Welcome to Banteay Meanchey

Banteay Meanchey is a relatively new province created in 1988 as a splinter grouping of five districts from Battambang province. It is an area which was part of the far-flung Angkor empire, with Banteay Chhmar being the famous Angkor ruins in the province. It still has a problem with land mines and it is best not to stray away from the main paths.

It shares a border with Thailand on the west and Poipet is a key border crossing as well as being a very popular gambling destination. There is a strip of hotels and casinos between the Thai and Cambodian passport centers and the Thais cross daily into this area to the casinos without having to go through Cambodian customs.

Unsavory Reputation

Poipet has long had an unsavory reputation for scams and sleaze and while some things have improved, it is a stop only to get the tourist visas.

The province’s capital Sisophon or Svay to the locals is strategically located at the crossing of two important highways and is a convenient stop on the trip from Thailand as well as a base to explore the sites and the bird sanctuary in the north.

Supersized Sculptures

A town of sculptors lies 20km away from Sisophon. The telltale signs that you have arrived in Choob are the dazzling variety of sandstone carvings on the streets, from supersized Buddhas to miniature asparas. This is a perfect spot to pick up a unique souvenir at reasonable prices arrived at after compulsory bargaining. Well reputed throughout the country, the sculptors take several months to complete the larger pieces meant to decorate temples or government buildings.

Angkor Ruins

Located in rice paddy fields, Banteay Top or Army Citadel is a small temple, constructed in tribute to his victorious army by King Jayavarman VII. In various states of disrepair are found a tall central tower and four gopuras overlooking a dry moat and a baray. Banteay Top is distinctive in that it still has some of the original wood with carvings on site.

Bird Sanctuary

The extremely rare Sarus Crane, which is depicted in Bayon bas-reliefs, can be seen at the Ang Trapeang Thmar Reseve. This beautiful sanctuary is home to some 200 red-head grey-feathered Sarus cranes which use it as a dry season refuge. Globally threatened, there are only about 1,200 of these birds left in Southeast Asia. In the late morning and early afternoon, great and little egrets, herons and spotted and milky storks come out to feed along the reservoir. You can easily arrange your own trip or do it through the NGO, Sam Veasna Center.

Famous Krama weavers

Phnom Sarok cultivates its own silk and is also known throughout the control for its premium thick cotton krama scarves which are not sold outside Sisophon. A small village of four streets, weaving looms are set up in the space under the raised floors of the stilted houses and silk worms curl up on the branches of the mulberry tree. Phnom Sarok is around 60km from Sisophon