The contents of this article will cover four issues: Koh Kong's geographical location, entertainment, accommodation, and finally eating and drinking facilities.
I. Geographical location
Koh Kong is a unique province, situated in the South-West of Cambodia. 'Koh' means 'island' in Khmer, and much of the province consists of tiny islands, divided by water from the Gulf of Thailand.
When speaking of Koh Kong, one refers to two parts - the mainland portion accessible from Phnom Penh by car, and the island accessible by boat from Sre Ambel Town in the North or Sihanoukville Town in the South - it takes four hours from both cities to reach the provincial capital in the middle. (Actually, when driving to Sihanoukville from Phnom Penh on road #4, one passes through the mainland portion of Koh Kong).
Though still an isolated, remote corner of Cambodia, Koh Kong is beginning to see more backpacker traffic, as many tourists are now crossing the border into and out of Thailand here, traveling from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville, catching the boat to Koh Kong, crossing the border and then traveling to Bangkok by road. This land and water trip from Phnom Penh to Bangkok can be done in one day.
The island is only 80 km away from Thailand's island Koh Chang. This part of Cambodia is still relatively undeveloped for tourism but the potential is enormous. Koh Kong Island off the coast is an undiscovered paradise and the Government of Cambodia hopes to build infrastructure to attract overseas tourists in the future. There are flights from Phnom Penh and boats from Kampong Som.
The province is subdivided into 8 districts.
o 0901 Botum Sakor
o 0902 Kiri Sakor
o 0903 Kaoh Kong
o 0904 Smach Mean Chey
o 0905 Mondol Seima
o 0906 Srae Ambel
o 0907 Thma Bang
o 0908 Kampong Seila
II. Entertainment
There are over all seventeen resort places in Koh Kong, including Cham Yeam resort, Kbal Chhay E91 Waterfall, Kbal Chhay Prek Koh Waterfall, Kbal Chhay Resort, Khun Chhang Khun Phen resort, Koh Kong Krov Beach, Koh Mool Resort, Koh Sdach Beach, Koh Smach Beach, Lam Da Beach, Prek Chik O'serey Sranash, Prek Ta Nuon Beach, Sner Beach, Ta Tay Waterfall, Toektlak Kbal Chhay Prek Chiphat,Veal Kachaut Waterfall and Cardamom Mountain range. And in Koh Kong, there is also nightlife entertainments, such as "Red Zone" located 4 km south east of the traffic circle .
CHAM YEAM RESORT
Located in Mondul Sey Ma District, at the Cambodia-Thailand border an eight-kilometer distance from the provincial town of Koh Kong. Cham Yeam is a natural, man-made resort, which was built by Neak Ouk Nka Li Yung Phat in 1997. Nowadays, Cham Yeam has been organized as an international tourist resort, as there is a five star hotel, guesthouse, casino and other entertainment. At Cham Yeam, there are a lot of coconut trees planted in a line. Cham Yeam has beautiful scenery and can attract many tourists, especially Thai tourists to visit.
The border checkpoint of Cham Yeam opens from 8:00 to 17:00 hrs and from 22:00 to 22:30 hrs.
KOH MOOL RESORT (KOH KONG KRAU)
Is the biggest island in Cambodia, which is 22-kilometers in length, seven-kilometers width and 350-meters high in comparison with sea level, and located in the sea, in Koh Kong District in 24-Kilometer distance from the provincial town of Koh Kong. On the island of Koh Mool, there are many hills, 10 waterfalls having Six-meters to 25-meters in height and six beautiful beaches having 3000 - 5000-meter in length. At the six beaches of Koh Mool, there are black and white Dolphins who appearing from 9:00 to 10:30 hrs in the morning and from 15:00 to 17:00 hrs in the afternoon.
KHUN CHHALGN KHUN PHEN RESORT
Is the historical resort located near a provincial town in one-kilometer distance, and has a stupa located on the rock, in the middle of the sea. The local people of Koh Kong usually meet each other there during festival days (traditional festival).
KBAL CHHAY RESORT
Located in Mun Dul Sey Ma District in 25-Kilometer distance from the provincial town by the sea path. Kbal Chhay is the natural resort and has water sources from a river at Pursat province. The waterfalls are 10-mater in height and eight-meters in diameter in the rainy season, and in the dry season, the water flows in separate parts as Teuk Chhou. In addition, Koh Kong province has many other recreational sites such as:
o Mountain Stream of Ta Te: Located in Smach Mean Chey District.
o Mountain Stream of Tuol Ko Ki: Located in Smach Mean Chey District.
o Beach of Cham Sne: Located in Smach Mean Chey District.
OTHER INTERESTING PLACES
Sner Beach
Classification: Operations of Recreation parks and Beaches
Location: Road 48, Dong Tung Commune, Smachmeanchey District
Accessibility: 17 km (25mn) From Provincial Town
Veal Achaut Waterfall
Classification: Nature and Wildlife Preserves
Location: Road 48, Dong Tung Commune, Smachmeanchey District
Accessibility: 45 km (1h) From Provincial Town
Prek Chik O'srey Sranash
Classification: Nature and Wildlife Preserves
Location: Road 48, Chhmarbak Village, Bakclong Commune, Smachmeanchey District
Accessibility: 6 km (10mn) From Provincial Town
Kbal Chhay Prek Koh Waterfall
Classification: Nature and Wildlife Preserves
Location: Neng kok Village, Bakclong Commune, Mundol Seyma District
Accessibility: 22 km (15mn) From Provincial Town
Kbal Chhay E91 Waterfall
Classification: Nature and Wildlife Preserves
Location: Nengkok Village, Bakclong Commune, Mundol Seyma District
Accessibility: 24 km (2h:15mn) From Provincial Town
Lam Da Beach
Classification: Operations of Recreation Parks and Beaches
Location: Lam Da Village, Koh Kapi Commune, Koh Kong District
Accessibility: 20 km (1h:45mn) From Provincial Town
Koh Kong Krov Beach
Classification: Operations of Recreation Parks and Beaches
Location: Koh Kapie Commune, Koh Kong District
Accessibility: 35 km (3h:15mn) From Provincial Town
Tatay Waterfall
Classification: Nature and Wildlife Preserves
Location: Tropham Roung Commune, Koh kong District
Accessibility: 50 km (1h:45mn) From Provincial Town
NIGHTLIFE
This "Village" does not sleep. There is an active nightlife. A few Karaoke clubs within town and a "Red Zone" is located 4 km south east of the traffic circle (take a taxi). Massage is traditional style in small shops. Many stay up all night in the small restaurants which all serve drinks as well as food. Note: The new Casino is at the "Koh Kong International Resort club" located on the Hat Lek side of the river, not in Koh Kong town. Small boats and a taxi (motorbike or car) on the other side are available for small fees to get you there and back.
III. Accommodation
Hotel & Guest House Information
There are only four real hotels here, the rest are guesthouses. A guesthouse has simple and basic rooms, most have Asian style (squat) bathrooms inside the room and the average price is 150 Baht for fan and 250 Baht with air-con. Some hotels have no-bathroom rooms for 100 Baht.
Hotels
o Bopha Koh Kong Hotel & Rest
o Koh Kong International Resort Clu
o Koh Pich Hotel
o Rasmey Makara Hotel
Guest Houses
o Cheap Charlies Guesthouse
o Juliana Guest House
o Khounchhang Hotel
o Koh Kong Hotel
o Koh Lap Chai Den Hotel
o Morokot Hotel
o Ly Ly Guest House
o Otto's Restaurant Rooms & Meeting Place
o Pai Lin Guest House
o Penh Cheth Guesthouse
o Penl Enpreah Chan Penh Vong Guesthouse
o Poy Sian Guesthouse
o Red Rose Guesthouse
o Sovann Angkor Guesthouse
IV. Conclusion
Koh Kong is now one of Cambodia's resurgent tourist resorts with diverse kind of entertainment, from sightseeing to natural entertainment. It is here in Koh Kong that gambling in the Casino is totally legal, because this is the bordering province of Cambodia. Koh Kong has brought a new face to Cambodia and has become of Cambodia's most effective revenue collectors.
However, there are many drawbacks that recommendations should be sought. The Thai currency is now the ubiquitous means for daily spending of the people, the tourist in the area. This is one of the factors making Cambodia losing her identity. Second, training the tourist guides over there not to be too money-oriented would strongly be recommended. One of the factors that has cut down the number of tourists from the "should-be tourist population" is that those tourist guides charge commission for every thing the tourists buy.
Lay Vicheka is a translator for the most celebrated translation agency in the Kingdom of Cambodia, Pyramid Translation Co.Ltd.. He is now hoding other two professions: freelance writer for Search Newspaper; focusing on social issues and students' issues and Media Liaison Officer for Asia's first free on-line IELTS consultation website. Lay Vicheka is the expert author for ezine and prolific article contributor to other websites around the world such as articlecity, 365articles, spiderden, talesofasia, etc (Just google him). He is also a volunteer Cambodian-newspapers columnist (Rasmey Kampuchea and Kampuchea Thmey). Lay Vicheka has great experience in law and politics, as he used to be legal and English-language assistant to a Cambodian member of parliament, migration experience (home-based business) and in writing. He is also member of a New York-based research company. Posting address: 221H Street 93, Tuol Sangke quarter, Russey Keo district, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Tel: 855 11 268 445, vichekalay@yahoo.com
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