The easiest sights to visit in Kampong Chhnang are located along the Tonle Sap river.
As you drive from the center of town towards the river (veering right at the relatively uninteresting town market), the first attraction you will pass (located on your right) is the Buddhist temple Wat Yeah Tep, which has a great location for appreciating both the river and the vibrant commercial life that begins here, including the shops that are set up along the banks of the river leading towards the port.
Beyond this row of make-shift shops is a parking area beside the river, where there is an information desk which can arrange boat trips to the nearby floating-villages.($10/hr).
Beyond the parking area is a ferry pier for commuter boats servicing the villages on the opposite bank of the Tonle Sap, including Kampong Leang and the ruins located on the opposite side of the river, and the Kroum Market, which is a vibrant morning fish market.
If you have less time or do not wish to hire the other boats to take you around the floating village across the river, it is possible to hire small paddle boats from beside the market for short trips to the floating village that is situated alongside the near side of the river ($5/hr).
Getting There
The Kampong Chhnang riverside is located on the north side of Kampong Chhnang town, running east from Wat Yeah Tep, approximately 91km from Phnom Penh; 54km beyond the former capital city of Oudong. Air-conditioned buses from Phnom Penh take about 1.5-2 hours to reach Kampong Chnnang.
Need to Know
- What is It? A Buddhist temple, a riverside market area featuring a morning fish market, and a port for boat trips to floating villages and remote ruins.
- When to Go The riverside is most vibrant early in the morning, particularly towards the end of the rainy season (October - November), when the river is high, but the weather is more likely to be clear.
- Nearest Town The riverside is located in central Kampong Chhnang town, which is 66 km northwest of Oudong, and 91km from Phnom Penh; 54km beyond the former capital city of Oudong.
- Don’t Miss The vibrant morning fish market.