Gateway to eastern Cambodia, Kampong Cham Province and the capital city of the same name, is a populous, agrarian province featuring the lone bridge across the Mekong River.
While an economically important province, Kampong Cham doesn’t offer a vast array of easily accessible tourist attractions, but its a charming enough town with a few interesting sights, so it makes a decent stopover on the way to or from destinations in eastern Cambodia.
Encompassing 16 districts, Kampong Cham province is home to the country’s third largest city, Kampong Cham, which draws its name from the large community of Cham people, who moved to Cambodia from their ancestral home in Vietnam many centuries ago.
Most people come to Kampong Cham in passing, as the city serves as the gateway to eastern Cambodia, including Kratie, Mondulkiri, and Ratanakiri. While few linger here, there are a few interesting Cham village worth visiting, some beautiful French colonial architecture, including the Old French Lighthouse, and a unique bamboo bridge, which is rebuilt every year by the residents of Koh Paen.
Farther from town are a number of Angkor and pre-Angkor era temples, as well as a few more modern temples atop hills, one of which has a memorial to the victims of the Khmer Rouge, who were particularly brutal to the resident Cham, nearly 25% of whom lost their lives in the war.
Along the way to Kratie is the town of Memot, a dusty district capital close to the border with Vietnam that is known for its prehistoric ruins.
Accessible in less than three hours by road or boat from Phnom Penh (124kms/75 miles away), the province is an easily reached location that few foreigners bother checking out.
Where to Go
- Skoun: A small town famous for its exotic delicacies, especially fried tarantulas, offering adventurous street food experiences.
- Wat Maha Leap: One of the few remaining wooden pagodas in Cambodia, offering a rare glimpse into traditional Khmer architecture and spiritual practices.
- Kampong Cham: A charming riverside city known for its colonial architecture, vibrant markets, and the iconic bamboo bridge connecting to nearby islands.
- Memot: A district rich in history, famous for its prehistoric archaeological sites and rubber plantations in the heart of Cambodia’s rural landscape.
- Phnom Pros & Phnom Srei: Twin hills near Kampong Cham, steeped in local legend, with pagodas offering panoramic views.
- Wat Hanchey: An ancient hilltop temple complex overlooking the Mekong River, known for its stunning views and pre-Angkorian ruins.