Official Name
Kingdom of Cambodia

Surface Area
181,035 square kilometers

Population
Approximately 11 million

Race
The majority (90%) of the population is Khmer. The remaining 10% are comprised of Cham (Khmer Muslims), minority hill tribes, Chinese and Vietnamese.

Language
Khmer is the official language. English and French are popular second languages.

Religion
Theravada Buddhism is the official religion in Cambodia. The majority of people are Buddhist and 5% are Muslim or Christian.

Climate
The climate can generally be described as tropical. As the country is affected by monsoon, it is hot and humid with an average temperature around 27°C (80°F). There are two distinct seasons: the Rainy Season and the Dry Season. However, the Dry Season is divided into two sub-seasons, cool and hot. These seasons are:
The Rainy season: From June till October 27-35°C (80-95°F)
The Dry season (Cool): From November till February 17-27°C (80-95°F)
The Dry season (Hot): From March till May 29-38°C (84-100°F)

Currency
The local currency is the Riel, although the US Dollar is widely accepted throughout the country and in all major markets. In recent years the rate of exchange has been floating around USD1= 3,900 Riels. Some popular Riel denominations include: 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000 notes.

Visas & Fees
For most visitors to the kingdom, visas are obtainable upon arrival at both Pochentong and Siem Reap International Airports in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. At land crossings from Thailand, visas are available at Poipet and Cham Yeam (Koh Kong province). Visitors who enter from Vietnam through Bavet (VN: Moc Bai) or Ka-Om Samnor (VN: Chao Doc) will need to have already obtained their visas prior to their arrival through a Cambodian Embassy or Consulate overseas.
The border crossing from Laos is also possible through Voeun Kham border checkpoint, but travelers are advised to obtain their Visas prior to arrival at the border.
Please note that other border crossings not mentioned above are not classified as international checkpoints therefore we suggest that you secure confirmation before commencing your trip. Various Visa extension options are also available.
Requirement: Two Passport Photographs
One completed application form
Visa Fee: US$20 for tourist Visas & US$25 for business Visas.
The fee is payable only in cash.

Svay (pronounced Swai) Rieng and Prey Veng are a couple of sleepy Cambodian provinces that just happen to have one of the country’s busiest highways running straight through them-National Highway 1, which links Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam Just after you cross the Mekong River by way of the Neak Loeung Ferry.
Town sits just 58 km from the Moc Bai border crossing and is a fairly prosperous place as a result of the border trade traffic, business people and travelers passing trough. The town is a very friendly place and makes for a pleasant overnight stop whether coming from or going to Vietnam.
Svay Rieng town is situated near the Waiko River and its vast, scenic marshlands, the result of a wide stretch of the river drying up significantly over the years.
It’s a pleasant setting and one that can be enjoyed at several different spots along the river and marsh. A bridge over the Waiko, not far from the main part of town, bears a plaque that states the bridge was donated by Hun Sen, the all-powerful prime minister.
Svay Rieng is a province locates in south east Cambodia bordering Prey Veaeng province to the north, Vietnam to the east and south and Kandaal province to the west. Since the rehabilitation of national road one, it is more convenience to commute to this province by car on national road number one (must cross ferry at Neak Loeang). The journey might take approximately 2 hours and a half. Geographically, Svay Rieng is a low land province. Majority of land is arable land and it is under Mekong water half a year. According to Ministry of Interior statistics, Svay Rieng province covers 2,869.35 km2. Administratively, this province is divided into 07 districts, 80 communes and 690 villages. According to 1995 population census, there were 478,612 person accounted for 98,580 households settled in Svay Rieng province.
The population is 261,318 male and 289,148 female with total 550,466. The average temperature 27.5
The Svay Rieng Market is the place to change money. There are plenty of the telltale glass cases of the moneychangers along the front, as well as inside the market area.
They readily change dollars, riel and the Vietnamese dong

Takeo town is an easygoing place that possesses a fair amount of natural and manmade beauty. The natural beauty is in the Scenic River and lake area that faces a pleasant town parkway. The low-lying area seems to include much of the surrounding province area, which is probably why a kingdom that once had its heart here was referred to as Water Chenla. There seems to be water everywhere in the surrounding countryside during the rainy season.

Town is an important trade hub with a few hints of Lao influence scattered about, owing to the fact that the Lao border is about 50 km away. It’s a friendly, quiet country town situated near the confluence of the San River and the Mekong River. It actually sits on the banks of the San River, with the mighty Mekong coming into the picture on the northeastern outskirts of town.
The San River goes by three names, depending on which of the locals you speak to. Some call it the Kong River because the San and Kong Rivers merge together about 10 km northeast of Stung Treng town, confusing people about which name the river should bear. Others call it the Sekong River, which is the combined name of these two rivers. Whatever name the fiver beside the town goes by, it’s another one of Cambodia’s beautiful picture-postcard river towns. It’s a nice place to kick back and chill out if you are on a circuit tour of the Northeast.River Scene, from Here to Laos
The San River is fronted in Stung Treng by a nice stretch of paved road. It’s the center of socializing (as in most Cambodian river towns) in the late afternoon and early evening hours as the locals ride up and down the stretch enjoying the view and each other. Drink and dessert stands spring up earlier to serve the daily merrymaking crowd. It’s a nice spot for a walk or jog any time of the day as the river road turns into a pleasant rural road that leads to the airport 4 km north of town.
The river port area just in front of the small city park is fairly busy, handling trade between Cambodia and Laos. The ferry across the San River to where Highway 7 continues north to the Laos border is also at this pier. The fare is 300 riel per head. We went for a ride on this stretch (2,000 riel for taking a big bike on the ferry), but there is not much to see along the way besides jungle and the remnants of a road that was a target of carpet bombing during the Vietnam War years. The road works its way eastward so it does not afford views of the Mekong River as one would hope. The few residents we saw along the way were truly amazed to see the likes of us, would want to be there.
Stung Treng province, which covers an area of 11,092 km2, is a remote and sparsely populated province in the northeast of Cambodia. It borders Lao to the north, Ratanakiri to the east, Preah Vihear to the west and Kratie and Kompong Thom to the south. The province is divided into five district, 34 communes and 128 villages. Stung Treng is a unique province quite distinct from other Cambodian provinces in the Mekong basin. It is characterized by extensive forest cover, intersecting rivers and streams, and low population density. The population of Stung Treng constitutes just 0.7% of Cambodia's population. The population density is 7 people per square kilometer, which is nine times less than the national density. As the population is low and the province is endowed with natural resources, the in-migration rate is very high. This fact has been proven by the population census in 1998, which shows that 19.4% of the province's population has migrated from outside, of which male migrants constitute 55%. The most commonly stated reasons for in-migration were moving with family, followed by searching for livelihood. Similar with other provinces, the female population is higher than the male population. The result of the census in 1998 demonstrates that 50.5% of the population is female. In Stung Treng, about 79.4% of the populations are involved in the agriculture sector. The secondary and tertiary sectors account for 2.4% and 18.2% respectively1. There are 54,488 male and 55,217 female with total 109,705.

Is a bit of paradise for the naturalist. Remnants of an ancient volcano exist in the form of a crystal-clear lake that was formed after the active volcano went dormant. There are also a few ancient lava fields that testify to the fact that the area was quite lively at one time.
Beautiful waterfalls, clear rivers winding through stretches of jungle, and rolling hills that meet mountains near the Vietnam and Laos borders provide a full agenda for nature lovers.
Rattanakiri is the home of Cambodia’s version of the Golden Triangle. Unlike the other one of illicit drug fame, this triangle is gaining popularity for its natural beauty and self-sufficient hill tribe communities, untouched and not a part of the tourism industry as they are in neighboring Thailand. Non-structured, low-impact, custom trips to outlying villages and natural areas can be organized (strictly by yourself or with help from a guesthouse).
You will soon ralizee that this area has not seen a lot of tourists. If you do happen upon hill tribe people in the areas outside of Banllung, don’t be surprised if they look at you in horror and turn to run away. They just haven’t seen many, if any, foreigners.
Banlung town is the seat of the province. It has recently grown more visitors friendly. They see Banlung as a nice quiet area in which to raise their families and try their hand at being entrepreneurs.Yeak laom Volcano Lake
This beautiful place is not far from town and is great for a swim, picnic, or hike around the crater rim of the old volcano. And it has a small informative local museum thrown in to boot. In 1995 the governor of Rattanakiri officially set aside a 5,000-hectare (12,350-acre) protected area, of which the lake is a part and in 1996 got help from the International Development and Research Center of Canada and the United Nations Development Program to develop an effective resource management program.

This area represents Cambodia’s finest attempt at preserving a site. Full-time rangers work to ensure the area is protected. They receive regular training and have put up signs throughout the area reminding people not to littler, wash clothes, bathe or toilet in the lake. Amazing for Cambodia.
The main swimming and picnic area features a nice wood deck that’s great to use for a jump into the sparking clean water. Nearby, park rangers erected a couple of examples of hill tribe construction in the form of non politically correct bride and groom homes, where the man gets the elevated home (his status in the relationship) and the woman has the one nearer to the ground.
A few hundred meters down is the Cultural and Environmental Center, which has information about area history and displays of local hill tribe tools and handiwork. They also sell some of the handicrafts made by the hill tribes: musical instruments, beaded belts, shirts, and hats.
From the center you can take a nature trail around the entire crater rim. King Sihanouk had a chalet built on the shores of the lake and used it during the 1960s. It was destroyed in the 1970 war between the Lon Nol government and Khmer Rouge guerillas. You can still see the remnants of this and also-indifferent spots around the lake-trenches that held gun emplacements during the fighting.
The inhabitants of the area. The Khmer Leu hill tribe people have always recognized the lake as a sacred place, home to the spirits of the land, water, and forest. Here those spirits interact with humans and, according to the local legend of Yeak Laom Lake, fabulous, spiritual aquatic beings reside here. The surrounding forests of the area are also said to be the home of spirits and therefore can’t be cut. This helps to explain why the hill tribe people took so strongly to the idea of protecting the area.
It’s very easy to get to-just go east from the Independence Monument circle 3 km to the Hill Tribe Monument circle and go right about 1,5 km to the entrance gate. The local hill tribe community connected to the lake gets to collect an entrance fee, giving them a source of income and revenue for protecting their resource. It’s only a few hundred riels per person and a few hundred for a motorcycle.
Ratanakiri is situated on the north - east plateau, 636 Km from Phnom Penh. It is bordering Vietnam on the east, Laos PDR on the North, Steung Treng on the West and Mondul Kiri on the South. There are two rivers crossing the province ( Sre Pork and Sresan River )
There are 8 different hill tribes’ ethnic groups. They like to live in the jungles, hills, mountains in small separated villages where they make their living through traditional ways of cultivation (shifting agriculture), hunting and collecting fruits, must from the forest. They believe in spirits, derived from their animism beliefs. There are 63,333 male and 64,774 female with total 128,107
Ratanakiri Province has a climate like the other areas in the country, there are 3 seasons:
- Rainy season: June - October
- Cool season: November- February
- Hot season: March- May: Temperature: from 20c -32c

Like Poipet, this former capital of the Khmer Rouge is now a boom town attracting Cambodians from around the country seeking to make their fortune, or at least a better salary than back home. Pailin was the major revenue producer for the Khmer Rouge guerillas, being a major gem producing area as well as a prime logging area.
While gem production seems to have tapered off a bit, other business opportunities and the lifestyle have attracted prospectors to the town. Up until the surrender deal of Khmer Rouge’s number three men, Ieng Sary, in 1996, the townsfolk lived under the strict rules of the KR hierarchy, with little freedom of expression and most aspects of life being completely controlled by the paranoid regime.
Abound here, another of Cambodia’s Wild West towns. And like the gold-rush days of Califirnia, people seem to be everywhere in the hills sifting through mud puddles and scratching at the dirt, looking to strike it rich with the find of a nice gem. Still, there is more control of some aspects of life than in other areas of Cambodia
But this seems to have attracted people rather than kept them away. I talked to several people who had moved to pailin from Phnom Penh and gave this as the main reason they made the move. They liked the idea that criminals did not enjoy the same impunity that they seem to enjoy in Phnom Penh. The influx of residents from other parts of the country has produced a friendlier Pailin.
Nowadays the mixed lot of Pailin residents seems happy to see foreigners coming in to holiday and check the place out, realizing that their presence means that normalcy and revenue are arriving in Pailin.
Even the Vietnamese residents seem to have been accepted, which is truly amazing given the hatred the Khmer Rouge has generally shown them. Pailin is worth checking out. The town is nestled in a beautiful valley with picture sunsets over the mountains that separate Cambodia and Thailand close by. Wat Gohng-Kahng This features the much-photographed landmark gate of Pailin town that you face as you arrive on the highway from Battambang. This wat is the center of holiday festivities these days in Pailin and was the scene of the official Pailin reintegration ceremony in 1996, after the Ieng Sary faction of the Khmer Rouge worked out surrender and semi-autonomy deals with the Cambodian government.
There are 19,059 of male population and 16,175 female with total 35,234

Oddar Meanchey Province is a recent creation that was carved out of the northernmost past of Siem Reap Province and it straddles the Thai border on its northern edge, which is also covered by the Dangrek Mountains (or escarpment, as they are sometimes called), It is a very remote province that has also been a notorious place because this is where he nastiest of the nasty Khmer Rouge made their last stand. The diabolical Pol Pot and his seemingly bloodthirsty henchmen, Nuon Chea, Ta Mok, Son Sen and Khieu Samphan holed up here for the last years of the Khmer Rouge’s existence (another of the henchmen, Ieng Sary, already worked out a surrender and defection deal with the government in 1996). Pol Pot died mysteriously here, after a supposed power struggle within the power elite (he had Son Sen and his family murdered) and after a controversial show trial. The debate focused on whether it was real or just a sham staged for the outside world to try to legitimize remaining Khmer Rouge figures. The trial took place in the power center of the Khmer Rouge, the village of Anlong Veng. Pol Pot died mysteriously after he was sentenced to house arrest and the international community began real efforts (for the first time ever) to capture and put this butcher on trial. His henchmen had more than enough reason to wasn’t him dead at that point because a Pol Pot on trial, as the ringleader most responsible for the genocide wrought upon his fellow countrymen, would probably have tried to shift portions of the blame (rightfully so in the case of these guys) to the rest of the power elite. The Khmer Rouge kept fragmenting after that and Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan worked out a surrender-amnesty deal with the Cambodian government and Ta Mok (also called “The Butcher”) was subsequently captured and is still awaiting a trial in Phnom Penh. As of March2000, the United Nations and the Cambodian government finally seem set to come up with an agreement on putting the top surviving members of the Khmer Rouge regime on trial in Cambodia, with assistance from and in a partnership with the international community. Stay tuned though, as this has been a real political football with seemingly more concern for one-upsmanship and personal gain than justice for the dead and surviving victims of Khmer Rouge brutality.Thai Border The border is 14.5 km from the circle in Anlong Veng. There is no market there and it is not a legal crossing. There are plenty of tanks and tank shells to look at along the way and also a strange site in the form of a boulder that had Khmer Rouge soldiers carved out of the sides of it- they have all been decapitated since government forces took control of Anlong Veng. Anyway, it’s an interesting little ride to a low-lying part of the Dangkrek Mountains. The road is in fairly good shape with the exception of the climb up a rocky hillside near the border.

This province is chock full of natural beauty, with thickly forested mountains, powerful waterfalls and the lush green rolling hills of the western side. Add to that the communities of hill tribe people who are not affected by mass-tourism, as they are in neighboring Thailand, and you have an area that is very attractive to the adventure traveler. The town of Sen Monorom is the best base camp for travelers who want to explore the surrounding areas. A quiet but beautiful town nestled into the hills; it has a lot of potential to develop into a center for non-intrusive eco-tourism. At present, it’s much undeveloped, which gives you a feeling of going somewhere off the beaten tourist trail. Also interesting is the variety of languages being used: Khmer, hill tribe languages, Vietnamese and Laos.
There are 22,890 male and 22,023 female with total: 44,913.

Kratie 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 towns 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 fifteen to twenty 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. River Scene Kratie has a beautiful river boulevard with dozens of snack and drink stands in the late afternoon and evening, making this a nice spot to chill out and watch the people parading by. There are also a few big concrete decks along the river scene. The river road is a great place for a stroll or jog. There are 175,745 male and 175,804 female with total: 351,549

The name of the capital and the province … and the island adjoining it, Very confusing. Now a more and more popular entry point from Thailand gateway of Trat. The border post of Ban Had Lek, a small fishing village on the Thai side, is picturesque, while the Cambodia side, which the used to be desolate land, has recently been developed with a casino and a resort to lure Thai gamblers (there are no legal casinos in Thailand).
Locates at Mondul Sey Ma District, at the Cambodia-Thailand border in eight-kilometer distance from the provincial town of Koh Kong. Cham Yeam is the natural and man-made resort, which organized by Neak Ouk Nka Li Yung Phat in 1997. Nowadays, Cham Yeam has been organized as the international tourist resort, in which there are five star hotels, guesthouses, casino and other entertainment. At Cham Yeam, there is a lot of coconut trees planted in chess line. Cham Yeam has beautiful scenery and can attract many tourists, especially Thai tourists. The border checkpoint of Cham Yeam opened from 8:00 to 17:00 hrs and from 22:00 to 22:30 hrs.

Alternatively, you can choose to swim or just relax on the warm beach of kep city, which was established by the French in 1908. Today Kep is popular mainly to the domestic tourists who choose Kep as their holiday destination. What's more, Kep offers great sea food and magnificent views of the mountains and the beaches. Taking a boat to the nearby islands is also a breathtaking experience. Another itinerary, which must not be missed, is an excursion to the serene waterfalls of 'Tuk Chhou" situated about 10 km from Kompot. The background of Kep City is locating at Southwest of Phnom Penh; the city can be accessible by the National Road No 3 from Phnom Penh via Kampot province in 173 kilometer or by the National Road No 2 from Phnom Penh via Takeo province. The Kep City was organized in 1908 during the French colonial time. The city was developed as the beautiful seaside tourist resort in 60th decade during the time of Sang Kum Reas Ni Yum. The story related to the name of Kep said that there was a king named Sa Kor Reach who had the mighty spell. He put the sleeping spell to a commander at AngKor Thum, then stole the commander's white horse and fled together with his troop to the Southwestern seaside. When he took a rest at the seaside, he was approached by the commander's troops who had chased him from behind. Suddenly,he got on the horseback; the horse jumped up. And mad he falls down with the horseseat, then, he got on the horseback again and fled away without picking up the horseseat because the commander's troops nearly approached him. So that, we called the area ' Kep Seh ' means ' the horsesseat ' then we only called ' Kep ' until now.

Is a small town on the Tuk Chhou River, 5km inland from the sea. Fishing and farming are the main activities; durians and melons grow in abundance. To the south end of town is a large dusty traffic circle with three hotels arrayed around it – Phnom Kieu, Phnom Kamchay, and Tuk Chhou. Each has its own restaurants; Tuk Chhou offers a seedy nightclub. Also on the circle is Prachummith Restaurant, close by is Amar Restaurant. To the south near the river is the GPO and telecommunications building. At the north end of town, about 1.5 km away, is the Central Market, with foodstalls. All Kampot transportation is concentrated within range of the market-cycle, motors, taxis, trucks, and buses. The railway station lies farther north. There’s zero of interest in Kampot except to walk around town and look at crumbling French-built blue-shuttered shop fronts. Previously Kampot was a stepping-stone to Bokor and Kep. You can reach Kampot by irregular plane service from Phnom Penh. It’s not advisable to get there by car. It takes about 5 hours to cover the 150 km from Phnom Penh to Kampot.
Rural development measures are implemented effectively and efficiently by the various actors, according to the needs of the most important target groups. Above all, the rural population should be able to sustainably better satisfy their basic needs.
The total population in this province is 619,088 with 299,814 male and 319,274 female.

Ang Kor Chey Pagoda is located at Ban Tey Dek commune, Kean Svay District in total distance of 29,000 km from Phnom Penh or 32,600 km from Ta Khmao by the National Road N0 1 (Phnom Penh-Svay Rieng province).
We travel along the National Road N0 1 from Phnom Penh or Ta Khmao to Kilometre 29 then exceed about 50 meters; there is a gate at the right hand side written “Ang Kor Chey Pagoda”. If we enter by trail about 1,600 meters, we will reach the entertainment center.
The pagoda constructed with having five peaks as the temple’s peaks. Before reaching the pagoda, we need to pass over a 100-meter wooden bridge; under the bridge, there is a big pond for keeping water during the dry season.
Behind the pagoda, three is an artificial site located on the black hill characterized as resident of Neak Mean Bon or King. It is said that the black hill is a former palace because we found ancient objects and equipment like bowls and pot characterizing the ancient feature.Now, the black hill has been organized and maintained by guards because it relates to the belief in sacred objects there. Nowadays, Angkor Chey pagoda has a lot of local visitors especially those who cling to abstract belief; they go there to have sacredly watered. In addition, Ang Kor Chey pagoda has the beautiful scenery with cool shadow from the trees and pleasant environment.Ang Kor Chey Pagoda
There are 621,948 male and 658,833 female with total 1,280,781.

Kampong Pos Thom’ was the original name of the present call ‘Kampong Thom’. Because originally long time ago, at the dock of Sen river next to a big natural lake, there was a big cave with a pair of big snakes inside. The people living around this area usually saw these big snakes every Buddhist Holiday. Time after that, the snakes disappeared, and the people of that area called Kampong Pos Thom. Then, only short words ‘Kampong Thom’. During the French colony in Cambodia, the French ruled and divided Cambodian territory into provinces, and named them according the spoken words of the people called ‘Kampong Thom Province’ until now.
Kampong Thom is a province located at the central point of the Kingdom of Cambodia. The province has a total land area of 15,061km2 divided into 8 districts, 81 communes and 737 Villages.
The province is divided into two parts:
- Eastern part of National Road 6: Covers 70% surface consisting of forests and plateau, rich in natural resources which are good for agriculture, forestry and animal husbandry.
- Western of part of National Road 6: Covers 30% surface is the plain area extending to Tonle Sap Lake. This area is good for rice cultivation and fishing for supporting the needs of the province and exporting to other.
The total population is 708,398 person or 4.5% of the total population 14,363,519 person in Cambodia (2007, provincial government data) with growth rate 2.4%, which consisting of 343,478 person or 48.3% are male and 364,920 person or 51.7% of female. In the above number are also consisting of 517,072 people or 85.0% are farmers, 28,150 people or 4.60% are fishermen, 91,248 person or 15% are traders, 5,884 person or 0.97% are government’s officers.
The country has a tropical climate-warm and humid. In the monsoon season, abundant rain allows for the cultivation of a wide variety of crops. This year-round tropical climate makes Cambodia ideal for developing tourism. Travelers need not fear natural disasters such as erupting volcanoes or earthquakes, and the country is not directly affected by tropical storms. Cambodia can be visited throughout the year. However those planning to travel extensively by road should avoid the last two months of the rainy season when some countryside roads may be impassable. The climate distinguished by four major seasons. The most pleasant is the cool-dry season from November to February during which temperatures are cooler (average 20-28º C.). The hot-dry season lasts from March to May (average 30-35º C.). From June to August is the rainy season, during which temperatures are relatively cool (average 22-30º C.). And from September to October is the cool-wet season (average 25-30º C.). At this time of year it rarely rains in the morning: most precipitation comes in the afternoon, and even then, only sporadically. Rainfall veries considerably from area to area. Whereas the seaward slopes of the south-west higlands (Kompong Som and Kampot provinces) receive more than 5,000 mm of rain per annum, the central lowlands average only about 1,400 mm.
Kampong Thom is also a province-rich in tourism potentials to attract national and international tourists such as the exotic lakes, rivers, forests, mountain and more than 200 ancient temples.
The Riel is the local currency. However, the US Dollar is accepted (4,000 Riel to one U.S.D, July 05) and it is best to carry small denominations. Credit cards, Traveler's Cheques and foreign currencies are accepted in major hotels, souvenir shops and banks. Newly installed Credit Card Teller distribution machines are now available in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh.

Kampong Chhnang is an easygoing river port town that is worth a visit. It’s easy to get to from Phnom Penh (a read good road) and the road goes by the old capital of O’Dong, as well as a nice sampling of Cambodian countryside along the way.
It’s only 91 km from Phnom Penh, so it’s a quick jaunt up. Kampong Chhnang also gives you the option or taking an air-con bus to get there. There are also some sights to check out and thetown has a fair selection of places to spend the night and a couple of decent spots to have a feed.
The bullet boats to and from Siem Reap and Phnom Penh made a port call here and there are also motorized boats to rent to explore the Tonle Sap River area around town. They are between US$ 8 per hour, or you can get one of the small non-motorized boats to take you on a more quiet tour for 4,000 riel per hour.
The new river walkway is the place for a stroll and is where the locals head to for the early evening social hour. It’s the evening and weekend spot to be seen
The total population is 538,163 person include 259,347 male and 278,816 female or 3.6% of the total population 14,363,519 person in Cambodia (2007, provincial government data) with growth rate 2.4%, In the above number are also consisting of 407,453 person or 85.5% are farmers, 29,250 person or 6% are fishermen, 35,076 person or 7.5% are traders, 4,783 person or 1% are government’s officers.

With its Mekong River location and relatively close proximity to Phnom Penh and Vietnam, Kampong Cham has always been an important trade and transportation hub. The highway from Phnom Penh is in excellent condition-you can get here in just under two hours by road or by the bullet boats that are a main mode of transportation between towns on the Mekong River. Either way it’s a nice fide, with views of the rural countryside or river area, depending on which way you go.
The town itself is quaint and charming with its bustling morning river scene and wide boulevard streets in from the river. There are a few worthwhile attractions nearby and with its location on the way by boat or road to Kratie, Mondulkiri, Rattanakiri and Stung Treng Provinces; it’s a nice jump-off point. Kampong Cham is a mix of the old and the new, with a new temple being built in and around old ruins and the big ferry boats taking people and goods to the other side of the Mekong, right next to the construction of the first bridge ever built here.This sprawling township stretching lazily along the bank of the Mekong River has much to offer, from temples to deep forests of rubber plantations (a legacy of the French colonial period) to peaceful stalls along the river where visitors can sit back and soak in the atmosphere over a beer or fresh coconut. Kampong Cham is at a crossroads. It is the gateway to exotic Mondulkiri Province through Kratie, and port city on the mighty Mekong. The province is divided up into 16 districts, with 173 communes and 1,748 villages.

This sprawling township stretching lazily along the bank of the Mekong River has much to offer, from temples to deep forests of rubber plantations (a legacy of the French colonial period) to peaceful stalls along the river where visitors can sit back and soak in the atmosphere over a beer or fresh coconut. Kampong Cham is at a crossroads. It is the gateway to exotic Mondulkiri Province through Kratie, and port city on the mighty Mekong. The province is divided up into 16 districts, with 173 communes and 1,748 villages.
Kampong Cham is the capital of the Cambodian province of Kampong Cham. It is the third largest city in Cambodia with a population of 1,914,152 people (2007) with 928,504 male and 985,648 female and is located on the Mekong River. Kampong Cham is 124 kilometers northeast from Phnom Penh and can be reached by either boats or a recently constructed asphalt road. It takes about 2 hours by vehicles or 2.5 hours by boats from Phnom Penh to the city of Kampong Cham. Its geographic location is 12.00°N, 105.46°E.
Cambodia has sun almost year round. Average temperature 27 degrees Celsius; minimum temperature is about 16 degrees. Dry season from November to March, temperature ranging from 17-27 degrees. December and January is the coolest period. Rainy season from May to October, temperature ranging from 27-35 degrees with humidity up to 90%. The hottest month is April.

Cambodia’s second largest city lies in the heart of the Northwest and until the war years was the leading rice-producing producing province of the country.
Battambang did not give way to the Khmer Rouge movement until after the fall of Phnom Penh, but it’s been in the center of the ongoing government Khmer Rouge conflict ever since the Vietnamese invasion in 1979 pushed the genocidal regime out of Phnom Penh and to the Northwest.
Until the surrender deal of Ieng Sary (Khmer Rouge number three man based in Pailin),Battambang was the Khmer Rouge in the region.
Earlier history saw Battambang flip-flopping back and forth between Thailand (called Siam before their 20th-century renaming) and Cambodia. It’s been a part of Thailand most of the time since the 15th century, with Cambodia regaining control (more specifically, the French) in 1907. The Thais grabbed it again, with Japanese assistance, in 1941 and kept the region in their camp until after the World War II years in 1947.

The Allied Forces helped persuade the Thais that the region was originally part of ancient Cambodia and the world community would not take kindly to the Thais holding onto it further. Like the rest of the northwest, there is still a lot of Thai influence apparent. The main currency is still the Thai baht and many people are able to converse in Thai. But the area is very Khmer, with ancient Khmer ruins scattered about and the ways of life much more similar to the rest of Cambodia than Thailand.
Battambang is the main hub of the Northwest connecting the entire region with Phnom Penh and Thailand, and as such it’s a vital link for Cambodia.
Battambang city is a peaceful and pleasant place these days. The main parts of the city are situated closed to the Sangker River, a tranquil, small body of water that winds its way through Battambang Province. It is a nice, picturesque setting. As with much of Cambodia, the French architecture is an attractive bonus of the city.
Battambang (băt'umbăng) [key], city (1995 est. pop. 110,000), capital of Battambang prov., W Cambodia, in a great rice-growing area. The second largest city in Cambodia, it is a market center with numerous rice mills. Textiles are also made. The city is on both the highway and railroad linking Phnom Penh with Thailand; after the outbreak (1970) of civil war in Cambodia, the Battambang–Phnom Penh road was a prime target of the Khmer Rouge insurgents, who, by capturing it, severed Phnom Penh from its major source of rice. Battambang was acquired by Thailand in 1809 and returned to Cambodia in 1907. A technical university is located in the city.
The population census in 1998 shows that Battambang is a densely populated province with male 501,286 and female 515,448 and total population of 1,1016,743 people. The population density is 68 per km2, which is slightly higher than the national density of 64. The population of this province constitutes 6.9% of Cambodian population. The percentage of female population accounts for 51%1.

Cambodia has a tropical monsoon climate. During the rainy season between mid-April and mid-October the Mekong swells and backs into the Tonle Sap (Great Lake), increasing the size of the lake almost threefold. Between November and April winds are less strong and there are higher temperatures there (up to 35°C).