Weekend in Kampot Old Town

Unlike the bustling capital Phnom Penh or the mysterious Siem Reap, Kampot (Cambodia) possesses an ancient and peaceful beauty, making it a popular weekend getaway for Vietnamese tourists.

Kampot is a southern province of Cambodia, located approximately 150 km from the capital Phnom Penh and about 60 km from the Xa Xia border crossing in Kien Giang province. It is famous for its old French colonial architecture, Kep beach, mountains, and the ancient town of Bokor with its slow pace of life.

Besides its historical sites, Kampot is also famous as the durian capital of Cambodia. A durian-shaped symbol is located in the city center.

Kampot boasts many old French colonial buildings. In the 19th century, it was chosen by the French colonialists as the administrative center of the border region.

The durian-shaped roundabout, the seahorse fountain, the giant clock (pictured), and the Entanou Bridge are iconic architectural landmarks of the city, located close together for easy sightseeing.

According to Khmer Times, The giant clock was built in a traditional style with a tubular structure and numbers in Khmer script. The clock is 35 meters high, and the clock face has a diameter of 9.7 meters.

The Entanou Bridge is also one of the famous old French architectural works in Kampot. According to a Cambodian tourism website, Cambodiabeginsat40 , the Entanou Bridge, built during the French colonial period, was partially damaged by war. Later, Entanou was rebuilt, with the two spans closest to the town (left corner) preserved in their original form. Currently, to preserve the bridge, only pedestrians, bicycles, motorbikes, and tuktuks are allowed to cross.

In April, Kampot gained a new landmark: an 8-meter-high seahorse fountain overlooking the large Prek Kampong Kandal River. Seahorses are considered symbols of prosperity, good fortune, and success in Cambodian culture. This place is also expected to become one of the most popular tourist spots for photos when visiting Kampot.

The old French-style buildings add to the neighborhood's peaceful atmosphere. Today, these buildings are repurposed and renovated to house government offices, restaurants, and cafes.

Tuktuks are one of the most popular modes of transportation in Cambodia, especially for tourists. Tourists can download the Pass app – an app for booking rides at reasonable prices without bargaining. To use this app, tourists need a Cambodian phone number. Some mobile network providers include Smart Axiata, Cellcard, and Metfone.

Kampot has a rather hot climate, so visitors should prepare sunscreen, hats, and umbrellas. The best time to visit is from December to May of the following year. During this time, Cambodia is in its dry season, making it easier for visitors to plan their itinerary and enjoy their vacation.

The streets of Kampot in general, and especially the central area where many shops are located, are quite deserted.

Tourists can enjoy many typical Cambodian street food dishes starting from 2 USD (approximately 50,000 VND). The papaya and shrimp salad, made with papaya, carrots, corn, eggs, fresh shrimp, rice noodles, and various herbs, costs 3 USD (approximately 78,000 VND).

Kampot's old town is vibrant at night.

From Ho Chi Minh City, tourists can book bus tickets to Phnom Penh for approximately 500,000 to 900,000 VND, with a passport valid for at least 6 months. After that, travel from Phnom Penh to Kampot by bus for about 300,000 VND.

Alternatively, tourists can take a bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Ha Tien (Kien Giang) for 200,000 to 500,000 VND, and then from Ha Tien to Kampot by bus for 300,000 VND.

Kampot does not have an airport, so tourists in Hanoi can buy plane tickets to Phnom Penh and then take a bus to Kampot. Alternatively, to save costs, tourists can choose to fly to Ho Chi Minh City and then travel as described above.

Source