KAMPONG CHAM

AFTER THE MEKONG RIVER pours through the rapids of Laos, on it way to the capital Phnom Penh, it strolls its way through to a leisurely “city” of 40,000.
Now under 3 hours by road from Phnom Penh, Kampong Cham would make the perfect weekend retreat. It’s calm, spacious, with old French and Chinese buildings complimenting its waterfront boulevards.
A number of Khmer temples are in and around town, and its rural districts are easily accessible. A large island sits in the middle of the Mekong.
As the name suggests, the city is home to the Cham ethnic group, whose kingdoms once battled the mght of Angkor.