Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Phnom Hann Chey
KOMPONG CHAM
Transport Stop for
Kompong Thom and
Siem Reap
ACCOMMODATION
Mekong
Mekong Sunrise
Mittapheap
Monorom VIP
Phnom Brak Trochak Cheth
Rana
3
5
1
2
4
6
Psar Bung
Kok
Acleda
Bank
Governor's
Residence
EATING
Destiny Coffee Shop
Lazy Mekong Daze
Mekong Crossing
Smile
2
4
3
1
N
Canadia Bank
ANZ Bank
BIDC Bank
Transport
Stop
Food
Stalls
Market
Phnom Penh
Sorya
4
GST
Police
Station
Transport Stop for
Kratie and Sen Monorom
Mekong River
Capitol
Tours
0
200
metres
Wat Pra Tohm Nah Day Doh & Koh Pbain
Ferry dock
Dominating the riverside is the great arc of the towering bridge, built with the help of a
$65m grant from Japan and known as the
Spean Kizuna
after the Khmer word for bridge
(
spean
) and the Japanese word
kizuna
, signifying a bond between nations. Completed in
2001, the 1.5km-long structure was the first Cambodian bridge over the Mekong (prior to
its opening, crossing the river involved an hour-long ferry ride) and offers strange contrast
to the faded old warehouses and shophouses that you can still see along the waterfront.
Across the river close to the far side of the bridge is the salmon-pink French
lighthouse
, a three-tiered structure looking more like a church tower than beacon for
shipping. A very steep metal staircase inside leads to the summit, although you'll need a
good head for heights to make it all the way to the top.
The market
Kompong Cham's neat little
market
doesn't get especially busy, which is just as well as
the stalls are jammed together so tightly inside there's hardly room to squeeze a cat, let
along swing one. This is a good spot to pick up one of the
kramas
for which Kompong
Cham province is famous, although you'll actually find a much wider choice of
patterns and materials in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.
