Quick Facts:
- Location: Bordering the provinces of Siem Reap to the northwest, Preah Vihear to the north, Stung Treng to the north east, Kratie to the east, Kampong Cham and Kampong Chhnang to the south and the Tonle Sap to the west
- Status: Cambodia's second largest province by area
- Population: 708,398
- Area: 13,814 square kilometer
- Religions: Theravada Buddhism
- Rich in tourism potentials
Located at the centre of Cambodia, Kampong Thom is the second largest province of this kingdom. Spreading on the total area of 13,814 square kilometer, most of which are vast plains, and favored with Stung Sen River, Kampong Thom is a beautiful town which owns favorable conditions to facilitate agriculture as well as tourism.
Kampong Thom in Cambodian language means “Port of Great Snake”; as long time ago, there was a pair of big snakes living inside a big cave next to Stung Sen River. Kampong Thom is an important economic pot of Cambodia as it is a significant producer of fish and the largest producer of cashews of the whole country. Not only being favored with rich natural resources, Kampong Thom is also endowed with rich tourism potentials with exotic scenery of lakes, rivers, forests, mountains and more than 200 ancient temples.
One of the most famous temples in Kampong Thom is Sambor Prei Kuk. The pre-Angkorian temple complex of Sambor Prei Kuk used to be the capital of Chenla Kingdom. Located in the thick jungle, covered by the boundless green of trees, Sambor Prei Kuk owns mysterious and ancient beauty. It represents pre-Angkorian architecture with main materials of brick and sandstone and architectural features include numerous prasats, octagonal towers, shiva lingams and yonis, ponds and reservoirs and lion sculptures. Kampong Thom
Travelling in Kampong Thom, tourists will have peaceful and refreshing time of travelling through immense green rice paddies as far as to the horizon, lake with surface as silent as the face of a girl in a resigning second or vast forests or spectacular mountain.
In Kampong Thom, tourists will have chance to witness the authentic lives of Cambodians in rural area. Watching a man catching fish on the lake or working on the farm, you may have time of peace and fully enjoy simple and unruffled life. Having a tasty meal with friendly locals near the bank of river or talking to these honest and naïve Cambodians will bring unforgettable experience for tourists.
Kampong Thom – a destination of beautiful landscape, peaceful atmosphere and friendly people is definitely a worth-visiting place when travelling in Cambodia.
