Archive for Oddar Meancheay

Oddar Meancheay Province

Oddar Meancheay is a province in the north of Cambodia located along the border with Thailand. The capital is Samraong town.

The province is subdivided into 5 districts.

- 2201 Anlong Veng

- 2202 Banteay Ampil

- 2203 Chong Kal

- 2204 Samraong

- 2205 Trapeang Prasat

The territory of this province is located in the Dângrêk Mountains. There is a serious problem of deforestation in the area. Forest fires are common in the dry forest and there is much illegal logging as a result of economic land concessions and migrant forest encroachment.

History

The mountainous and forested area of Oddar Meancheay Province was used as a base by the Khmer Rouge when they fought against the Khmer Republic led by general Lon Nol 1970-1975.

The Khmer Rouge rebuilt their former bases in the Dangrek mountain range area, along the border with Thailand and made Anlong Veng their main "capital" from 1989 till 1997. Nowadays Oddar Meanchey Province is one of the most landmine-ridden areas in Cambodia.

Anlong Veng

Set near the base of the Dangrek escarpment, and running around the edge of a man-made lake, Anlong Veng feels like the town Cambodia forgot about, and for a long time, that is just what it was.
One of the last redoubts of the Khmer Rouge, the town was for years off limits but today, close to an international border crossing and reached by a slowly improving road, the town is starting to develop and welcome the occasional backpacker that straggles into town.

Within the town itself there is precious little to do as the key attractions all sit atop the Dangrek range in the form of Pol Pot’s grave and house along with Ta Mok’s house — the latter offers spectacular views as far as Phnom Kulen (on a very clear day).

The lake in town was caused by a small dam/spillway constructed under orders of Ta Mok. During construction they never bothered to clear all the trees from the area to be flooded and so the dead trees remain standing, creating a particularly eerie yet very photogenic scene.

Tourism is a pretty new concept in Anlong Veng but there are a few motodops who speak a little English and will happily whiz you around to all the main sites — the best way to see what Anlong Veng has to offer.

If you’re in a rush you could see everything Anlong Veng has to offer in a half day, but if you have time on your hands, you could easily spend day or two here.