Welcome to Kampong Cham

​​​​​​​​​​​​                                                Introduction to Kampong Cham Province

Kampong Cham is the capital of the province of the same name and the third largest city in Cambodia. With its Mekong River location and relatively close proximity to Phnom Penh (124km) and Vietnam, Kampong Cham has always been an important trade and transportation hub. The highway from Phnom Penh is in excellent condition-you can get here in just under two hours by road or by the bullet boats that are a main mode of transportation between towns on the Mekong River. Either way it's a nice fide, with views of the rural countryside or river area, depending on which way you go.

The town itself is quaint and charming with its bustling morning river scene and wide boulevard streets beside the river. There are a few worthwhile attractions nearby and with it's location on the way by boat or road to Kratie, Mondulkiri, Rattanakiri and Stung Treng Provinces; it's a nice jump-off point.  Kampong Cham is a mix of the old and the new, with a new temple being built in and around old ruins and the big ferry boats taking people and goods to the other side of the Mekong, right next to the construction of the first bridge ever built here.
Because there is little foreign investment and no massive tourism (almost every foreigner who comes here is a backpacker), this city is quite poor with a few modern buildings, though not lacking in French architecture from the colonial period. It is similar to many other Cambodian cities, being rather dirty, with garbage a common sight. The people of Kampong Cham are very friendly and open to engaging with tourists.  If recent projects seem to be improving the state of things here (relative to other Cambodian cities), remember that both PM Hun Sen and former Phnom Penh Governor Chea Sophara are originally from this province.

In this province you can visit many place like:

1. Phnom Bros Phnom Srey (ភ្នំប្រុស ភ្នំស្រី)
2. Wat Norkor Bachey   (វត្តនគរបាជ័យ)
3. Phnom Hann Chhey ( ភ្នំហាន់ជ័យ)
4. Koh Pen  (កោះប៉ែន)
5. Riverside  (មាត់ទន្លេ)

1-Phnom Bros Phnom Srey (ភ្នំប្រុស ភ្នំស្រី)

1-Phnom Bros Phnom Srey (ភ្នំប្រុស ភ្នំស្រី)

Located at Kro La Commune, Kampong Siem District in Seven- kilometers distance from the provincial town of Kampong Cham or 114-kilometers distance from Phnom Penh with exceeding 500 Metres to the left. The pagoda of Phnom Pros has official name called What Sovan Kiri Rotanak Phnom Pros; in 1000 Meters to the North, there is another mountain, which has pointed peak called Phnom Srey.

North of the Phnom Srey, there are ranks of mountains such as mountains of Dang Rek, Ba Ley and Chhuk. The mountain of Pros has dull peak and has approximate 30-metre height. It can be reached by road until the top. At the top, there are a high-five peak temple adapted the model of Bontey Srey temple and two pagodas closed to each other: one is the old pagodas having two peaks built in Sang Kum Reas Niyum time and the other one is being built. Under the temple, there is a big statue with 15-metre height built by the first dead of pagoda, named Keo So. At the mountain base, there are Kot for monks staying.

In addition, at the top of Pros Mountain we can view the beautiful scene of Kampong Cham province. From 1975-1979, the mountain of Pros was a big detention place for torturing Cambodian people in Kampong Cham province. The mountain of Srey has pointed peak and can be climbed up by 308 Stair steps. At the top, there is a ruined temple, with a few nuns and no monks who stay to maintain and collect contribution to rebuild the temple. In this resort, there are many local people who go there during the Khmer traditional festivals such as Khmer New Year and Pchum Ben.

The Phnom Srey and Phnom Pros, Kampong Cham is located at Kro La Commune, which is at a distance of seven kilometers from the provincial town of Kampong Cham. The Phnom Srey and Phnom Pros in Kampong Cham is the name of a mountain peak that belongs to a mountain range exceeding 500 meters to the left. The northern part of Phnom Srey and Phnom Pros of Kampong Cham is surrounded by spectacular mountains of Dang Rek, Ba Ley and Chhuk.

2- Nokor Bachey Temple (ប្រាសាទ នគរបាជ័យ)

2- Nokor Bachey Temple (ប្រាសាទ នគរបាជ័យ)

Nokor Bachey temple is a cultural and historical site. It is located 2.2 kilometers from Kampong Cham provincial town along National Road 7, about 122 kilometers northeast of Phnom Penh. Visitors traveling from Phnom Penh will see the gate to the pagoda on the right. The temple was built in the middle of the 11th century, during the reign of Suryavarman II and King Ouphey dedecating to Brahmanism. The temple is about 200 meters inside the gate. The site is accessibleto almost all types of vehicles.The famous place of Nokor Bachey Temple, Kampong Cham is a wonderful place to visit in the country of Cambodia.

The province of Kampong Cham is brimming with wonderful scenic spots along with several historical monuments. Nokor Bachey Temple, Kampong Cham is one such treasure of the province. The historical spots of this province are ancient and have their own history to narrate. The Nokor Bachey Temple, Kampong Cham can be easily accessed from the provincial town of Kampong Cham. You will have to take the national Road No 7 that links Phnom Penh and Kampong Cham. Any type of vechiles can access the Nokor Bachey Temple in Kampong Cham as it is situated along the national highway. The Nokor Bachey Temple, Kampong Cham can be divided into four distinct buildings that have been named as long buildings.

3- Phnom Hann Chhey (ភ្នំហាន់ ជ័យ)

3- Phnom Hann Chhey (ភ្នំហាន់ ជ័យ)

 ​                               ទេសភាពមើលពីលើភ្នំ គឺមានទន្លេ និងកោះជាច្រើន

Hann Chey Mountain has official name Chey Kiri Mountain located at the East of Kampong Cham province, at the northern part of Mekong River. This resort located at Han Chey village, Han Chey commune, Kampong Siem District in the distance of 18 kilometres by water and 20 kilometres by land. The mountain can be climbed up by 295 beautiful stair steps, and has pagoda and the temple of Kuk made of ancient solid bricks each has seven-square meter size.

Phnom Han Chey lies 20kms north of Kompong Cham city, on the banks of the Mekong River and boasts an interesting collection of ancient prasats and modern-day pagoda buildings. On my recent visit the whole area was heaving with people celebrating the P'chum Ben festival, having travelled from far and wide to join in the ceremonies. My presence was warmly welcomed as the only barang in their midst. The site is also known as Chey Kiri mountain and for the energetic there's a 295 step climb to the top, or for the older visitors like me, there's a couple of drivable roads to the top.

Next to the main vihara at the pagoda of Wat Han Chey, sat on the summit of the mountain and surrounded by gorgeous views of the Mekong, is an unusual square sandstone cella with a series of well-defined carvings. Above the only door to the cella is a narrow lintel which shows two images of the reclining Vishnu, though surprisingly there's no Ananta, the snake on which Vishnu usually lies. the two images are arranged as decorative elements along with three medallions on what is believed to be a pre-Angkorean structure, most likely from the 7th century.

4-Koh Pen (កោះប៉ែន )

 4-Koh Pen  (កោះប៉ែន )

Koh Pen beach is classified as a recreation park and one of the popular beaches of the Kampong Cham. The site of Koh Pen Beach is located midway to Kampong Cham and Kampong Siem District. The distance is about two kilometers from the Provincial Town of Kampong Cham.

You can reach Kampong Cham city from Phnom Penh. The highway between Phnom Penh and Kampong Cham is one of the best in the country. The itinerary is beautiful and you are sure to take pleasure from the wonderful sight. You can avail buses that run along the route frequently. In addition to that the city can be accessed from the nearby cities on your motorcycle or car. Koh Pen Beach, Kampong Cham is a must visit attraction for its beautiful beaches, fun recreational activities, and popular water sports.

Please note that:

  If you want go to Koh pen from Jan-Jun you can across river by Bambou Bridge but from Jun-Dec, in water increase season, you must across by board.

​​​​​​​​​                        But from May the begin of water season

                    So it will destroy this bambour bridge by flow water every year

                        So if you want go to this island you must go by board like this