Located in the south of Cambodia, due west of Phnom Penh, the province of Kampong Speu lies at the bottom of the Dâmrei Mountains and features a sleepy capital town of the same name.
The muddy Tnaôt River provides a lifeline for the residents, who can be seen bathing, fishing and boating there throughout the year.
Wooing the traveler with little more than its charming scenery and lovely people, Kampong Speu offers few attractions, though its location along National Road No.4, which connects Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville, makes the province and capital city of Kampong Speu easy to access.
Beyond the capital, a bit farther along National Road 4, is the turnoff to Kirirom National Park. The entrance and majority of park lies within Kampong Speu, as does the more remote Aoral Wildlife Sanctuary, which overlaps Kampong Chhnang and Pursat provinces to the north. While Kirirom has good tourist infrastructure, including several lodging options and well-established community based tourism activities, Aoral is generally inaccessible to the average visitor.
Although it lies north of Phnom Penh, Oudong Mountain, capital of Cambodia for 200+ years after the abandonment of Angkor, is technically located in Kampong Speu. This odd gerrymandering is notable simply because Oudong cannot be combined in a day trip with other Kampong Speu attractions to the south of Phnom Penh (such as Kirirom). Oudong and its surrounding attractions are best visited as a day trip from Phnom Penh or as a stopover in a private taxi along the way from Phnom Penh to destinations north of the current capital city.
Kampong Speu features beautiful scenery of mountains, rivers and a little forest covering, but that is where the attractions end. Rarely visited by foreigners, the province holds very few interesting attractions for the outsider other than its picturesque countryside.
Where to Go
- Kirirom National Park: A lush, mountainous park known for its pine forests, waterfalls, and hiking trails, perfect for nature lovers.
- Kampong Speu: A quiet provincial town known for its close proximity to natural attractions and its local sugar palm products.
- Oudong: The former royal capital of Cambodia, home to ancient stupas and temples, offering panoramic views from the top of Oudong Mountain.
- Phnom Reap: A lesser-known hill that offers a peaceful escape and religious significance with pagodas and scenic views.
- Phnom Baset: A small hill with a historic pagoda and an ancient temple, popular for its quiet, spiritual atmosphere and views of the surrounding area.
- Kompong Luong Silver village: Renowned for its skilled silversmiths, this village is the perfect place to discover traditional Cambodian silver crafts.
- Longvek: A historical city once a capital of Cambodia, known for its ancient ruins and temples.