Oudong, Former Capital

After King Ponhea Yat abandoned the capital city of Angkor in 1431 AD, Oudong was one of the capital cities before Phnom Penh. The hill topped by enormous ancient Stupas and is surrounded by lush green forests. Oudong today is a sacred place, where a hug stupa was built to store and conserve the Ash of Buddha. Oudong is located about 37 km from Phnom Penh.

Konpong Chhang

Many people believe Kampong Chhnang is the most beautiful of Cambodian provinces. The province is centrally located on the Tonle Sap in the Tonle Sap Lake region of Cambodia. It can be reached by road on Route 5, the main road to Battambang, and is slightly less than 100 kilometers from Phnom Penh. The port area is called Psar Kraom, after the town's "lower market", situated near here. The boat to Siem Reap stops here. Although the dock area itself is not particularly picturesque, it offers great views of Neang Kong Rei mountain across the river. The village on the river itself is a floating Vietnamese village. Just up the road from here is a crocodile farm. Kampong Chhnang's main industries are fishing and rice growing, as well as pottery. In Khmer, chhnang means pot. There is also a lobster fishing industry. The province is famous for its high quality dried fish. With its green paddy fields, rivers and sugar palm-lined horizons, Kampong Chhnang is a wonderful place to spend a few lazy days and take in the sights of the traditional Cambodian way of life.

Kompong Cham Province

Cambodia's 3 rd largest city. Kampong Cham is 124 kilometers northeast from Phnom Penh and can be reached by overland. It seems more like a small attractive town. This town is a good option to go if you do not like to stay in Phnom Penh until your next trip. Kompong Cham province straddles the Mekong River to the north of Kandal and Prey Veng provinces and forms a buffer between Vietnam to the east and Kompong Chhnang to the west, while its northern edge borders Kompong Thom and Kratie. As with all of Cambodia's rural provinces, Kompong Cham is an agrarian centre with large tracts of land used for growing rice, tobacco, corn and rubber. The scenery is lush and green in wet season, dry and dusty in the dry. The provincial capital Kompong Cham sits on the west bank of the Mekong River and is an important transportation and trade hub. This importance has been bolstered with the construction of Cambodia's first bridge spanning the Mekong, the mostly Japanese-funded Kizuna Bridge which impressively crosses the Mekong from the southern part of town.

The name Kompong Cham refers to the once significant Cham population which moved here following the demise of the Champa kingdom at the hands of the Vietnamese. Distinctive in their religion, dress, customs and language, the Cham were singled out by the Khmer Rouge, who decimated their population. Even today, with its plentiful Chinese-script signs, Kompong Cham feels more like a Chinese trading town than the Cham agrarian centre it once was.

 

Kratie Home of Freshwater Dolphins

Is a sleepy Mekong River town situated on the east bank of the mighty river. It’s very picturesque with sandbars and big islands out front and bends in the river. Unlike in many owns around Cambodia, the war years were fairly kind to the French architecture and the roads, at least in the town itself. There are some nice-looking homes of French and Khmer style scattered about, adding to the pleasant feel of the place.
The rare freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins make their home in the Mekong River, just north of Kratie. With only around sixty to eighty remaining, they are worth a visit.
Whether you are just on a trip seeing the river towns along the Mekong or taking a full circuit trip around the east and northeast, Kratie is a nice place to spend a night or two.

Takeo Province

As far back as the third century AD, Chinese traders described a kingdom located in modern Takeo they called Funan. They said this was a kingdom of walled cities peopled by farmers and artisans, as skillful in the craft of irrigation as they were in music and sculpture.

Archeological evidence from the Angkor Borei ruins, where this kingdom had its base, suggests the site may have been an important seat of civilization since as early as 400 BC.
Sandwiched between Kandal, Kampot and Kampong Speu provinces, and sharing its south-east border with Vietnam, Takeo province is often overlooked by overseas tourists but still ranks among the most visited provinces due to the number of Khmer tourists who flock there each weekend to visit the temples, ruins and picnic spots dotted throughout it.

Points of Interest

Ta Prohm and Yey Peuv temples

Down National Route 2, about 40 kilometers from Phnom Penh, a large sign with a picture of a ruined temple marks the turnoff to this site. Built by Jayavarman VII (of Angkor Wat fame) in the 13th century, Ta Prohm temple is a small but beautifully preserved laterite and sandstone structure in well-kept grounds. There are still several statues and bas-reliefs in good condition to be viewed inside.
About 150 meters north of Ta Prohm is the much smaller Yey Peuv temple, which is in poor repair. Legend has it that Yey Peuv was Ta Prohm's mother. There is an entrance fee to visit Ta Prohm.

Tonle Bati

A famous picnic area just around the corner from Ta Prohm temple, set on a small peninsular jutting into the Bati River. On Sundays especially many locals come to sit in the small huts perched over the water and picnic on local delicacies such as chicken and frog provided by local vendors.
Boats can be hired from here, and many people swim. Because it is a holiday spot for Phnom Penhois, it is often a little more expensive so before buying, remember to ask the price and always bargain.

Phnom Chiso and Surya Barpat

Also located in Rovieng Commune, this haunting temple atop the hill of Phnom Chiso boasts stunning views and is an impressive ruin in itself. Located just two kilometers from Neang Khmao Temple in Rovieng Commune, Samrong District, the oldest sections of this beautiful ruin date back to the 11th century. The temple stands on the eastern side on the top of Chi So hill (Chi is a term used to address a person who has recently left priesthood and So is a person's name).
To reach it, you can cheat slightly and drive to the top, or walk the 412 steps on the eastern side

Phnom Borei Phnom Da

This site is believed to be the birthplace of Khmer civilization. The Funanese, as the Chinese called the people who built it, controlled the entire south of modern Vietnam and Cambodia when construction of parts of this city began, perhaps as early as 400 BC. Built from bricks, laterite and sandstone, Phnom Da is situated on a 50 meter hill with stairs to the top. Phnom Borei Phnom Da is five kilometers from Angkor Borei town. The town can be reached from Takeo town by boat in the wet season when the road is impassable.

Kompot Province

Once known by the French as the Perle de la Cote d'Agate, this charming, sleepy province is a wonderful place to get a true feeling of Cambodia. Kampot is bordered by Kampong Speu, Takeo, Koh Kong and Sihanoukville provinces, with a coastline interrupted only by the tiny municipality of Kep. The provincial capital of Kampot Town is just five kilometers from the sea, and wide, empty boulevards stretch towards the lazy river that divides the town, past fine old colonial buildings. Horses graze by the river as the sun sets. The people are unhurried and friendly. This is a place where time has almost stood still. All around are attractions for the visitor - the abandoned former resort of Bokor, caves, pagodas and cool rapids.

Cham Fishmen Village : 3-4 hour walk to return. Nice and original village Walk along the Riverside Rd., pass the Governor's Residence and continue walking on the dirt road. 30 min walk, then you will reach the village.

Borkor Hill Station

A rough and ready road leads travelers to this former French hill station, 1000 meters above sea level in the Elephant Mountains. Built in the 1920's, it remained a resort for wealthy French and Khmers wishing to enjoy the cool mountain air until just a couple of years before the Khmer Rouge took power in 1975. The proud ruins of a former casino, villas, a hotel and a Catholic church are often shrouded in mist, giving the place a ghostly feel. Bokor (which means the ox's hump in Khmer) was a strategic military stronghold until several years ago, but is now secure actor/director Matt Dillon shot scenes for his recent movie here but, as in much of Cambodia, wandering off marked paths is not advisable. Recent visitors were warned by rangers not to camp out on the peak as tigers may occasionally stray in at night, but very basic accommodation with park rangers can be arranged for a small fee. Several people are now operating tours from Sihanoukville to Bokor (such as Red Snapper Tours) and from Kampot. Although small motorbikes can navigate the road up, a trail bike is advisable. The views from this rugged mountain plateau are spectacular when the mist lifts, and there is always the slight chance of a glimpse of rare wildlife long extinct in other provinces, such as tigers and elephants. This is a highlight of any visit to Cambodia.

Teuk Chhou Rapids

Cross the main river in Kampot Town, turn right down a wide dirt road and after about seven kilometers you will come to one of the most peaceful, pleasant little hideaways in the province.
Although referred to as waterfalls by locals, Teuk Chhou is in fact a series on sparkling natural rapids with crystal clear water which is always cool and fresh. A line of food stalls satisfy picnic makers with everything from fruit to whole roast chicken and catfish, to banana and coconut roasted in banana leaves (a specialty of Kampot). On the weekends, this place is a hive of activity. But on weekdays, you may have the place almost to yourself, except for an occasional family arriving to bathe. Motodops will take travelers there for around a dollar, depending on your bargaining skills. There is plenty of parking for cars and motorbikes and the road there is in quite good condition.

Durian Plantations

The reason you might have been offered so much of the spiky, strong-smelling fruit known as durian while enjoying the Teuk Chheu rapids is because of the proximity of the plantations, which line either side of the road en route. Kampot durian is famous throughout Cambodia for its flavor and sweetness. It is deemed superior to Thai durian by Khmer connoisseurs (Prime Minister Hun Sen among them) and the price reflects this it can cost double its imported counterpart. Many foreigners do not enjoy the strong taste and smell of this strange fruit, with its creamy yellow flesh encased in brown spiked skin, but those who do might find this area sells the cheapest (and tastiest) durian in the Kingdom.

Kampot Town

Sitting by the river as the sun sets in the evening is one of the great pleasures of a night in Kampot Town. Although almost everything here closes by 9pm, this sleepy town has a unique charm, enhanced by the fine colonial architecture and boulevards. A walk back into town to enjoy a refreshing tik-kra-lok (a Cambodian fruit shake) and a chat with locals out enjoying the evening air is a nice way to end a day in this pretty province. Hotels offer basic Chinese and Khmer dishes, and the seafood is some of the best in Cambodia. Kampot is a relaxing stop-off for travelers doing the Phnom Penh to Kampot to Sihanoukville loop and a place that, despite its lack of lively clubs and all-night bars, few people want to leave. See our travel guide inside for tips on how to get there and what to pay.