Unlike the bustling capital Phnom Penh or mysterious Siem Reap, Kampot has an ancient and peaceful beauty, making it an ideal weekend destination for Vietnamese travelers. Let Ha Tien Vegas help you to discover this city of Cambodia in advance and then plan well for the trip in the near future.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Durian monument
- Giant clock tower
- Entanou Bridge
- Seahorse fountain
- French colonial architecture
5. Transportation Guide to Kampot
6. Important Notes When Visiting Kampot
1. Where is Kampot? Why Visit? {#where-is-kampot}
Geographic Location
Kampot is a province in southern Cambodia, strategically located:
- 📍 From capital Phnom Penh: 150 km southeast
- 📍 From Ha Tien border gate (Kien Giang, Vietnam): 60 km west
- 📍 From Kep (beach town): 25 km east
- 📍 From Sihanoukville: 105 km southwest
Why is Kampot Special?
Kampot is completely different from other Cambodian tourist destinations:
✨ Phnom Penh: Bustling, modern, vibrant
✨ Siem Reap: Mysterious, ancient temples, crowded
✨ Kampot: Peaceful, ancient, slow-paced lifestyle
Highlights:
- 🏛️ Well-preserved French colonial architecture
- 🌊 Romantic Prek Kampong Bay River
- 🌶️ World-famous Kampot pepper
- 🥭 Cambodia’s “Durian Kingdom”
- 🏔️ Mysterious Bokor Highland
- 🏖️ Near beautiful Kep beach
- 🇫🇷 Rich French colonial heritage
Who Should Visit?
Kampot is perfect for:
- ✅ Architecture and history lovers
- ✅ Couples seeking romantic spaces
- ✅ Families wanting quiet relaxation
- ✅ Travelers who enjoy slow pace
- ✅ Photographers hunting beautiful shots
- ✅ People escaping noisy cities
2. Best Time to Visit Kampot {#best-time}
Dry Season (December – May) ⭐ RECOMMENDED
This is the best time to visit Kampot:
Advantages:
- ☀️ Beautiful sunny weather, little rain
- 🌡️ Temperature: 25-32°C (more comfortable than rainy season)
- 🚶 Convenient for travel and sightseeing
- 📸 Beautiful light for photography
- 🎉 Many cultural festivals
Best months:
- December-February: Coolest, peak tourism season
- March-May: Hotter but still dry
Rainy Season (June – November)
Still possible to visit but need preparation:
- 🌧️ Heavy, sudden rain
- 💨 Strong winds, high waves (if going to beach)
- 🚗 Some roads may flood
- 💰 Cheaper hotel rates
Notes:
- Bring raincoat, umbrella
- Check weather forecast daily
- Keep itinerary flexible
3. Notable Attractions {#attractions}
🍈 Durian Monument
Location: Kampot city center (main roundabout)
Kampot is dubbed “Cambodia’s Durian Kingdom”. The giant durian monument at the central roundabout has become an unmissable check-in point.
Features:
- Bright yellow durian statue
- About 3-4m high
- Located in middle of flower roundabout
- Beautifully lit at night
Activities:
- Take commemorative photos
- Learn about Kampot durian
- Explore surrounding area
Tip: Visit early morning or late afternoon to avoid harsh sun and get beautiful lighting for photos.
🕐 Kampot Giant Clock Tower
Location: Near durian roundabout, city center
According to Khmer Times, Kampot’s giant clock is one of the city’s iconic structures.
Features:
- 📏 Height: 35 meters
- ⭕ Clock face diameter: 9.7 meters
- 🏗️ Architecture: Traditional Khmer style
- 🔢 Numbers: Khmer script (unique)
- 🎨 Structure: Characteristic cylindrical shape
Activities:
- Photograph unique architecture
- View from distance to see full panorama
- Visit at night when illuminated
Visit duration: 15-30 minutes
🌉 Entanou Bridge (Old French Bridge)
Location: Crossing Prek Kampong Bay River, 2km from center
According to Cambodia travel site Cambodiabeginsat40, Entanou Bridge is a valuable French colonial architectural heritage.
History:
- 🏗️ Built: French colonial period (early 20th century)
- 💥 War: Partially damaged
- 🔨 Rebuilt: Two spans near shore kept original
- 🏛️ Current status: Carefully preserved monument
Features:
- Classic French iron bridge architecture
- Characteristic blue color
- Two original bridge spans on town side
- Beautiful river views
Special regulations:
⚠️ Only permitted:
- ✅ Pedestrians
- ✅ Bicycles
- ✅ Motorcycles
- ✅ Tuktuks
❌ Not permitted:
- Cars
- Trucks
- Heavy vehicles
Activities:
- Walk across bridge viewing scenery
- Photograph ancient architecture
- Watch sunset over river
- Sit on bridge enjoying atmosphere
Best time: Late afternoon (5-6 PM) for sunset
Visit duration: 30 minutes – 1 hour
🐴 Seahorse Fountain
Location: Prek Kampong Kandal riverfront, city center
April 2024 update: Kampot has a new landmark!
Features:
- 🐎 Figure: Giant seahorse
- 📏 Height: 8 meters
- 💦 Fountain: Modern, attractive
- 🌊 Location: Overlooking large river
- 🌙 Lighting: Brilliantly illuminated at night
Cultural significance:
Seahorses symbolize prosperity, luck and success in Cambodian culture.
Expected:
This will become one of the most popular check-in landmarks for tourists visiting Kampot.
Activities:
- Photograph with fountain
- View river scenery in afternoon
- Walk along riverfront
- Sit at nearby cafe
Visit duration: 30 minutes
🏛️ French Colonial Architecture
Historical context:
In the 19th century, Kampot was chosen by French colonists as an administrative center in the border region, leaving behind many beautiful French architectural works.
Notable old buildings:
- Old administrative buildings
- Typical French architecture
- Now government offices
- Characteristic cream yellow color
- French-style shophouses
- Row of connected townhouses
- Ground floor as shops/restaurants
- Upper floor for living
- Large windows, iron balconies
- Restaurants & Cafes in old buildings
- Many buildings renovated
- Original architecture preserved
- Unique vintage atmosphere
Concentrated areas:
- Along riverfront road
- Town center area
- Near Kampot market
Activities:
- Walk viewing architecture
- Take vintage photos
- Visit cafes in old buildings
- Shop at shophouses
Common features:
Old French-style buildings help accentuate the peaceful rhythm of the neighborhood. Today these buildings are repurposed and renovated as government offices, restaurants and cafes.
Visit duration: 2-3 hours (walking tour of old town)
🗺️ Other Nearby Attractions
1. Bokor Highland (40km)
- Elevation: 1,000m
- Climate: Cool year-round
- Destinations: Old casino, abandoned church, waterfalls
2. Kep Beach (25km)
- Quiet beach town
- Famous crab market
- Premium resorts
3. Kampot Pepper Plantations
- World-famous Kampot pepper
- Plantation tours
- Buy high-quality pepper
4. Phnom Chhnork Cave
- Natural cave
- Ancient Hindu temple inside
- Hiking, exploring
4. Kampot Cuisine {#cuisine}
Must-Try Specialties
1. Kampot Pepper Crab ⭐ MUST TRY
- Price: 8-15 USD/crab (200,000 – 380,000 VND)
- Features: Fresh crab cooked with famous Kampot pepper
- Taste: Spicy, aromatic, rich
- Where to eat: Riverside restaurants
2. Green Papaya Salad with Shrimp
- Price: 3 USD (about 78,000 VND)
- Ingredients: Papaya, carrots, corn, eggs, fresh shrimp, noodles, herbs
- Taste: Sour-spicy, refreshing
- Where to eat: Street food stalls
3. Traditional Khmer Dishes
- Amok (fish curry): 4-6 USD
- Lok Lak (beef stir-fry): 5-7 USD
- Khmer pancakes: 3-5 USD
- Khmer noodle soup: 2-3 USD
4. Street Food
- Price: From 2 USD (about 50,000 VND)
- Dishes: Noodles, pho, sticky rice, desserts
- Features: Cheap, delicious, diverse
Recommended Restaurants
Riverside:
- Riverside restaurants (many choices)
- Beautiful river views
- Average price: 5-10 USD/dish
In Old Town:
- Cafes & restaurants in old buildings
- Vintage atmosphere
- Price: 3-8 USD/dish
Night Market:
- Diverse street food
- Cheapest prices
- Open 5 PM-10 PM
5. Transportation Guide to Kampot {#transportation}
From Ho Chi Minh City (2 Routes)
Route 1: HCMC → Phnom Penh → Kampot
Step 1: HCMC → Phnom Penh
- 🚌 Bus: 500,000 – 900,000 VND
- ⏱️ Time: 6-7 hours
- 🎫 Book tickets: Phuong Trang, Kumho, Mekong Express
- 📋 Need: Passport valid at least 6 months
Step 2: Phnom Penh → Kampot
- 🚌 Bus: 300,000 VND (6-7 USD)
- ⏱️ Time: 2.5-3 hours
- 🎫 Companies: Giant Ibis, Virak Buntham
Total cost: 800,000 – 1,200,000 VND
Total time: 9-10 hours
Route 2: HCMC → Ha Tien → Kampot ⭐ RECOMMENDED
Step 1: HCMC → Ha Tien (Kien Giang)
- 🚌 Bus: 200,000 – 500,000 VND
- ⏱️ Time: 6-7 hours
- 🎫 Companies: Phuong Trang, Kumho, Phuong Hang
Step 2: Ha Tien → Kampot
- 🚌 Cross-border bus: 300,000 VND
- ⏱️ Time: 2 hours
- 📍 Via border gate: Ha Tien (VN) – Prek Chak (Cambodia)
- 📋 Procedures: Immigration at border
Total cost: 500,000 – 800,000 VND
Total time: 8-9 hours
Advantages of this route:
- ✅ Cheaper than route 1
- ✅ Ha Tien – Prek Chak border safe, friendly
- ✅ Many Vietnamese in border area, easy to ask directions
- ✅ Similar travel time
From Hanoi
Recommended Route:
Step 1: Hanoi → Phnom Penh
- ✈️ Flight: 3,000,000 – 5,000,000 VND
- ⏱️ Time: 2 hours
- 🎫 Airlines: Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet
Step 2: Phnom Penh → Kampot
- 🚌 Bus: 300,000 VND
- ⏱️ Time: 2.5-3 hours
Budget option:
- Fly Hanoi → HCMC
- Then follow routes from HCMC
Getting Around Kampot
1. Tuktuk (Most popular)
- 📱 App: PassApp (like Grab)
- 💰 Price: 1-3 USD/trip in city
- ✅ No haggling needed
- ⚠️ Need Cambodian phone number
Buy Cambodian SIM:
- Smart Axiata
- Cellcard
- Metfone
- Price: 3-5 USD (1 week data)
2. Motorcycle Rental
- 💰 Price: 5-10 USD/day
- 📋 Need: Passport, deposit
- ⚠️ International license recommended
3. Bicycle
- 💰 Price: 2-5 USD/day
- ✅ Good for: Old town touring
- ⚠️ Hot weather, consider carefully
4. Walking
- Small downtown, easy to walk
- Good for old town sightseeing
- Best early morning or late afternoon
6. Important Notes When Visiting Kampot {#notes}
Weather & Clothing
Kampot has quite hot climate, travelers should prepare:
- ☀️ Sunscreen SPF 50+
- 🧢 Wide-brimmed hat
- 🕶️ Sunglasses
- ☔ Umbrella (sudden rain)
- 👕 Cool, breathable cotton clothes
- 👟 Comfortable shoes/sandals
Safety
Kampot is a small, safe town:
- Streets in Kampot and downtown area with many shops are generally quite empty
- Friendly locals
- Low crime
However still need to:
- Keep valuables secure
- Don’t go alone to remote areas at night
- Keep passport in hotel safe
Currency
Cambodia uses 2 currencies:
- 💵 USD (most common)
- 💰 Riel (KHR) – Small change
Notes:
- Exchange small USD bills (1, 5, 10, 20)
- ATM withdrawals in USD easy
- Many places accept VND
Language
- Khmer (official)
- English (tourist areas)
- Few Vietnamese speakers
Tips:
- Download Google Translate app
- Learn basic Khmer words
- Point at menu/pictures
Phone & Internet
Should buy Cambodian SIM:
- Cheap (3-5 USD)
- WiFi not always available
- Needed for PassApp
CONCLUSION
Why Choose Kampot?
Kampot is a peaceful paradise for those who want to:
- ✨ Escape city noise
- 🏛️ Explore unique French colonial architecture
- 🌊 Enjoy romantic river atmosphere
- 🍃 Experience slow-paced lifestyle
- 📸 Take beautiful vintage photos
- 💰 Save costs (cheaper than Siem Reap, Phnom Penh)
Final Advice
Kampot is NOT for those who:
- Like vibrant, bustling atmosphere
- Want lots of shopping
- Seek lively nightlife
Kampot is for those who:
- Love tranquility
- Passionate about architecture, history
- Want true relaxation
- Enjoy photography
- Appreciate slow living
Kampot awaits your discovery – a peaceful old town where time seems to stand still!
USEFUL CONTACT INFORMATION
Cambodia Tourism:
- Official website: tourismcambodia.com
- Visa information: evisa.gov.kh
Emergency:
- Police: 117
- Ambulance: 119
- Vietnamese Embassy in Cambodia: +855 23 726 274
Updated: March, 2026
Source: Compiled from practical experience
Photos: Nhat Tan – VnExpress