Welcome to Kampong Cham

Kampong Cham is one of the more densely populated provinces in Cambodia and also one of its more fertile areas. Its capital city was once vibrant and exciting in1930s and 1940s when it benefited from surrounding rubber plantations. It is now a town of faded elegance, adventurous river trips and forgotten temples.

Chinese Muslims

The province derives its name from the ethnic Chinese Muslims or Cham who fled Vietnam nearly a thousand years ago when the Kingdom of Champa collapsed. They are easily distinctive from the Khmers in their different dress, customs, language and religion and were particularly singled out by the Khmer Rouge who severely thinned their numbers.

Today, the many Chinese scripts on the store fronts give no hint of the Champa society that lived here. Instead, there are several French colonial buildings, especially around the central market, much of which are in need of a new coat of paint and some repairs.

Hun Sen’s Birthplace

The Mekong river flows through Kampong Cham and rubber plantations are being revitalized. Kampong Cham is also known for being the birthplace of the Prime Minister Hun Sen. The picturesque town has a wide boulevard, a riverfront, nicely kept gardens and Angkorian style sculptures decorate the town along with ornate lampposts and water fountains.

While many use Kampong Cham as a stopover on the way to Kratie or Mondulkiri, there are nearby 6th century temples, a graceful countryside of paddy fields and rivers where fishermen are busily casting wide nets for their daily catch. A ride up one of Mekong’s many tributaries which passes fishing villages that time forgot and villagers in scooped out wooden boats is as worthwhile as arriving at the temples themselves.

Wat Nokor

This is a temple within temple. The outer laterite walls belong to an 11th century temple but inside is a brightly colored modern wat stacked closely to the ancient walls, just like two Russian dolls.. The ancient sanctuary is being repaired in places and is decorated with dancing asparas. In one of two smaller temples on the grounds is a reclining Buddha whereas the other displays a collection of Buddha statues.

Nearby on the grounds is a killing fields memorial with a pile of skeletons. The original killing fields are out of town between two hilltop temples, but the monks removed many of the remains to be interred beside Wat Nokor.

Wat Maha Leap

This is one of the few wats fully made of wood left in Cambodia. The spectacular hundred year old Wat Maha Leap was one of the few fortunately left untouched by the Khmer Rouge. A rather bland exterior belies stunning interiors with wooden columns soaring up to a beautifully painted roof, each column having been carved out of a single teak tree.

The French watchtower

There is a pink tower in town in the line of sight from the governor’s house. It was built by the French as a guardtower when a fire would be lit at the top as a warning signal of an incoming invasion. It received a new coat of paint in the 1990s.

Prey Chung Kran Weaving Village

For shoppers, a boat downriver gets to the weaving village of Prey Chung Kran. This village of Kampong Cham is famous for its high quality karmas and sarongs.