There are numerous day trips that visit various ethnic villages in Ratanakiri; different guesthouses and tour operators will take you to different locations.
Typically tours will drive you north towards Virachay National Park, into Voen Sai district, where visitors will often hire wooden long-tail boats, which will travel to villages populated by tribal ‘minority’ groups or even Chinese refugees who settled in the area to escape invading Japanese forces during World War II.
One of the highlights of the villages is a visit to a tribal graveyard, which are creatively spiritual, featuring statues and numerous offerings to honor and appease spirits of the dead and the netherworld.
Getting There
Voen Sai district is located 25 miles (40 km) northwest of Ban Lung, a rugged journey of 1-2 hours depending on seasonal road conditions. The villages are really only accessible through an organized tour; ask at your guesthouse.
Need to Know
- What is It?: Voen Sai district features a variety of villages populated by the diverse ethnic groups that inhabit Ratanakiri.
- When to Go: The best time to go is during the dry season months between November and March.
- Nearest Town: Ban Lung, Ratanakiri: 25 miles (40km) - Ban Lung is about 3-4 hours east of Stung Treng. The bus ride from Phnom Penh to Ban Lung goes via Stung Treng and takes around 12 hours.
- Don’t Miss: Fascinating tribal cultures.
- Trivia: One village in the area consists of the descendants of Chinese refugees who settled in the area while escaping invading Japanese forces during World War II.