Prey Veng

Welcome to Prey Veng

Prey Veng is quite a sleepy Cambodian province, that just happen to have one of the countries busiest highways running straight through it-National Highway No 1, which links Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. It is a small but heavily populated agricultural region located on the east banks of the mighty Mekong. The name of the province means literally “tall forest”, but actually doesn’t refer in any case to lush forests as most of them were chopped down in the past 30-50 years. Also rubber played once a big economical role in this province, but since the war took over the country the plantations are no longer commercially viable.

There are little places of significance to see nowadays, but during the pre-Angkorian times it must have been one of the most populated and lively areas of the country. One of the earliest pre-Angkorian kingdoms was located in the area around Ba Phnom.
The sleepy provincial capital is also named Prey Veng and situates on the National Highway No 11, recently rebuild as a road link between National Road No 11 and No 7, or Neak Luong and Kompong Cham. There aren’t a lot of travellers making their way to that small town. So if you would like to escape from your fellow travellers that’s an opportunity, especially on the way to Kampong Cham. It’s also a stop worth on the way to or from Vietnam.

The town itself hosts a few decaying colonial buildings, showing that this was once a lively and important centre. There is a huge lake on the west edge of the town, which evaporates from March till August and local farmers cultivate their rice on the fertile ground.

Geography

Prey Veng province is 4,883 square kilometres big. It’s located in the South of the country and is bordering to the North with Kampong Cham, to the West with Kandal, to the East with Svay Rieng and to the South with Vietnam. The province consists of the typical plain wet area for Cambodia, covering rice fields and other agricultural plantations (rubber plantations in former times). The province also features two of the biggest rivers of the country the Tonle Bassac and the mighty Mekong.

Population

The current population in this province is 1,063,494 person or 7.64% of the total population (14,363,519 person in Cambodia, 2007, provincial government data) with a growth rate of 2.40%, which consists of 502,671 person or 47.18% who are male and 560,823 person or 52.82% who are female. The above number also consists of 825,818 persons or 80.54% who are farmers, 140,685 persons or 13.72% who are fishermen, 44,561 persons or 4,35% who are traders and 14,267 persons or 1.39% who are government’s officers. The population density is 217.8 people per square kilometre.

Climate

The country has a tropical climate - warm and humid. In the monsoon season, abundant rain allows for the cultivation of a wide variety of crops. This year-round tropical climate makes Cambodia ideal for developing tourism. Travellers need not to fear natural disasters such as erupting volcanoes or earthquakes, and the country is not directly affected by tropical storms.

Climate: Cambodia can be visited throughout the year. However, those plans to travel extensively by road should be avoided the last two months of the rainy season when some countryside roads may be impassable. The average temperature is about 27 degrees Celsius; the minimum temperature is about 16 degrees. December and January are the coolest months, whereas the hottest is April.

General information about the provincial climate:

- Cool season: November- March (24-32c)
- Hot season: March- May (28c -36c)
- Rainy season: May - October (24-32c, with humidity up to 90%.)

Economy

Prey Veng’s economy consists basically of agricultural farming, fishery, rice and fruit cropping and some garment factories producing for international markets. Especially the rural households depend on agriculture and its related sub-sectors.

How to get there

Prey Veng is with 90km distance to Phnom Penh not far away (to the east). Kampong Cham is even closer with 78km to the North. Due to the former, bad condition of NH No 11 the place used to seem a world away. For good the government comprehensively overhauled the road in 2003 and now the city of Prey Veng is easily to enter.

Minibuses/Bus/Share Taxis:
There is lot’s of minibuses going almost everytime of the day from Phnom Penh to Prey Veng (6000Riel). Most of them leave near the central market (Southwest corner), where you can also find lots of usual buses heading to Vietnam or Svay Rieng Province (they have to pass Prey Veng). Going with a share taxi won’t cost you so much time to reach, but a little more money (8000-10000Riel, 2 hours). If you would like to go to Kampong Cham, there are also minibuses leaving from the centre of Prey Veng city for a 1 1/2 hour ride costing 4000-6000Riels.

Motorbike Info:
The wonderful newly overhauled road is a mixed blessing for motorbikers as it gets a lot faster to Prey Veng, but less interesting and enjoying than the crappy, bumpier roads of old.

Where to eat

Mittapheap Restaurant:
The same family of the nearby Mittapheap Hotel owns this restaurant. The manager of this place is always concerned about their guests and therefore ensures fast service. So this place shows up as a friendly, sometimes funny restaurant offering Khmer, Vietnamese and Chinese food.

Arunreas Restaurant:
They make the most of their parkway location by having a small sidewalk eating area. It’s a pleasant enough early evening spot as the locals ride by on their evening motorcycle pleasure cruise. They have good food (Western and Khmer), and an English menu to go along with English-speaking staff.

No Name Restaurant:
Located across the parkway from the Arunreas, this place is easy to spot, as it always seems to have Coca Cola and Player umbrellas set up. The food is tasty, but is prepared to try your hand at Khmer as they don’t speak English and there isn’t an English menu. The staffs is very friendly and though.

Kolap Stung Treng Hotel & Restaurant:
Good Khmer and Chinese food with an English menu and beer girls, to boot.

Hotel Sok-sabat & Restaurant:
At the time of our trip, the hotel was talking about expanding its restaurant. It was talking about expanding its restaurant. It was only serving a soup breakfast and catering to wedding parties at the time.

Noodle and Rice Shops:
Along the parkway and near the market are some dirt cheap, simple Khmer food stands.

Where to stay

Mittapheap Hotel: (tel: 012/997757)
This hotel is located on the central crossroads in town. It’s a very popular small place, since many years the old timer among Prey Vent’s hotels. The rooms are clean and include bathroom and fan (some air-con), a good value for money ($5-10).

Angkor Thom Hotel: (tell: 012/953165)
This smart, but small hotel sets a new standard for the city of Prey Vent with 27 pristine rooms including attached bathroom and fan (some air-con). The prices range from US$5 to 10.

Rung Dare Hotel: (tell: 011/761052)
This hotel is located on the north-eastern corner of the town right behind the local stadium. The rooms are very clean and comfortable with bathroom and air-con. Prices range from US$6-12.

Chan Kiry Guesthouse: (tel: 011/746014)
This guesthouse sits on a headland jutting into the big lake during the wet season. Unfortunately the hotel standards do not tackle with the setting of it, but still the rooms are equipped with Satellite TV, bathroom and air-con. Prices range from US$6-12.

Sekong Hotel:
This is a very pleasant place with its nice layout and location next to the San River. Bib rooms with nice old wooden furniture and a Western bath are US$ 10 a night with a fan, or a whopping US$ 20 a night to flip on the a/c. They say the electricity is expensive in these parts. Better bargains are the simple rooms in the back of the complex. They have a fan and Western bath for US $ 5 a night. The friendly Khmer lady owner has her staff (family) head to the market for warm French bread in the mornings and serves it with espresso coffee.

Amatak Guesthouse:
Very basic rooms with a floor fan, bed and mosquito net. It’s clean and there is a share bathroom for US$ 5 a night.

Preap Sor Guesthouse:
Clean and simple rooms with a Western bath for US$ 10 a night including a fan. It’s double what the price should be. Adding a/c puts the price at US$ 15.

Hotel Sok-Sabat:
It’s a fairly new place with nice rooms that go for US$ 10-20 a night. They also have a Chinese breakfast in the morning.

Shopping

As it is quite common in Cambodia even smaller cities, such as Prey Veng have at least one bigger market. You may also find a market in Prey Veng centre, which is a very busy area with local shops dealing the local daily consumer products, like fish, fruits, vegetables, meats and packed products. The market is bustling Cambodian affair with loads of goods from nearby Vietnam. Most of the food and drink shops are surrounding the market.

You may also find some Mini-Marts with Western Foods. This doublewide mini-mart has a number of Western foods to satisfy your craving. The other side is filled with cases of all brands of beer available in Cambodia- enough to quench even the driest whistle.

Where to see

Ba Phnom Resort

Ba Phnom is located in Chheur Kach commune, Ba Phnom district, about 78 kilometers east of Phnom Penh and 45 kilometers south of Prey Veng provincial town. Visitors traveling from Phnom Penh along National Road 1 should turn left at Kampong Sneung market and go about 7 kilometers.

There are four mountains in Ba Phnom-Phnom Sampeou, Phnom Laang, Phnom Thom and Phnom Banhchor. Ba Phnom was once the ancient city Nokor Phnom, which was located near these mountains in Ba Phnom district. Few remnants of the city remain. Among those that can be seen are pieces of the ancient temple Prasat Chan, which was located in front of Wat Vihear Kuk, near the foot of Phnom Sampeou in Cheung Phnom commune. At one time, the city also had a palace and a hall, but both have been destroyed by years of war.

The view from the top of Ba Phnom is very picturesque. There is a big, rocky cave near the mountaintop that shelters wildlife. At the foot of mountain, there is a pagoda, Wat Phnom, also known as Wat Ba Phnom.

Aroad circles the mountains, and a big pond lies the east of them. People live around the mountains. Ba Phnom has been eyed for tourism development east of the Mekong River, because the area attracts many people on weekends and during Cambodian festivals.

Ba Ray An Det Resort

Baray Andet is in Baray village, Baray commune, Prey Veng district, 3 kilometers west of Prey Veng provincial town. It is a plain on high ground surrounded by big trees. It is believed that Baray Andet is Bang Bot place, where all of the powerful and magical spirits in Prey Veng province gather, so local people consider it to be an ideal place for swearing oaths and praying.

On Silas days, people play pinpeat music for the spirit Neakta. They pray for happiness and ask for rain to grow rice. This is also the starting point for the Neakta procession to Ba Phnom before Khmer New Year.

Chong Srok Temple

Chong Srok temple is located in Chong Srok village, Chong Srok commune, Srei Sithar Kandal district, about 38 kilometers north of Prey Veng provincial town. Chong Srok temple was built of brick and sandstone in the 7th century. It was built on a high ground in a field of palm trees near a koki tree. Although much of the temple has been destroyed, there remains a sandstone statue of a bull, once revered as a powerful Bodhisattva, or a Buddhist deity.

Beside the three sites, there are 15 other worship sites for visitors to explore:

. Vihear Kandal in Kampong Trabek district
. Vihear Prey Cha Riek in Kampong Trabek district
. Vihear Prey Vear in Kampong Trabek district
. Kampong Trabek Stupa
. Wat Kdei Troap in Preah Sdech district
. Wat Krang Svay in Preah Sdech district
. Kdei Ang or Ang Chumnit in Preah Sdech district
. Vihear Preah Sena in Preah Sdech district
. Wat Viang ptan in Preah Sdech district
. Vihear Hor in Preah Sdech district
. Preah Poan in Preah Sdech district
. Vihear in Preah Sdech district
. Preah Vihear Kuk in Ba Phnom district
. Preah Vihear Cham or Chan Ba Phnom
. Preah Theat Me Bon in Prey Veng district

Animists in Prey Veng province go to these sites to worship. The sites are also gathering points for local people.

Fish Growing Center

Fish Growing Center is located in Bati Village, Peam Ror commune, Peam Ror district, about 23 kilometers (40mn) from Provincial Town.

Kampong Sne Damp

Kampong Sne Damp is located in Sné Village, Theay Commune, Baphnom District, about 16 kilometers (40mn) From Provincial Town. It is a Nature & Wildlife Preserves.

Nokor Phnom

Nokor Phnom is located in Roung Dam Rei Village, Cheung Phnom Commune, Bar Phnom District, about 45 km (1h:30mn) from Provincial Town. It is a Nature & Wildlife Preserves.

Prey Chong Srok Temple

Prey Chong Srok Temple is located in Boeng Chor Village, Prey TorToeng Commune, Sithorkandal Distic, about 50 km (2h) From Provincial Town. It is a Historical Sites & Buildings.

Viel Brang (Veal Brang ) In the City

Viel Brang (Veal Brang) is located in Kampong Leav Commune, Kampung Leav District, in the City. It is a Nature & Wildlife Preserves.

Vihear Chan Temple

Vihear Chan Temple is located in Rong Dam Rey VillageCheungPhnom Commune, Bar Phnom District, about 30 km (1h) From Provincial Town. It is a Historical Sites & Buildings.

Weaving Handicraf Center

Weaving Handicraf Center is located in Prék Chorngkran Village, Prék Chorngkran Commune, Sithorkandal District, about 55 km (2h:30mn) from Provincial Town.