Kampong Speu

Welcome to Kampong Speu

Kampong Speu is the capital of Kampong Speu Province in Cambodia. Speu is the Khmer word for starfruit, but Kampong Speu is actually famous for its palm sugar and wine.
This province is a natural and cultural resort, which is located at Tang Tonle Village and Ampe Phnom Village, So Por Tep Commune and Svay Kra Van Commune, Chbar Mon District in 48-Kilometer distance from Phnom Penh, then turning left for two more kilometres. The resort has natural rivers, especially the bigger Preaek Thnot River, which has many big trees growing along it and the mountain foot, a rocking bridge linking from Tang Tonle Village to Ampe Phnom Village. You may also see the old pagoda on a hill, what’s a worshipping place for Cambodian people, who go there during traditional festivals.
At Ampe Phnom, tourists can enjoy swimming, walking through the rocking bridge and resting at the collages along the riverbank.

Geography

Kampong Speu province is located to the west of Phnom Penh. It borders Kampong Chhnang and Pursat to the North, Phnom Penh to the East, Kampot and Takeo to the South and Koh Kong to the West. The area of the province is 7017 square kilometres.

The topography is variable, from a large area of lowland paddy fields in the east to lowland/upland mosaics and upland forested areas in the West. Cambodia's highest mountain, the Phnom Aural with 1813m altitude is located in the very North of this province. Kampong Speu is classified as a rural province.

Population

The total: 762,500 person of total population of Cambodia 14,363,519 with 370,292 male and 392,208 female. In 2006 the estimated population was 762,500 thousand persons and was consisting of around 52% female. There are 370,292 male and 392,208 female. The people of Kampong Speu live in 8 districts composed of 87 communes and 1358 villages.
The population density of the province is nowadays approx. 102 persons/km2 compared to an average population density for Cambodia with 75 persons/km2.

Climate

Climate: Cambodia has sun almost year round. 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:

- Rainy season: May - October (26-34c, with humidity up to 90%.)
- Cool season: November- March (16-26c)
- Hot season: March- May (25c -35c)

Econamy

Kampong Speu’s economy consists basically of rice and fruit cropping and fishery. It’s also noted by its famous palm sugar and wine. Especially the rural households depend on agriculture and its related sub-sectors.

How to get there

Bus:
As there are several bus companies going from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville, you’ll have the opportunity to choose freely from one of these. They pass Kampong Speu, so you just have to book a ticket to the provincial capital or you go a bit further depending on where you would like to go too. The most buses are departing from the Southwest corner of the Phsar Thmey (central market). The price shouldn’t be higher than 6000-8000 Riel per ride. The buses depart almost every hour of the day, especially in the morning and midday (no buses after 4pm).

Share Taxi:
Most Share Taxis are leaving Phnom Penh in the morning hours, as there is still business to make, when they approach in Kampong Speu. They leave also from the Charles de Gaulle (Southwest from the central market). The prices are around US§3-4.

Motorcycle Touring Info:
Coming with the motorbike from Phnom Penh to Kampong Speu, you’ll probably be taking the national highway No 4 in direction of Sihanoukville. As the provincial capital, also named Kampong Speu isn’t that far away (approx. 48km) from Phnom Penh it’s a one-hour ride with the motorbike. The street is in best condition, but the traffic, especially coming close to Phnom Penh might sometimes take your last nerve.

Where to eat

Mean Leap Restaurant:
This is a very awesome restaurant with great food and a nice environment and also exceptional services. They offer a wide range of Khmer food, but also western dishes.

Bay Phaem Khmer Food Restaurant:
This is a nice restaurant featuring a lot of Khmer dishes, but also additional western food can be served if wanted.

Where to stay

Kirirom Hillside Resort: (tel:
Kirirom Hillside Resort Hotel, Kampong Speu boasts of 7 different choices of accommodation and they include Camping Kirirom Hillside Resort Hotel, Kirirom Hillside Resort Hotel Kampong Speu Superior Wagon family, Standard Bungalow, Deluxe Hill View Bungalow, Village and Executive Suite. The hotel offers excellent dining options and provides its guests with a wide selection of Chinese, Western, Thai and traditional Khmer cuisines. The hotel has a well-equipped conference rooms and banquet halls which serve as the ideal venue for the special occasions. The prices differ from US$42-160.

Tourists will not only find Hotels in Kampong Speu in the centre of the main city of the province, but there are few options of accommodations, that are situated in the suburb. The transportation system of the city is pretty convenient and you can easily reach the destination of your choice irrespective of where you are residing in the centre of the city or in the suburbs. The Hotels of Kampong Speu are of various categories that will suit both, your taste and budget. Most of them are guesthouses used to local clients, as there isn’t such a big influx of tourists.

Shopping

As it is quite common in Cambodia, every bigger city has at least on big market. You may also find some markets in Kampong Speu town, which are very busy areas with local shops dealing the local daily consumer products, like fish, fruits, vegetables, meats and packed products. All food and drink shops are surrounding the market. To take something special from this province along, buy a bottle of sugar palm wine.

Where to see

Ampe Phnom

Ampe Phnom is the natural and cultural resort locating at Tang Tonle Village and Ampe Phnom Village, So Por Tep Commune and Svay Kra Van Commune, Chbar Mon District in 48 Kilometer distance from Phnom Penh, then turning left more two kilometers. The site features a stream, walking paths and big shade trees. A wobby, wood-and-cable suspenseion bridge across the stream links Tang Tonle and Ampe Phnom Village.

On the Ampe Phnom side of the stream site an old pagoda where the Cambodians worship during festivals. Visitor can swim in the stream, traverse the suspenseion bridge or simply relax in one of the many cottages about the stream. Food and beverages are available for sale, and the surrounding woods are full of monkeys.

Chambok Ecotourism Site

Chambok ecotourism site is just next to the Kirirom National Park. Be prepared for some exercise about 4 kilometers trek, interaction with local villagers, and discovery of Cambodia's unique natural biodiversity, visitors will enjoy with other activities such as hiking, ox-cart riding, renting bicycles, picnicking, bird watching, bathing at the stream and the waterfall, and visiting a bat -cave. Furthermore, visitors can possibly have a lunch in a villager's house prepared by local women, including fruit and coconut at the waterfall.

Golf Center

Golf Center is 15km (18mn) From Provincial Town. Operation of Sporting Facilities, Location: Kdey Lavear Village, Tropeang Korng Commune, Sormrong Torng District.

Kirirom Hillside Resort

Near the foot of the mountain is the Kirirom Hillside Resort, where offer visitors a wide variety of leisure activities and facilities such as hotel, restaurants, zoo, waterfall, family shopping mart, recreations and children playground, beautiful Dino park, fishing, canoeing, horse riding, biking and rope sliding. Visitors can also play sports such as tennis and basketball at the resort. In addition, stream, sauna, spa, swimming pool and fitness center are available beside conference and banquet facilities.

Phnom Prey Khmer Resort

Phnom Prey Khmer Resort is the natural resort locating in Kram Pothi Village, Kram Pothi Commune, Phnom Souch District in 70-Kilometer distance from Phnom Penh or 22-Kilometer distance from the provincial town by the National Road No 4. The resort has small mountains linking from one to another with the car accessible road from food to the top and from a mountain to a mountain. On the mountaintops and along the roads up, there are Kho Chos where tourists can rest and take fresh air. Until recently, this site was largely unknown to tourists.

Preah Soramrith Kosamak Kiriron National Park

Preah Soramrit Kosamak Kirirom National Park is on Kirirom Mountain, in Oamrei Phong village, Kirirom commune, Phnom Sruoch district, about 117 kilometers southwest of Phnom Penh. The mountain is 700 meters high. A natural site, it once was Preah Kosamak town. This well conserved park, abundant in fresh air, has waterfalls and is full of tall pine trees and orchid flowers.

There are not many types of larger wildlife in evidence on Kirirom, but it is an ideal spot to glimpse some of the country's unique bird life and birdwatchers even come from overseas to visit. The national park is more interesting during or just after the rainy season, not that many fires on the ground and waterfalls having well water.

Te Teuk Pus Hot Spring

Te Teuk Pus Hot Spring is located in front of Phnom Te in Phnom Te village, Sangke Sap commune, Oral district, about 60 kilometers west of the provincial town. Hot springs are rare in Cambodia. Te Teuk Pus is 100 meters in diameter. The surface of the water, which comes from six sources and smells like sulfur or limestone, is 80 square meters. The water temperature is 70 degrees Celsius.

The entire site covers 5 hectares and is full of tall grass, Kok (a kind of reed) and red rock. Local villagers, who are members of the Kuoy minority hill tribe, believe that the hot spring is effective for curing all kinds of illnesses and skin diseases, as well as sorcery. Washing one's face with water from the spring is believed to bring good luck.