since July 7, passing through 23 countries. Delayed by mechanical problems, Bunreth greeted the public via a video message from Tibet. Bunreth and the Oktoberfest raise funds for the Cambodian Kantha Bopha Foundation.

Message from the President of the BMW Motorrad Club Cambodia, OUM Bunreth

The two days of celebrations were a great success, perfectly organised, with not a single incident to dampen the good humour of the two evenings. As for the Cambodians present, they confessed that they enjoyed sharing in this more than festive atmosphere. One of them, Mr Din, said:

"Germany has the same spirit of festivity as we do, and I'm delighted that Oktoberfest is back. As well as enjoying the beer and the very European cuisine, it's also an opportunity to discover a bit of culture from elsewhere.“

A very Cambodian crowd for this 2024 version of Oktoberfest

At the end of the evening, each guest was given a pint of beer, generously donated by the organisers, before heading off to the after-party at the Chew & Bash Club, just a few dozen metres away.