Positive French name is applied to writer in hot, hot Asian city (5,4)

I believe the answer is:

phnom penh

'asian city' is the definition.
(capital of Cambodia)

I don't understand the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for phnom penh that I've seen before include "Capital of Cambodia" , "Cambodian capital" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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