For the first time all the colour and excitement of the AFF Suzuki Cup will come to one of the most passionate fan bases in Southeast Asia as the regional showpiece touches down in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh.

With a wealth of cultural, religious and eco-activities to keep traveling fans busy, a trip to Phnom Penh to sample all the AFF Suzuki Cup action will tick off a host of sporting and non-sporting boxes.

City: Phnom Penh

Population: 1.5 million

Currency: Cambodian Riel (1KHR = 0.00025 USD)

Stadium: Olympic Stadium

Local clubs: Cambodia national team

The city’s iconic Olympic Stadium (named despite the Olympics never having taken place in the country) is a hive of activity both on matchdays and non-matchdays alike but when the Angkor Warriors host Malaysia (in the tournament opener) on November 8 and then Laos 12 days later it’s sure to be one of the biggest sporting parties ever seen in the nation.

What to do: The nation’s capital is a packed with arts and cultural activities as well as impressive array of important religious and historical buildings with the Royal Palace (and the attached Silver Pagoda) chief amongst those.

A working location that is the King’s official residence, certain areas are open to the public to walk around – although remember to dress respectfully when visiting the Palace.

Elsewhere you could take a trip to an animal sanctuary, join a cruise down the Mekong River, catch a traditional arts show or visit one of the many museums where you can learn the long and often complex history of Phnom Penh.

What to eat: Fish Amok – A staple of Cambodian cuisine that can be found right across the city, the fish is cooked with coconut curry in banana leaves that creates a rich sauce that dazzles with flavours as lemongrass, lime and turmeric are often added for a dish that you’re sure to remember.

Useful phrases: Although you might be able to use a bit of English in the capital it’s always helpful to have a couple of local phrases to impress the Cambodian people with a simple chom reap sore (hello, in formal tones), lee hai (goodbye, in informal tones) and ar koon (thankyou) sure to be useful on your trip.

Where to watch the other games: The area near the riverfront is packed with restaurants, bars and cafes and as with most places in Southeast Asia it’s simply a case of taking a short stroll and finding which one you fancy, although the Score Sports Bar & Grill and the Paddy Rice Bar are often cited as ideal, sports specific, venues.

Where to stay: With everything from cheaper guesthouses to higher-end resorts, Phnom Penh has a range of accommodation to suit all budgets, with the districts of Doun Penh (close to the riverfront and associated eating and drinking establishments) and Chamkar Mon (further from the action and sights but with more of a neighbourly feel about it) two distinct but popular areas.

Stadium access: Located barely a kilometre away from the popular riverside Doun Penh area where many traveling fans will likely be staying, the Olympic Stadium is easily walkable from there and with large numbers of locals engaging in a variety of physical pursuits in the surrounding areas it’s well worth arriving early to sample the electric buildup to a major fixture in the capital.