Cambodia - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 494

Stung Treng

074 / POP 28,000
Located on the Tonlé San near its confluence with the Mekong, Stung Treng is a dusty
city with not much to offer, but perhaps this will change when a new bridge over the
Mekong is completed in 2015. The bridge will feed into a new highway running west to
Preah Vihear City, cutting about four hours off the journey from northeast Cambodia or
southern Laos to Siem Reap.
The main attractions are up near the Lao border, where you can kayak out to a pod of
Irrawaddy dolphins then continue downstream on the Mekong along a heavenly stretch of
flooded forest.

Sleeping & Eating

Le Tonlé Tourism Training Centre
( 074-973638; www.letonle.org ; s/d from US$6/8; ) On the riverfront about 500m west of the
ferry dock, this small guesthouse doubles as a training centre to help underprivileged loc-
als. Delicious meals can be ordered in advance.

GUESTHOUSE $

Riverside Guesthouse
( 012 257207; [e-mail] ; r US$5-8; ) Overlooking the riverfront area, the River-
side is a long-time travellers' crossroads with basic rooms and a popular bar-restaurant.

GUESTHOUSE $

Golden River Hotel
( 074-690 0029; www.goldenriverhotel.com ; r US$15-35; ) Still the smartest hotel in
town, although that's not saying much. It has the province's only lift and 50 well- appoin-
ted rooms with a few quirks. The river-view rooms in front cost a bit more.

HOTEL $$

Ponika's Palace
(mains US$2-5; 6am-10pm) Need a break from laab after Laos? Burgers, pizza and Eng-
lish breakfasts grace the menu here, along with Indian food and wonderful Khmer curries.
The affable owner Ponika speaks English.

INTERNATIONAL $

Shopping