Kompong Cham
Top Cities
Hotels In:
- Sihanoukville
- Angkor
- Battambang
- Ko Kong
- Kompong Cham
- Kratie
- Phnom Penh
- Siem Reap (Angkor Wat)
- Strung Treng
Travel Cheap
Full of ancient sites, a lively Mekong River island life, and a beautiful waterfall, Kampong Cham is a traveler’s dream destination. Because of its location, it is an ideal trade and transportation hub. During the colonial period, Kampong Cham was also a hub for the French rubber industry, which is becoming a large part of the current economy due to new plantations popping up in the area. Kampong Cham’s name (meaning “Landing of the Chams") has a lot of historical context. Kampong means landing in Khmer. The ancient Cham people of what is now Vietnam, is where the Cham part of the name comes from. The Cham kingdom was always battling with the Angkor kingdom.
Lay of the land
Kampong Cham is in Eastern Cambodia and is only 123 km from Phnom Penh. Kampong Cham is bordered by: Vietnam on the East, Kampong Chhang on the west, Kratie on the Northeast, Kampong Thom on the Northwest, and Prey Veng on the South. The Mekong River flows throughout the entire province of Kampong Cham, giving it an advantage as a successful trade and transit hub.
What to see and do
The riverfront scene is popular among locals and tourists with its kickback vibe. The Lookout Tower is located on the other side of the Mekong River and you can get there by crossing the big bridge. Older Temples like the Wat Prah Tohm Nah Day Doh and the Wat Buhng Kok gives a perspective of war times. The Prasat Nokor (Angkor Bahjay) Temple has a mix of new and old Buddhist styles with a reclining Buddha and mass graves from the Khmer Rouge Period. There are also some hilltop temples: Phnom Bproh and Phnom Sray.
Good views of island life can be seen from the four connecting islands (Koh Sahd-tihn, Boh-loong, Cha, and Bpain). To get there you have to cross a bamboo and wicker bridge for a small toll. The Tuk Chha Ancient Ruins and Reservoir is one of the most popular side trips out of the main part of town. It has 551 temples, the temples being dedicated to both Buddhism and Brahmanism. The ruins, what is left after the civil war era, are scattered over the area with parts of the main temple still intact. There are not a lot of locals at the reservoir, and it is possible to have the place to your self on a weekday. Inner tubes are rented out here for 1,000 riel, and it is also a good place to swim.
Getting around
Most of the tuk-tuks and moto-taxis hanging around by the river and hotels speak a little English and can get you to many destinations. Like most Cambodian rentals, the average for a moto-taxi is US$6-8 a day, or a single trip in town is 1,000 to 1,500 riel. Also like other Cambodian rentals, negotiation is an option if the driver’s price is too high. A car rental is approximately US$25 a day and restaurants and hotels can arrange car taxis.
Favorite Nighlife in the Area Favorite Events in the AreaAround Kompong Cham
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Angkor Until 1861, the ruins of the ancient city of Angkor, capital of the Khmer kingdom, existed only in myth. One of the world's marvels, and the worlds largest religious monument, it's a vast and mysterious complex of carved sandston.... |
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Battambang Battambang is the capital of the Battambang province and the second largest city in Cambodia. Battambang literally means “disappearing stick,” and was named after a powerful stick that a legendary Khmer King used to gain and m.... |
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Ko Kong Many people are confused with Koh Kong because they are unsure of whether it is an island, a town, or a province, but it is actually all three. Here’s a little information to help with the confusion: the province of Koh Kong, wh.... |
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Kratie The riverside town of Kratie is the best place in the world to see the endangered Irrawaddy Dolphins. Along with its picturesque sunsets on the Mekong River, most of the town’s action is along the east bank of the Mekong River a.... |
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Phnom Penh A capital city once deserted in a matter of hours, Phnom Penh has a history unlike any city in the world. It is a city which has seen the greatest of good, and the blackest of evil. Founded in the middle of the 14th century by the.... |
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Siem Reap Angkor Wat Siem Reap is known for it Angkor Wat temples. It gets is name, which literally means, “Siamese defeated” from the seventeenth century victory of the Khmer Empire over the army of the Thai Kingdom of Ayutthaya. Angkor and the .... |
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Sihanoukville Cambodia’s only international deep-sea port Sihanoukville (also known as Kampong Som) has become well known for its uninhabited beaches, fishing spots, and scenic trails. The French and Cambodians created Sihanoukville to give t.... |
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Strung Treng Once called Xieng Teng, Stung Treng was originally part of the Khmer Empire. It became part of the Lao kingdom of Lan Xang, then the Lao kingdom of Champassack, until the French Indochina period when it was surrendered back to Cam.... |
