This is Cambodia's newest province, sliced out of northern Siem Reap. Though small and impoverished, by location and recent history, it has a chance actually to grab a few tourists. The advantage of its location comes from the opening of the border with Thailand at O'Smach and that newly constructed roads provide access to Preah Vihear temple if coming from Siem Reap. As for history, it was the village of Anlong Veng that was the final Khmer Rouge stronghold and on the nearby Dangrek Escarpment, Pol Pot was tried, placed under house arrest and subsequently died in April 1998.
Oddar Meanchey is bordered by Banteay Meanchey to the west, Thailand to the north, Preah Vihear to the east, and Siem Reap to the south.
 Anlong Veng
Folks come for the Khmer Rouge history and a number of sights to that end can be found here. In town is the Ta Mok villa and on the Dangrek Escarpment, about ten kilometers to the north is Pol Pot's final home, his cremation site, and a few other items of recent Khmer Rouge history. The government is doing what it can to turn this place into a tourist attraction. Given that after ancient temples, the most popular tourist sites in Cambodia are Khmer Rouge related (Tuol Sleng, killing fields, etc), it's not such a crazy idea.
There are a couple of basic guesthouses and restaurants in town. The most interesting eatery would have to be the recently opened Choum No Tror Cheak Restaurant which offers an extensive menu of jungle critters whose sole qualification for landing on the menu is that they either walk, crawl, slither, swim, or fly. Menu is in Khmer and Thai only. The restaurant is near Ta Mok's villa.
Anlong Veng, in Oddar Meanchey province, is by first appearance just another small Cambodian town badly in need of an economic boost. However, as it was the final stronghold of the Khmer Rouge, this remote town near the Thai border is anything but just another small town. Now, after years of isolation, Anlong Veng is seeking to attain some level of normalcy at least comparable to the present state of the rest of the nation. For over two decades there was virtually no contact with the outside world. When the area did finally come under government control in the spring of 1998 lack of infrastructure continued to inhibit interaction with the rest of the nation. A ride up Highway 67 from Siem Reap could take two days or two weeks, as much of the 120-kilometer trip was over what was little more than ox-cart paths. But earlier this year, Highway 67 was upgraded and now Anlong Veng is welcoming visitors.
You can reach Anlong Veng by pick-up truck, by motorbike (good road, about three hours on a 250cc bike), or by guided tour. Many guesthouses and hotels can arrange a trip to Anlong Veng. For motorbiking and/or combining with a trip to Preah Vihear try
Samrong
The provincial capital. No reason to come here in itself, but if you're riding in a local pick-up truck to or from Siem Reap to or from the O'Smach border by way of Kralanh, you'll probably pass through here.
O'Smach
The new border crossing with Thailand. Useful if heading to Laos (Vientiane/Luang Prabang) or Northern Thailand. As with all Thai border crossings there's a casino on the Cambodian side. |
