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| Home » Cambodia » Travel Guide »
Kampong Cham
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| DESTINATION CAMBODIA |
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KAMPONG CHAM
GUIDE |
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 ATRACTIONS IN
KAMPONG CHAM |
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| HIGHLIGHTS IN
KAMPONG CHAM |
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| QUICK GUIDANCE |
| The breathtaking landscapes, beautiful coastlines, cultural delights and historical significance, make Cambodia an enjoyable stop in Asia travel map. To help you plan a trip in Kampong Cham - Cambodia, we provide the useful guide of hotel options, package tours, transport, attractions, shopping and entertainment. You just click the sections below for helpful information. |
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KAMPONG CHAM PROVINCE OVERVIEW |
| Geography |
Demographics |
Telephone |
Capital: Kampong Cham
Location: Center
Area: 9,799 km2
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Population: 1,608,914
Density: 164.2 /km2
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Calling code |
| Town and Districts |
| Batheay , Chamkar Leu , Cheung Prey ,Dambae , Kampong Cham , Kampong Siem , Kang Meas , Kaoh Soutin , Krouch Chhmar , Memot , Ou Reang Ov , Ponhea Kraek , Prey Chhor ,Srei Santhor , Stueng Trang , Tboung Khmum |
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| General Information
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The province of Kompong Cham straddles the Mekong River to the north of Kandal and Prey Veng provinces and forms a buffer between Vietnam to the east and Kompong Chhnang to the west, while its northern edge borders Kompong Thom and Kratie. As with all of
Cambodia's rural provinces, Kompong Cham is an agrarian centre with large tracts of land used for growing rice, tobacco, corn and rubber. The scenery is lush and green in wet season, dry and dusty in the dry. The province is divided up into 16 districts, with 173 communes and 1,748 villages
The provincial capital Kompong Cham sits on the west bank of the Mekong River and is an important transportation and trade hub. This importance has been bolstered with the construction of
Cambodia's first bridge spanning the Mekong, the mostly Japanese-funded Kazuma Bridge which impressively crosses the Mekong from the southern part of town. Kampong Cham is at a crossroads therefore it is the gateway to exotic Mondulkiri Province through Kratie, and port city on the mighty Mekong.
The name Kompong Cham refers to the once significant Cham population which moved here following the demise of the Champa kingdom at the hands of the Vietnamese. Distinctive in their religion, dress, customs and language, the Cham were singled out by the Khmer Rouge, who decimated their population. Even today, with its plentiful Chinese-script signs, Kompong Cham feels more like a Chinese trading town than the Cham agrarian centre it once was.
The vast majority of backpackers and independent travellers who reach Kompong Cham are heading further afield
- mostly to Kratie, Mondulkiri or Rattanakiri provinces, but if you have the time, try to allow for at least an overnight stay in the provincial capital as there are some excellent expeditions that can be made from here.
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KAMPONG CHAM PROVINCE PEOPLE |
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GETTING IN - OUT
KAMPONG CHAM PROVINCE |
Kampong Cham is 124 kilometers northeast from Phnom Penh and can be reached by either boats or a recently constructed asphalt road. It takes about 2 hours by vehicles or 2.5 hours by boats from Phnom Penh to the city of Kampong Cham.
* Boat: This is a nice option for you travel along the Mekong. Phnom Penh to Kampong Cham takes two hours. The boats depart just north of the Japanese Bridge on the Phnom Penh side of the river.
* Kampong Cham to Kratie: This is a three – hour boat ride. The boats usually do not continue on to Stung Treng as the water level must be very high to enable the boats to clear all of the small islands and clumps in the river between Kratie and Stung Treng The boats usually don’t even go during the rainy season.
*Motorcycle : The cost for taking a motorcycle with you by boat for a section of the trip is the same price as for a person. It’s not recommended, though, as the porters who load and unload the boats are a hassle to deal with and if they happen to drop your motorcycle in the river (a real possibility), it’s your loss and not theirs. If you have a motorcycle, ride it. It’s not recommended to combine the two modes of transportation.
*Bus: The Hoh Wat Gentling Bus Company has a/c buses to and from Kampong Cham on a regular schedule every day. Their main bus terminal is near the southwest comer of the Central Market (or New Market) in Phnom Penh. In Kampong Cham, bus arrivals and departures are at the Kampong Cham Market. Please see the Getting Around chapter towards the front of the book for all bus schedules.
* Taxis: With the air-con buses making the trip from Phnom Penh to Kampong Cham and doing it more cheaply, there is not much of a reason to take a taxi. The road is good. The share taxi do not go all the way to Kratie at this time, only as far as Snoul, the small town that is the juncture point for the road to Kratie and to Sen Monorom town in Mondulkiri Province. In Snoul there are only sometimes share taxis plying the route to Kratie. If you don't have your own motorcycle as transportation, your surest bet is to take the bullet boat if you want to go to Kratie from Kampong Cham.
* The route Phnom penh to Kampong Cham: The highway from Phnom Penh is an excellent condition; you take Highway 6 from Phnom Penh (crossing the Japanese Bridge) and go to Skon stature of children holding a bird. Highway 6 continues on to the left, going to Kampong Thom and Siem Reap. For Kampong Cham, you veer to the right and follow Highway.7. A scenic option to this is to follow the river road on the eastern side of the Mekong River. It takes a bit more time but if you have time it’s worth it. Security is not a problem. Until the new bridge over the Mekong River is finished, you still take the big ferry across if you want to explore the eastern side of the province or continue on to Kratie or Mondulkiri Provinces by motorcycle or vehicle.
* The route Kampong Cham to Snoul and Kratie or Sen Monorom: The motorcycle ride from Kampong Cham to Snoul is no a road that’s not great but is doable. Just before you reach Snoul there is a junction in the road with a police box on the right side. Follow the road to the left and you are on the highway to Kratie. You go through the town of Snoul just ahead where there is food and fuel. Back at the junction by the police box just before you get to Snoul, following the curve to the right takes you to Mondulkiri, about 7 km past that curve you come to a four-way junction. Turn left there and you are on the highway to Sen Monorom. Fuel and drinks are available at the four-way, so you can bypass Snoul if you like. From Snoul to Sen Monorom the road is in good condition. It is only a dirt road but it is nice and level because it was put in for the logging trucks. The road does get a bit tricky during the rainy season, however, when the clay gets wet and it becomes similar to riding on ice. |
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GETTING AROUND
KAMPONG CHAM PROVINCE |
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KAMPONG CHAM PROVINCE RESOURCES |
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TRAVEL TIPS |
Climate
Cambodia has sun almost year round. Average temperature 27 degrees Celsius; minimum tenperature is about 16 degrees. Dry season from November to March, temperature ranging from 17-27 degrees. December and January is the coolest period. Rainy season from May to October, temperature ranging from 27-35 degrees with humidity up to 90%. The hottest month is April. |
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KAMPONG CHAM PROVINCE ECONOMY |
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| Northern Cambodia |
| Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Oddor Meanchey, Preah Vihear, Siemreap - Angkor Temples |
| Central and Eastern Cambodia |
| Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Thom, Kandal, Pursat, Kampong Cham, Kratie, Mondulkiri, Ratanakiri, Stung Treng |
| Southern Cambodia |
| Phnom Penh, Kampot, Kep, Koh Kong, Prey Veng, Kampong Speu, Sihanoukville, Svay Rieng, Takeo |
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