Mekong Island Island

“Mekong Island” is an easy day trip about 10 km northeast of Phnom Penh, the name referring loosely to either or both of two small islands in the Mekong River just outside the city centre. Koh Daich (pronounced “dike”) and Koh Okhna Tey are neighbouring islands laced with narrow, bumpy dirt roads that connect small traditional villages and banana and corn farms. Villagers live in stilted wooden houses, beneath which women spend their days weaving krama, the traditional Cambodian scarf, and phamoung, a fine silk fabric.

A pleasant beach called Kbal Koh, at the northern tip of Koh Daich, is especially popular in the dry season from November to April, when locals and visitors from Phnom Penh come to swim and picnic in shady hammock-shacks. Towards the end of the rainy season, crews training for the water-festival boat races hold their own competition near the Buddhist temple on the island, where the boats are stored through the year.

Koh Trong (one of the Mekong islands near Kratie) is reached via Kratie town. From Phnom Penh, take National Road 7 north-east to Kratie - the trip is commonly 4-5 hours by car or intercity bus (roughly 300-350 km). In Kratie walk a few minutes to the riverfront landing and catch the local ferry/boat across the Mekong to the island (a short 5-10 minute crossing); the village is a short walk from the landing.