Saang Phnom is located in Saang Phnom commune, 23 kilometers from Takmao, or 34 kilometers from Phnom Penh. To reach the site, travel along new National Road 21, which was constructed during the Khmer Rouge regime, via Tuol Krosang plain. From Takmao, new National Road 21 meets old National Road 21 at Wat Chhoung Leap, Rokar Kpus commune. The distance is about 12 kilometers. From Wat Chhoung Leap drive 5 kilometers to Saang district market and look for a trail on the right. Go another 2.5 kilometers until you see the pagoda gate. Turn right and go another 2.5 kilometers to reach the hill.

There is a pagoda at the top of the hill. Saang Phnom has fewer trees than Phnom Thon Mond, but a big lake surrounds the hill, and there are many Rumchong and Prolit flowers (a kind of white or yellow water lily with a long edible stalk). The lake is full of fish, and many visitors enjoy taking boat rides and fishing. During the rainy season, Saang Phnom looks like a small forest island. The air is cool and fresh there. Recently, the provincial tourism services, working with local authorities, planted more trees and improved security and sanitary conditions for tourists. The site is especially popular during traditional festivals and public holidays.

Ang Kor Chey Pagoda is located at Ban Tey Dek commune, Kean Svay District in total distance of 29 kilometers from Phnom Penh from Ta Khmao by the National Road No. 1 (Phnom Penh-Svay Rieng province).

 

We travel along the National Road No. 1 from Phnom Penh or Ta Khmao to Kilometre 29 then exceed about 50 metres, there is a gate at the right hand side written “Ang Kor Chey Pagoda”. If we enter by trail about 1,600 meter, we will reach the entertainment center. The pagoda constructed with having five peaks as the temple’s peaks. Before reaching the pagoda, we need to pass over a 100-meter wooden bridge; under the bridge, there is a big pond for keeping water during the dry season. Behind the pagoda, three is an artificial site located on the black hill characterized as resident of Neak Mean Bon or King. It is said that the black hill is a former palace because we found ancient objects and equipment like bowls and pot characterizing the ancient feature.Now, the black hill has been organized and maintained by guards because it relates to the belief in sacred objects there.

 

Nowadays, Angkor Chey pagoda has a lot of local visitors especially those who cling to abstract belief; they go there to have sacredly watered. In addition, Ang Kor Chey pagoda has the beautiful scenery with cool shadow from the trees and pleasant environment.

 

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Handicraft center is located at Koh Dach Commune, Muk Kampool District at the middle of Mekong River. The commune of Koh Dach has 12 kilometers length and width from 100m to 2,500 Metres, borders Prek Luong commune at the East and Uk Nha Tey commune, Koh Dach district at the west, and faces with the communes of Prek Leap and Bak Kheng, Muk Kanpool District. The commune of Koh Dach has five villages, namely: Koh Dach, Kbal Koh, Lvea, Chong Koh and Neah village. The commune’s Hall is located at Kbal Koh village. Due to flooding of Mekong River flowing from Upper Mekong to Lower Mekong then to Vietnam has caused the area of Kbal Koh guadually collapsed.

 

The main careers of the local people there are:

- Planting sub-product crop such as corn, seasame, bean and banana.

- Planting fruit tree

- Manufacturing mosquito net, silk sarong, Phamuong, Hol, silk krama and running small businesses.

 

The commune of koh Dach has three pagodas, namely Ampor Phal, Kra Pumpich and SaMaki kbal koh. The interesting tradition of the people existing long time ago is the real handicraft of Khmer. In all accommodations of the people has individual loom according to the capital of each family. In addition, the commune of Koh Dach has racing boats for men and women. Am Pon Phal pagoda has two boats are rowboat and dugout for men; Sa Mak, Kbal Koh pagoda has two boats are rowboat and dugout for men; Kra Pum Pich pagoda has two boats are one rowboat for men and one rowboat for women. According to the wealth of the island having natural resources and interesting tradition, in the future, if the country has political, economic and security stability, we are able to arrange this island to become the main tourist attraction of the province by implementing as follow:

 

- To foster the weaving, manufacture and talent of weavers, and to expand the handicraft work in manufacturing Hol, Pha Muong and Silk Kroma to meet the international standard for tourists.

 

- To repair road network in the commune and to well organize the village by building the Khmer architectural houses and educating the people to maintain their tradition such as lifestyle, dress and popular game.

 

- To arrange the Kbal Koh area as swimming zone and to organize guesthouses, restaurant and canteens in maintaining their sanitation.

 

- To expand boat racing teams for men and women to be active in their performance during the national and religious festivals.

 

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Wat Kean Svay Krau is located in Phum Thom commune, Kean Svay district, about 19 kilometers from Phnom Penh, or about '30 kilometers from Takmao. To reach Wat Kean Svay, cross the Monivong Bridge and travel east for 19 kilometers on National Road 1. The gate to the pagoda is on the left. The site is about 300 meters inside the gate.

The site covers 10 hectares and is lush with trees and other vegetation. Many kinds of crops and fruit are sold here. It became a tourist destination in 1979. Its main attraction is Wat Kean Svay Krau. The site is popular with many tourists from Phnom Penh who come to see the floating houses and restaurants, where they can enjoy delicious foods such as grilled chicken and fish, as well as jack fruit, sapodilla, mango, banana and coconut.

Fruit trees line the edge of the Ktub River, creating an inviting atmosphere for tourists to sit and relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery. The river is also a key transportation link to Ka Om village, another popular tourist site.

Because of the natural beauty of Kean Svay, the provincial tourism service and local authorities hope to make the site more popular with tourists. They have added parking and restroom facilities and increased security.

Koh Dach is 29 km (1h:30mn) from Phnom Penh on National Road No 6a, Kon Dach Commune, Mok Kampoul District.

Phnom Edtharoes Phnom Edtharoes located at the Communes of Psardek and Phnom Bat in Ponhea Leu District. The mountain of Edtharoes has three nemes called Phnom Udong or Phnom Preah Reachtrop or Phnom Edtharoes, which can be accessed by National Road No 5 "Phnom Penh-Battambang " ie from Phnom Penh to the turning road at Kilomet 37 and turn left about 3.50 Kilometers by red soil Road. The total distance from Phnom Penh to the mountain is 40.50 Kilometers. If we go from Ta Khmao to the mountain, the distance is 51.50 Kilometers. The mountain of Edtharoes lasts from the North to the South in a length of 1,500 Meters and its width of 700 Meters. The mountain surrounded by roads including the eastern and western roads. At the North of the mountain, there is Phnom village and at the South, there is Porane village. The mountain has five peaks: The one-stupa peak has equal height to the Tri Treng peak, the mountain peak, the four-stupas peak, The peak of Preah Ang Chol Nipean and the peak of Ariya Kasbak. In addition, this site has natural beauty with the beautiful scenery and fresh air, which can attracts visitors especially by the history concerning the building of the Royal Palace from 17th-19th century (1620-1866) during the reign of King Chey Chetha II. This region has 18 ancient stupas.

Phnom Udong is located in Psar Dek and Phnom Bat communes, Ponhea Leu district, about 41 kilometers north of Phnom Penh. The city drops behind while fishing villages and rice paddies surround either side of the sweeping plains of Kandal province. Then without warning, a mountain rises above it all, topped by the spire of stupas like some fairy castle. The road to Udong is clearly marked, and the distance along this road to the former city is less than 4 kilometers. Picnic huts selling everything from sweet palm fruit to roasted chicken cluster around the base of the hill.

There are three names for this hill: Phnom Udong, Phnom Preah Reach Troap and Phnom Edthareus. The site includes the summits of five hills: Chetdei, Trai Treung, Chetdei Kampul Buon, Preah Ang Chol Nipean, and Ariya Kasaks. Chetdy and Trai Treung summits are the same height. The area of Phnom Udong is about 1,500 meters by 700 meters from the east to the west.

Close up, Udong actually appears as two hump-backed hills. The smaller is topped by shrines and the remains of Ta San mosque, built by a Cham Muslim on ground given to him for the purpose by one of the ancient kings. The main hill is said to be shaped like a naga. The stupas on the main hill house the remains of past monarchs, includil'lg King Moniyang and King Ang Duong. A new huge stupa at the end of the mountain ridge was completed in 2002 and built to hold relics of the Buddha. The relics, once housed in a small stupa near the railroad station in Phnom Penh, were .relocated to the new stupa by King Norodom Sihanouk and Queen Norodom Monineath Sihanouk in December 2002.

This site is of particular interest to visitors seeking to learn about early Cambodian history. Udong was home to several kings when it served as the Cambodian capital between AD 1618 and 1866. In addition, it offers more than an exhibit of ancient history. At the top of the stairs on the left lies the city's most impressive structure, Vihear Preah Edthareus, sanctuary of the 18 cubit Buddha, retains the scars of heavy strafing inflicted in face-to-face firefights between Khmer Rouge, Lon Nol and American troops in the 1970s. The eight huge columns of the shrine rise into the sky, the roof they once supported was destroyed when Khmer Rouge forces blew up the temple in 1977. The arm and part of one side of a huge Buddha remains, and his face has placed at the foot of the pedestal and a modern shrine built around it.

However, the severity of the fighting and the extent of the damage to this once magnificent building do not take away from its haunting beauty. The views of the surrounding countryside from entire ridge are breathtaking, and the silence casts an air of serenity over the battleground of a war long past.

Phnom Prasith is located in Makak commune, Ang Snoul district and in Chhviang commune, Ponhea Leu district, north of Phnom Penh. To get there, take National Road 5 north about 11 kilometers to Prek Pneuv Market point. From there, turn left and drive another 13 kilometers along a dirt trail. The total distance is about 24 kilometers from Phnom Penh or about 35 kilometers from Takmao provincial town. In the future, once National Road 26 is completed and the trail to Phnom Prasith is improved, visitors will be able to visit Phnom Prasith, and then continue on to Phnom Udong. Or, they could visit Udong first and Phnom Prasith later.

Phnom Prasith is composed of two hills, the East Hill and the West Hill. The West Hill has no stories. The East Hill, however, has stories relating to religion and the Khmer king. It also has a large statue of the reclining Buddha reaching nirvana.

There are not many big trees in Phnom Prasith, and there are no development plans for now. The site attracts few visitors because there is poor organization and management. Nevertheless, this area has beautiful scenery, abundant fresh air and is rich in culture and history.

About 1 kilometer from Phnom Prasith, there is a man-made cultural site called Phnom Reap or Prasat Vihear Suor. Based on the style of Angkor Wat which is why it is called the New Angkor Wat, Phnom Reap was constructed of stone and cement between 1996 and 1998 for about 1 million US dollars. The money was raised from local and foreign sources by Mr. Meas Sarin.

Today, Phnom Reap attracts many Cambodian and foreign tourists. It is often used as the backdrop for Cambodian videos.

 

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Tum Pek Pagoda Located at Krang Yau Commune, Sa ang District, Kandal province. Kandal province has 8,000-hectar landarea and 12,700 people. Krang Yau is the developed region of Samdach Hun Sen having projects on development and agricultural product processing; in this region, there are vast rice fields, canal network and good red soil roads connecting from village to village.

 

In Krang Yau pagoda, there are three pagodas, namely: An Det, Kong Nea Ream and Tum Pek pagoda. Among the three pagodas, only Tum Pek pagoda that has been arranged as tourist-attractive site which has eight artificial temples constructed by the supreme dead of the pagoda in the purpose of changing the area as the tourist attractive site by making roads around the pagoda, planting trees along the mountain valley and excavating ponds. In addition the pagoda has arranged one-hectar wedding part for new couple to plant trees as their remembrance, in the eight temples, the pagoda has display the beautiful ancient objects for tourists.

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Wat Phnom Thon Mond Wat Phnom Thom Mond is located at Prek Koy Commune, Sa Ang District in the distance of 23.50 Kilometers from Ta Khmao or in the distance of 34.50 Kilometers from Phnom Penh by the National Road No 21. The mountain of Thon Mond can be reached by the National Road No 21 from Phnom Penh to the market of Prek Touch “the market of Sa Ang District” and continue to the turning road at Svay Tany Primary School “20 Kilometers from Ta Khmao by the new National Road No 21” and turn right about 3.50 Kilometres. If we want to go along Tonle Basac River, the distance of waterway equal to the distance of the old Road No 21 from Phnom Penh to Sa Ang market in the distance of 36 Kilometers.

 

The monastery was built in 1954 by a monk named Rath Phann. Nowadays, by the supports from generous people, the monastery became a tourist attraction in Kandal province. On the other hand, because people believe the goodness and effectiveness of the monastery, the monastery can attract many local visitors, who go there especially on the great public holiday and on the Buddhist holidays for praying for happiness and other wishes. In addition, Phnom Thonmond is derived from the natural beauty (trees from mountain’s foot to the peak, fresh air, on the top we can view the scenery to get good feeling) and its reputation can attracts a lot of visitors.

 

In accordance with the fancy of the local visitors, the Provincial Tourist Office collaborated with the Territory Authorities and the Monastery Committee, has conducted the arrangement of pagoda’s yard by filling the yard with soil, enlarging the yard, and producing a lot of attractively artistic statures relating to the story and history of the Thon Mond mountain. In addition, the Office of the Monastery Committee had planted more trees, dug ponds and arranged parking site at the pagoda