According to legend, in 1372, a wealthy old lady named "Penh" lived on a small hill near the bank of the confluence of the four rivers.

One day, when it was raining, Penh went down to the port to take a bath and saw a floating Koki tree in the river and she called the village to fish it from the water.

When the water receded that year, He ordered Chao Ponhea Decho, the governor of Samrong Tong Province to build a new palace in Russey Keo village in the area of (Wat Phnom) today.

After a year of flooding, King Ponhea Yat moved his court from Tuol Basan, Kampong Cham province to the confluence of the Tonle Sap River in 1397 AD.

The interior has a central altar complex with a large bronze seated Buddha surrounded by other statues, flowers, candles and items of devotion and worship.

The front is often crowded with the faithful bringing their prayers and food offerings to the woman deemed responsible for the founding of the wat.