Provinces in Cambodia: The most beautiful places
The Kingdom of Cambodia is divided into 25 provinces, including the province-free capital Phnom Penh. While Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Kampot and Battambang are among the most frequently traveled places in Cambodia, there are areas such as Mondulkiri and Ratanakiri that are almost untouched.
We take you on a journey across Cambodia, the land of the Khmer. Look forward to world-famous and not-so-famous tips and events from the individual provinces and cities. We start with the regions and hotspots most frequently visited by tourists in Cambodia.
1. Siem Reap
Location: North-West
Name of the capital: Siem Reap
Area of the province: 10,299 km²
Population: 1.014 million (2019)
© Inga Palme | 3 Rüdiger Brill
© 3 Rüdiger Brill | 1+2 Inga Palme
When you think of Siem Reap, you might not even realize that the Cambodian province bears the same name, right? Be that as it may, only a few tourists are aware of it. Practical: Thanks to the nearby airport, getting to Siem Reap is very easy. The most frequently used connections (also by land) are from Bangkok and Phnom Penh.
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The name Siem Reap means Defeat of Siam. The town of the same name has become famous for the nearby Angkor temples.
The district of Banteay Srei in the north with the Koulen mountain range is attracting more and more visitors. In particular, the sleeping Buddha, the waterfalls and the elephant reserve, which is located around 100 km north of the city of Siem Reap. The first two are also extremely popular with Cambodians.
2. Phnom Penh
Capital of Cambodia
Location: South
Area of the provincial capital: 679 km²
Population: 2.282 million (2019)
© Rüdiger Brill | 1 Inga Palme
© Rüdiger Brill
Vibrant capital of the kingdom, with its royal palace. The place where the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers meet. Getting to Phnom Penh: Depending on where you are starting from, you can take a plane, bus, boat or cab.
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Phnom means hill – in other words, Penh hill. The Central Market, built in 1935, is almost legendary with its unusual architecture.
Phnom Penh mixes contemporary city flair with traditional Cambodian roots. Modern restaurants, (sky)bars and shopping malls meet delicious street food, numerous pagodas and monasteries, monks, women in colorful pyjamas – right in the middle of the waterfront promenade.
3. Kampot
Location: South, on the coast
Name of the capital: Kampot
Area of the province: 4,873 km²
Population: 633,700 (2017)
© Inga Palme | 5 Doris Köhl | 6 Rüdiger Brill | 3 The Pepper Hill
Connoisseurs know about the area in the south of Cambodia: pepper! Not only white and black, but also red. Unique in taste and world-famous. The region on the banks of the wide Preaek Tuek Chhu River is becoming increasingly popular. The journey is tranquil and the best way to get there is by train.
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The French quarter in Kampot attracts visitors with its colonial architecture and small restaurants and cafés. The best places to stay are along the river, for example Samon’s Village on the western bank (1st photo).
The extensive riverside promenade is ideal for long walks. As soon as it gets dark, tourist boats start their tour upriver. Curious highlight: the deck just fits under the bridges. Guests have to sit during the passage ;-)
4. Battambang
Location: Northwest
Name of the capital: Battambang
Area of the province: 11,702 km²
Population: 1,260,700 (2017)
© 1+4 Nico Hartung | 2 Rüdiger Brill | Inga Palme
© 1 Nico Hartung | 2 Inga Palme
A wondrous place: because in the province of Battambang with its capital of the same name, huge swarms of bats and a bamboo train are among the main attractions. The song Champa Battambang by Sin Sisamuth, probably Cambodia’s most famous singer, is deeply rooted in the hearts of the Khmer people.
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The name Battambang is based on a legend, the disappearing stick. Even today, a statue of the prince on his white horse is a reminder of the story. Locals pray to the statue to make their wishes come true.
A highlight during or shortly after the rainy season is the trip between Siem Reap and Battambang on the Tonle Sap Lake (for arrival or departure).
5. Kep
Location: South
Name of the capital: Kep
Area of the province: 336 km²
Population: 49,900 (2017)
© 1 Doris Köhl | 2,3,5 Nico Hartung | 4 Rüdiger Brill
©: 1 Doris Köhl | 2+3 Nico Hartung,
Kep is one of the smaller provinces in Cambodia. A tranquil and charming spot on the coast in the south – the new Sihanoukville for travelers. Famous for its crabs and good fish. One of the particularly impressive sights in the town: the enchanted-looking former magnificent villas as silent witnesses to the colonial era.
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The most convenient way to get here is by cab or bus: from Phnom Penh, neighboring Kampot in the north, Sihanoukville in the west or the border crossing from Vietnam, 40 km away. Within the town, tuk tuks are the most common means of transportation. If you want to drive yourself, you can hire a bicycle or a scooter (approx. USD 7 per day).
In the 1960s, Kep was the seaside resort for the rich and powerful. Destroyed by the civil war, Kep is now also a popular destination for Cambodians. We particularly recommend Angkul Beach to the north of Kep with its secluded beaches.
6. Sihanoukville
Location: South
Name of the capital: Sihanoukville
Area of the province: 1,938 km²
Population: 285,900 (2017)
)
© Inga Palme | 3 Van Soun
© 1 Inga Palme| 2 Van Soun
In recent years, the small port town of Sihanoukville with the province of the same name, which was once popular not only with backpackers, has made a name for itself primarily due to Chinese construction activities. This has led to the fact that Sihanoukville, as many people remember it, no longer exists today. A number of high-rise buildings, casinos, hotels, lined with modern streets, somehow atypical for Cambodia and yet still existent. But one thing remains: The fantastic view of the sea with its sometimes stunning sunsets.
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Sihanoukville has a very small but nonetheless international airport. Flights arrive from Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and China. If you have time, you can travel by cab or train. From Phnom Penh or halfway from Kampot.
7. Koh Kong
Location: South West
Name of the capital: Koh Kong
Area of the province: 11,160 km²
Population: 158,300 (2017)
© Dreamstime.com | 2 David Bokuchava | 1+3 Heng Kim Za
© Dreamstime.com | 2 David Bokuchava | 1+3 Heng Kim Za
The province of Koh Kong with its capital of the same name and offshore island is located on the border with Thailand. The region is characterized by untouched nature, mangrove forests and secluded beaches.
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Koh Kong is nowhere near as touristy as Siem Reap, for example. So the journey there is also comparatively long. In the south via the coastal road of the neighboring provincial town of Sihanoukville, in the north-west via the Thai border crossing Hat Lek / Trat.
The Peam Krasaop Wildlife Sanctuary invites visitors with its mangrove landscape. A footbridge runs through the protected area. A visit costs 5,000 riel (approx. 1.25 USD), locals pay a little less at 3,000 riel.
The community of Chi Phat offers bird watching at sunrise, bat caves and waterfalls, hikes in the wilderness and more.
8. Takéo
Location: South
Name of the capital: Takéo
Area of the province: 3,563 km²
Population: 893,500 (2017)
© Dreamstime.com | 1 Cristabern | 2 Ho Minh Nhut | 3 Nangdorego
© Dreamstime.com | 1 Cristabern | 2 Ho Minh Nhut | 3 Nangdorego
The province of Takéo lies between Kampot and Phnom Penh in Cambodia’s south. The landscape of the predominantly flat region is characterised by rice cultivation. There is an hourly bus service from Phnom Penh to the capital and further south to the Vietnamese border at Phnom Den / Tinh Bien.
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There is actually an Angkor temple of the same name in the province of Takéo, Ta Prohm. It is by far not as well known as the famous Ta Prohm in Siem Reap. Even though it was also built under King Jayarvarman VII.
From the temple ruins on the Phnom Chisor mountain, the view stretches far across the country. The ruins are located around 30 kilometres north of the capital Takéo.
9. Kandal
Location: South
Name of the capital: Ta Khmau
Area of the province: 3,568 km²
Population: 1,483,800 (2017)
© 1 Rüdiger Brill | 2 Dreamstime.com | Jackmalipan | 3 Plony
© 1 Plony | 2 Rüdiger Brill
The comparatively populous province of Kandal has two highlights in particular. Firstly, the famous stupa on Phnom Udong. The second is Wat Svay Andet, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2018.
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If you search for Udong online, you will find the town of the same name in the north-eastern tip of Kampong Speu province. A pretty little town but without the famous stupa, which attracts monks from all over the country every year for Meak Bochea.
Also interesting: Kandal completely surrounds the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh – so anyone travelling from Penh travelling overland through Cambodia must always pass through the province of Kandal. Kandal itself benefits in terms of good accessibility thanks to its connection to Phnom Penh and its infrastructure.
10. Prey Veng
Location: South
Name of the capital: Prey Veng
Area of the province: 4,883 km²
Population: 987,700 (2017)
© 1 Rüdiger Brill | 2 SixTravel
Prey Veng looks like a blank spot on the map. There is very little information online about the province in the south of the country. Yet it has a very special history. It is said to be the birthplace of the Khmer people.
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Just about 80 kilometres east of Phnom Penh and 45 kilometres south of the provincial capital is Ba Phnom – “Hill of Ancestors” – a 139-metre-high hill and also the highest point in the area.
At the top is an old monastery: Ba Phnom Resort, so named by the Cambodian Ministry of Tourism.
11. Svay Rieng
Location: South-East
Name of the capital: Svay Rieng
Area of the province: 2,966 km²
Population: 506,700 (2017
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© 2 Dreamstime.com | Biserko, Inga Palme
© 1 Dreamstime.com | Biserko, Inga Palme
Svay Rieng borders neighbouring Vietnam to the south-east. The Bavet international border crossing is one of the busiest. Tourists in Svay Reing are usually travelling through. Buses run every hour between Phnom Penh and Bavet. It is well worth taking a closer look at the province.
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The Cambodian coconut dance from the Romas Haek district, which dates back to 1960, originates from the area.
A dance that was danced back then, especially after work in the fields, and today is performed for the Cambodian New Year.
12. Kampong Cham
Location: South-East
Name of the capital: Kampong Cham
Area of the province: 4,871 km²
Population: 925,000 (2017)
© 1+2 Doris Köhl | 3 Rüdiger Brill
The provincial town of Kampong Cham of the same name is one of the largest in Cambodia. From the capital Phnom, Kampong Chan can be reached by boat via the Mekong or overland in around 2.5 hours.
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Kampong Cham is famous and popular because of its bamboo bridge. The Khmer build it every year during the rainy season.
13. Tbong Khmum
Location: South-East
Name of the capital: Suong
Area of the province: 5,250 km²
Population: 776,841 (2019
)
Tbong Khmum is the youngest province in the country. On 31 December 2013, King Norodom Sihamoni signed a decree dividing the most populous province of Kampong Cham into two areas of approximately equal size. Kampong Cham in the west and Tbong Khmum in the east to the border with Vietnam. The Trapeang Phlong border crossing still exists.
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The region is mainly characterised by rubber plantations.
Many people use Tbong Khmum – which translates as “bee diamond” – as a gateway to other regions in Cambodia. Those travelling north to neighbouring Kratie also like to make a detour to the Haong waterfall.
14. Kratie
Location: East
Name of the capital: Kratie
Area of the province: 11,094 km²
Population: 398,800 (2017)
Kratie in the centre-east of Cambodia is home to seven indigenous ethnic groups. In the pre-Ankorian era, Kratie was one of the most densely populated areas in Cambodia. Around 70% of the indigenous people live along the Mekong River.
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Kratie is primarily known for its beautiful river landscape, green villages and rice fields.
However, the Irrawaddy dolphins and the island of Koh Trong are among the main attractions.
15. Mondulkiri
Location: East
Name of the capital: Senmorom
Area of the province: 14,288 km²
Population: 92,213 (2019)
© 2 Dus Manuela | 1+3 Rüdiger Brill
© 1 Manuela | 2 Rüdiger Brill
Mondulkiri (also Mondul Kiri) is the largest Cambodian province. With its extensive hilly and forested landscapes, it is an Eldorado for nature lovers. The quickest way to reach the province is by plane. There is a small airport in the provincial capital of Senmonorom. There is no border crossing to neighbouring Vietnam in Mondulkiri.
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Mondulkiri is still a young province. It was founded in 1960 by the Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk. The elephant reserve is particularly popular with tourists.
It is believed that the indigenous Bunong people have lived in the region for around 2,000 years. However, there are only a few documents about them. Expelled in the 1970s, they were allowed to return to their homeland in the 1980s.
16. Ratanakiri
Location: North-East
Name of the capital: Banlung
Area of the province: 10.782 km²
Population: 217.453 (2019)
Ratanakiri – Cambodia’s easternmost point – is home to elephants in the (protected) wilderness, just like Mondulkiri. Coming via Vietnam at the Ou Ya Da border crossing, the reserve is not far away in the same district.
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The mining of semi-precious stones, especially zircon, has a long tradition. The mines are even open to visitors.
One of the main attractions is Yaklaom, a legendary lake with volcanic origins. At 18 metres, the Cha Ong waterfall is one of the highest in Cambodia.
17. Stung Treng
Lofaction: North-East
Name of the capital: Stung Treng
Area of the province: 11.092 km²
Population: 165.713 (2019)
© Dreamstime.com | 1 Andrii Kolinchev | 2+3 Marek Poplawski
Stung Treng province, covering 11,092 km², is a remote and sparsely populated region in the north-east of Cambodia. Extensive forests, intersecting rivers and streams characterize the landscape. Travelers from Laos can cross the border into Cambodia by land at the Trapaingkriel International Border Checkpoint. This is the only border crossing between Laos and Cambodia. And with one exception: unlike the other border crossings, a visa on arrival is not possible there.
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Stung Treng is the birthplace of famous personalities such as the singer Sin Sisamuth and Ken Lo, a stuntman and member of the Jackie Chan Stunt Team.
18. Kampong Thom
Location: Center of Cambodia
Name of the capital: Stung Saen
Area of the province: 13.814 km²
Population: 681.549 (2019)
© Dreamstime.com | 1+2 Beibaoke1 | 3 Marek Poplawski
For tourists with a penchant for ancient temples, Kampong Thom – the second largest Cambodian province in terms of area – offers several historical sites. The difference to the Angkor temples in Siem Reap is obvious: the ruins here are not as famous and are therefore much less likely to attract crowds of tourists.
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The province was originally called Kampong Pos Thom, which translates as “harbor of the great snakes”. Long ago, there are said to have been two snakes that lived in a large cave. It may be due to the disappearance of the snakes that the Khmer now call the area Kampong Thom.
Kampong Thom is home to Cambodia’s largest cashew kernel farm.
19. Kampong Chhnang
Location: Center of Cambodia
Name of the capital: Kampong Chhnang
Area of the province: 5.521 km²
Population: 527.027 (2019)
© Inga Palme
The province of Kampong Chhnam surrounds the southern edge of Tonle Sap Lake before it flows on to Phnom Penh as a river. It is best reached from Phnom Penh by cab or minibus via Highway No. 5.
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The region’s primary income is from rice, fish and, above all, pottery. Andong Russey, the “pottery village”, can be reached by cab from the provincial capital in around 30 minutes.
Every year in March, the Ministry of Tourism organizes a large street festival with various attractions.
20. Kampong Speu
Location: middle South
Name of the capital: Kampong Speu
Area of the province: 7.017 km²
Population: 877.523 (2019)
© 1 Heng Kim Za | Dreamstime.com |2 Adobe Stock Nhut
Located to the west of Phnom Penh, the rural province of Kampong Speu literally translates as “Port of the Star Fruit”. This is despite the fact that the region is known for its palm sugar.
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The fact that Kampong Speu is home to the former capital of Cambodia is not generally well known among travelers. Udong – as it is called – is located in the north-easternmost part of the province.
Incidentally, it should not be confused with the mountain of the same name – Phnom Udong – which is located in the neighboring province of Kandal, along with its famous stupa.
21. Pursat
Location: Midwest
Name of the capital: Pursat
Area of the province: 12.692 km²
Population: 419.952 (2019)
© Inga Palme
Pursat is one of the 5 Cambodian provinces surrounding the Tonle Sap. Many travelers only pass through here on their way between Battambang and Phnom Penh.
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Pursat is also one of the areas in Cambodia with little tourist development. This is where the greenish marble for which the area is famous comes from.
The province has more than 100 marble workshops.
22. Pailin
Location: Midwest
Name of the capital: Pailin
Area of the province: 803 km²
Population: 75.112 (2019)
© Rüdiger Brill
Small but mighty – that’s Pailin, the tiny province in the west of Cambodia. There is a gold-rush atmosphere here. The reason: the region is famous for its precious stones – sapphires, zircons and rubies. A paradise for many treasure seekers. In Cambodia, the journey leads via Battambang. From Vietnam via the Chantaburi / Phsar Prom Pailin border crossing.
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Pailin originally belonged to the province of Battambang, but was hived off in the course of peace negotiations.
Pailin has only two districts and borders the Cardamon Mountains to the south, which extend to the north.
23. Banteay Meanchey
Location: North-West
Name of the capital: Sisophon
Area of the province: 6.679 km²
Population: 81.883 (2019)
© 1 Adobe Thor Jorgen Udvang | 2 Inga Palme | 3 Dreamstime.com Noelbynature
Banteay Meanchey – “Citadel of Victory” – is the most traversed region between Thailand and Cambodia. The border crossing at Poipet directly connects the metropolis of Bangkok with the touristically developed Siem Reap. Depending on traffic, the journey takes between 6 and 8 hours.
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The region was already part of the Khmer Empire during Angkor times. The contemporary witnesses still exist today with their ruins from the 12th century.
The similarity of Banteay Chhmar to the famous Bayon is striking. Here too, the faces of Lokeshvara, the ruler of the world, are impressive.
24. Oddar Meanchey
Location: Norden
Name of the captial: Samraong
Area of the province: 6.158 km²
Population: 276.038 (2019)
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Oddar Meanchey – in German “the victorious north” – with memorials to Pol Pot and Ta Mok. In some cases it is still very important to find out exactly which routes are safe beforehand.
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A new tourist destination has recently emerged in Trapeang Rei, a town in Anlong Veng Municipality (Link on Google Maps).
Near the Angkor Peace Center there is a plateau with a wide view over the country (see embedded street view from Google). Pol Pot’s house and a restaurant are also nearby.
25. Preah Vihear
Location: middle North
Name of the capital: Tbaeng Meanchey
Area of the province: 13.788 km²
Population: 254.827 (2019)
© Dreamstime.com | 1 Jackmalipan | 2 Frenta
Preah Vihear – in the north of Cambodia and the place to go for fans of the Angkor temples. Although rarely visited, the complexes are no less magnificent than their famous “relatives” in the province of Siem Reap. From there, at least Koh Ker can be explored on a day trip.
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Prasat Preah Vihear is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is located directly on the border with Thailand.
However, it is not possible to cross over into the neighboring country. Not even to neighboring Laos.
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