Tourism of Oddar Meanchey
Oddar Meanchey, which lies in northwestern Cambodia, is the province where in fact the former Khmer Rouge army maintained their last stronghold. The city of Anlong Veng, which housed the last home for Pol Pot–the notorious Khmer Rouge leader–provides been earmarked by the Royal Cambodian Government among the country’s traditional sights. The provincial capital is normally Samraong.
Though remote, Oddar Meanchey has several historical sites worth visiting. In Anlong Veng district, along Road 68, about 100 kilometers east of Oddar Meanchey provincial town, is normally a residence once owned by former Khmer Rouge Commander Ta Mok. From 1979 until late1997, this area was organized and controlled by the Khmer Rouge armies. Some remaining statues describe what sort of rebels lived and how they arranged their troops throughout their bloody struggle against the federal government.
Additionally, there exists a pile of tires in the forest that’s regarded as the funeral pyre and burial site of Pol Pot, the first choice of Khmer Rouge. Visitors who stay in Oddar Meanchey often make the visit to Anlong Veng to find and photograph the websites linked to the former regime.
The Cambodian-Thai border check point of Ou Smach is approximately 41km from the provincial town. At the border, there are restaurants, casinos, and hotels.
Things to Do & See
Waterfall of Cham Pey (Waterfall of La Ang Tathong)
The La Ang Tathong Waterfall is situated about 35km from the provincial town along the street No 68. A soothing destination to take fresh mountain air and revel in beautiful flowers.
The Cultural Site of Khmer Rouge (Tamu House)
The Cultural Site of the Khmer Rouge displays statues depicting the approach to life and the troop arrangement of Khmer Rouge over their struggle against the Royal Government. This area has been organized and controlled by Khmer Rouge from 1979 to the finish of 1997.
The Cultural Site of Khmer Rouge is situated at the guts of An Lung Veng District, approximately 100 kilometers from the provincial town by Road No 68.
Anlong Veng
Set close to the foot of the Dangrek escarpment, and playing around the edge of a man-made lake, Anlong Veng feels as though the city Cambodia forgot about, and for a long time, that is just what it was – it didn’t really return to the government’s fold till 1988.
Folks come for the Khmer Rouge history and numerous sights to that end can be found here. In town may be the Ta Mok villa and on the Dangrek Escarpment, about ten kilometers to the north is definitely Pol Pot’s final home, his cremation site, and a few other items of recent Khmer Rouge history. The federal government does what it could to carefully turn this place right into a tourist attraction. Considering that after ancient temples, the most famous tourist sites in Cambodia are Khmer Rouge related (Tuol Sleng, killing fields, etc), it’s not such a crazy idea, but nonetheless the ambitions of the federal government possess not produced the required results and Anlong Veng still does not attract lots of visitors.
There are always a couple of basic guesthouses and restaurants around. The most interesting eatery would need to become the Choum No Tror Cheak Restaurant that provides a thorough menu of jungle critters whose sole qualification for landing on the menu can be that they either walk, crawl, slither, swim or fly – if indeed they can catch it, you can eat it. The menu can be in Khmer and Thai only. The restaurant can be near Ta Mok’s villa.
Around 125km north of Siem Reap, that is among the last redoubts of the Khmer Rouge, and the city was for a long time off-limits. Today, near a global border crossing and reached by a slowly improving road, the city is beginning to develop and welcome the casual backpacker that straggles into town.
Within the city itself, there is valuable little to accomplish as the main element attractions all sit atop the Dangrek array by means of Pol Pot’s grave and house along with Ta Mok’s house – the latter offers spectacular views so far as Phnom Kulen (on an extremely clear day).
The lake around was the effect of a small dam/spillway constructed under orders of Ta Mok. During construction they never bothered to clear all of the trees from the region to be flooded so the dead trees remain standing, creating an especially eerie yet very photogenic scene.
Tourism is a fairly new concept here but there are some motodops who speak just a little English and can happily whiz you around to all the main sites – the best way to see what Anlong Veng has to offer.
The area is also a popular area for dirt-bike tours (most of which run out of Siem Reap) mainly due to its rough-house roads and little-touristed feel.
If you’re in a rush you could see everything Anlong Veng has to offer in a half day, but if you have time on your hands, you could easily spend day or two here.
O’Smach
O’Smach is on the Cambodian-Thai border, about 41 kilometers north of Oddar Meanchey provincial town. The town features a resort that includes a number of casinos, good restaurants, and luxury hotels. The resort offers been organized by the Royal Group and VIP Shop Group companies. The O Smach Resort comes with an impressive entry filled with a huge glowing green lotus that occur a fountain. The resort offers beautifully maintained grounds which feature, for a few unknown reasons, two military armored vehicles decorated with Christmas lights.
The O Smach resort includes a casino and 198 resort rooms and suites. Room facilities consist of satellite television, aircon, en suite, mini bar, etc. The resort facilities add a restaurant, 24-hour coffee shop, swimming pool, gym, sauna and massage parlor. Across the road is the Royal Hill Resort, offering yet another casino and hotel complex. Prices and facilities are similar to those at the O Smach Resort. The gaming rooms and interior of the Royal Hill Resort are rather utilitarian, in stark contrast with the impressive entry archway and shrine in the grounds. O Smach in Cambodia is located 100 metres over the border checkpoint at Kap Choeng, Thailand. It is 68 Km south of Surin and 440 Km from Bangkok. From O Smach it is 150 Km to the world-famous Angkor Wat ruins near the town of Siem Reap.
As at 2006, the road to Siem Reap was poor and the journey can take all day by truck. A road is being constructed to Siem Reap which will improve this journey markedly.If you are entering Thailand from Cambodia at this border crossing most nationalities will be granted a visa on arrival at no cost. Entering Cambodia from Thailand you are required to pay 1000 baht for a 30-day visa. The border point re-opened in 2002 after being closed for a number of years to due fighting on the Cambodian side. O Smach was the scene of heavy fighting in 1997 as the remnants of Sihanouk’s forces battled opposing forces. Peace came in 1998 and the military evicted local residents and sold off the land to the casino developers.
The border at O’smach is definitely open for foreigners. Exited Cambodia there with one Thai registered bike and one Cambodian registration. Thai 30 day visas on entry and normal customs, but quick as no one goes thru with vehicles as they park on the Thai side a walk to the casinos just across the border. On the Thai side, it is called Chong Chom The border post can be found by following Highway 214 south from Surin. From the Cambodian side the road from Anlong Veng to O’smach is very good, 100-120 km easy, demining going on along the road. The road up the escarpment is also good. Also a good road north from the Sisophon-Siem Riep road.An alternate border post for those sick of Aranyapratet.
Also noticed new temporary export procedures at Aran, now need to stamp passport out first, then back again to customs, then to immigration again for an airline crew(yes!) list, 2 copies of everything (B50 for copies-no receipt), then exit at immigration. It requires a lot longer compared to the previous five minutes. Cambodian side, if you visit the customs they would like to visit a Carnet, which of course you can’t obtain for a Thai rego bike. After some time they simply stamp the trunk of the Thai export paper if you agree to keep coming back thru there along the way back, I do not have because you normally can’t discover anyone or I’m in a hurry. Interesting to note that there were no Cambodian customs at O’smach.
Buying Things in Oddar Meanchey
As you will visit any provincial of Cambodia, In Oddar Meanchey, you can buy most commodities at every market located near center of town, even though small towns like Samraong District have at least one market for shopping.
You may also find a market in Samraong centre, which is a busy area with local shops dealing the local daily consumer products, like fish, pork, beef, fruits, vegetables, meats, packed products, and grocery items for your personal cooking or take away. Most of the food and drink shops are located in the center of the market.
Food in Oddar Meanchey
In Oddar Meanchey, you will find it is easy for food in central market with several food stalls around offering saucepans of pre-cooked food for about one to two 2 dollars a serve. Unless the pots remain hot, it’s smart to keep these things hear your servings up when it’s collier it could be obtaining sick. If you want to go even more for food, Santepheap restaurant, where you will see some proper dishes, but less in expect Western food.
An agreeable English- and French-speaking Cambodian gentleman and his family run it. The very best restaurant around is only open for breakfast and lunch. They are able to constitute most Thai Khmer dishes that you might be and in addition serve an excellent breakfast of eggs, French bread, and coffee. The restaurant scene in Anlong Veng can be similarly limited as in Samraong. There are many local food stalls around the central roundabout offering some local dishes at affordable prices mostly its typical Khmer and Chinese noodle dishes.
WAYS TO GET There
Present, It really is even more accessible to Banteay Meanchey Province, Most domestic and international visitors come to Banteay Meanchey mostly by Road, you can reach the province by an approach to transport as the next:
By Bus/Share Taxis: If you want to head to Anlong Veng you best result from Siem Reap via Major Road No 64 (distance: 142km). Enough time of journey varies according to the season between 4-6hours. Easy and simple transport means can be a shared taxi, that may ask you for around US$4-5. Anlong Veng can be linked by reasonable roads to the provincial capital Samraong (US$4) in the West and Prasat Preah Vihear to the East.
Via Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: (Bus): A number of guesthouses, travel agencies, and bus companies offer daily bus transport between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. It really is a smooth 314 km, 5-7 hour trip. The bus makes at least two stops on the way (at Skun and [[Kampong Thom]]). All charge the same, $3.50 (14,000R) one way. The initial buses depart starting at 6:30 AM and that last buses between noon and 1 PM.
Neak Krorhorm Travel: Phnom Penh office at the corner of Street 110 and Sisowath Quay. Siem Reap office opposite the Old Market GST: Phnom Penh bus station close to the southwest corner of Phsar Thmey (Central Market).
Phnom Penh Public Transport Co.: Phnom Penh bus station close to the southwest corner of Phsar Thmey (Central Market). Via Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: (Share Taxis) Local shared taxi: 25,000 riels per person. Departs from the southwest corner of Central Market in Phnom Penh. 5-8 hours
By Private Taxi: US$38-$45 for the whole car. 5-6 hours. Due to rising fuel costs, prices are in flux.
Motorbike Info to Anlong Veng: The road to Siem Reap is in good condition, but driving in Cambodia is still challenging in the extreme, and should be attempted only by experienced riders. Speeding taxis, slow cows, and oblivious children are the norm. The trip calls for a dirt or road bike, no smaller than 250cc. It can be made in a day, but two days with a layover in Kampong Thom is a far more relaxed alternative and allows period to go to the pre-Angkorian ruins of Sambor Prei Kuk. Leave Phnom Penh via japan Bridge and follow National Highway No 6 75km to the North. You’ll reach the Skun intersection (Skun is well known because of its exotic foods – browse the fried spiders, turtle eggs and more at roadside stands.), where you must turn left and follow NH 6 to Kampong Thom – about 2-3 hours. In Kampong Thom, the Arunreas Hotel (062-961294), Stung Sen Royal Hotel (012-309495) and Mittapheap Hotel are decent mid-range places. Arunras Guesthouses and Restaurant next to the hotel is the place to eat cheaply.
From Kampong Thom to Siem Reap the trip takes another 2 hours. From there you?ll need to search the Major Road 64 to Anlong Veng. This will need you another 6h on bumpy unpaved dirt roads through monotonous dry forest changing sometimes to jungle sections. Heading to Samraong: (Share Taxis/Pick Up/Motorbike) Heading west on the NH 6 from Siem Reap you’ll reach an intersection after 51km. Turn right and you enter after some 100m a small town called Kralanh (US$1.5 from Siem Reap or Sisophon). From here you consider another pick-up or share a taxi to the North on laterite-paved and bumpy Minor Road 68 (US$2-3, 2-3hours, 65km). Sometimes you will discover early taxis leaving to Samraong from Siem Reap (US$4-5).
By Flight: For the moment, there is absolutely no flights schedule and airport to Banteay Meanchey, only main destinations in Cambodia give you affordable flight and quick simpler.
By Boat: No boat transportation obtainable in link with Banteay Meanchey Province, for boat transportation, pleases visit