Kompong Chhnang

Why Go

Kompong Chhnang meaning clay pot port is famous in Cambodia for its... well, pottery making of course! A great reason to come here is to visit the wonderful floating villages of the Tonle Sap River in a paddle-boat. There are also floating villages near Siem Reap which are a popular tourist attraction; Kompong Chhnang isn't a popular tourist stop, so if you like to get off the beaten path, here is a great place to see them.

Why Not

There’s no tourism infrastructure to speak of, it’s a local working town (which is part of the attraction for some). There’s minimal basic accommodation options and you may need to just make a best guess at what you are ordering in restaurants.

To See

The surrounding area also has lots of little traditional wooden houses on stills and lots of small farming plots. These can be seen en-route to the floating villages or famous nearby red-pottery village of Ondong Rossey.

How Long

It’s possible (at a stretch) to get to stop on the way from Phnom Penh to see the floating villages and head to Battambang / Siem Reap in one day. That may feel a bit of a stress, it’s easier to just stay a night here, see the floating villages in the morning then move on. Or stay another night and make a visit to Ondong Rossey also.

To Know

The town itself is nothing special but gives a great insight to a small working Cambodian town. If you arrive by bus, the chances are you will be met at the bus stop by the friendly English speaking tuk-tuk driver Channy. He will be able to take you to a guesthouse, and you can also arrange a trip to the local sights with him.