This hotel was first known as “Hotel Le Royal” from its establishment during French Colonization until the end of Sangkum Reastr Niyum in 1970. It was then renamed “Hotel Le Phnom” during the Lol Nol Regime until 1975. The name was believed to be restored to its original after the Khmer Rouge came to power in April 1975. This hotel was known to host foreign delegates since its first operations in the 1930s.

From 1975 to 1975, Hotel Le Phnom was a residence and working place for many foreign correspondents who reported on Cambodia’s civil war. A few days before the fall of Phnom Penh, this hotel was announced as an International Red Cross Security Zone on April 12, 1975, a safe area of no military presence to treat wounded patients.  After the Khmer Rouge regime fell, the hotel name was changed to “Hotel Samaki” and most recently changed to “Raffles Le Royal” in 1997.