Neak Luong is a busy town on the banks of the Mekong to the east of Phnom Penh, lying not far from Prey Veng. It was the site of accidental US bombing during the Cambodian Civil War.
The reason Neak Luong is so popular is because of its strategic location at the intersection of National Road No. 1 and the Mekong River. While this important road from Phnom Penh eventually links up with Ho Chi Minh City in southern Vietnam there is no bridge across the Mekong here and vehichles must board a small ferry to cross the river. Many tourists actually make Neak Luong a stop-off along the way to/from Vietnam and Phnom Penh.
Attractions in the area include many battlegrounds from Cambodia’s turbulent history, including those of the 1970s Cambodian Civil War. The town was unfortunately the scene of an accidental bombing by an American B52 bomber. Large craters can be seen in and around the town, and Neak Luong was depicted in the movie, The Killing Fields.
Getting There
Neak Luong is 40 miles to the southeast of Phnom Penh, along National Highway 1 to Ho Chi Minh City. Buses can make the journey from the capital in a couple of hours and you can jump off when the bus stops for the ferry (tell them you are planning on doing so). Prey Veng is an hour north along Route 15. Phnom Penh’s international airport receives flights from all over the region.
Need to Know
- What is It?: A small town where a ferry shuttles cars across the Mekong River as they travel to and from Phnom Penh and Vietnam.
- When to Go: December through March during the dry season.
- Nearest Town: Around 60 kilometers southeast of Phnom Penh, along the road to Ho Chi Minh City, both of which feature
- Trivia: Neak Luong was mistakenly bombed by an American B52 bomber in August 1973 during the Cambodian Civil War, which caused the death of 137 Cambodians.