Series 🇰🇭 Cambodia Today: Insights from Vietnam's Neighbor
Vol.5: Mountains and Sea - Weekend Trips from Phnom Penh
Starting March 5, 2026, KBC-LINK continues its series, 'Cambodia Today,' designed for our readers in Vietnam.
Written by the head of a Japanese Desk at a local bank with six years of residency, this series offers authentic, on-the-ground perspectives—from professional financial insights to the realities of daily life.
🔰 About This Series / Author Introduction
Hello, my name is Asami Iida, and I lead the Japanese Desk at ABA Bank in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. I am delighted to continue sharing the evolving landscape of “Cambodia Today” with everyone living in Vietnam. This year marks my sixth year of living and working in this vibrant country. When people think of Cambodia, the majestic spires of Angkor Wat often come to mind. While that historical legacy remains a point of pride, Cambodia is now a nation in the midst of a rapid and profound transformation. Through this column, I hope to provide a more contemporary and realistic view of the country as seen through both my professional and personal experiences. |
Living in Cambodia, I'm sometimes asked, "Are there any easy weekend spots to visit from Phnom Penh?"
When I think about it, there really aren't many places that work well as a day trip. On the other hand, there are plenty of spots that offer a great refresh with just one overnight stay. This time, I'd like to introduce two places I've visited myself and found perfect for a weekend getaway.
Kampot & Kep
Kampot and Kep are areas I love enough to visit roughly once every six months. I was there again in late May for my company's staff trip.
It's about a three-hour drive or minivan ride from Phnom Penh. Kampot is also accessible by train, on a line known for using retired Japanese Kiha diesel railcars. I haven't taken the train myself yet, but I've heard it's a lovely way to enjoy the scenery along the way.
My recommended plan: leave Phnom Penh in the morning, start with a seafood lunch along the beach in Kep, then head to Kampot. Kep is famous for seafood, and you can enjoy fresh crab and shrimp at fairly reasonable prices.
What makes Kampot special is that it offers both coastal and mountain scenery. Stylish cafés have been popping up in the hills recently, and more people are spending relaxed time surrounded by nature.
This time of year is also durian season, drawing visitors who come specifically for Kampot's famous durian. Kampot is well known for producing pepper, but it's also a durian-growing region—so beloved locally that the town even has a durian monument as a symbol. My top tip: buy directly from a farm or roadside stand and have it cut open on the spot. Many people associate durian with a strong smell, but fresh Kampot durian has a gentle aroma with a slightly crisp texture—personally, I find it easier to enjoy than durian I've had in other countries, and genuinely delicious.
Kampot used to feel quiet, but these days the riverside area has seen a wave of new coffee chains and restaurants, giving it a real buzz. There's also a large community of Western expats, so you'll find some unexpected cuisine too—Italian, Portuguese, and more.
Hotels are fairly affordable, and whether you book several rooms together or rent a whole villa, it's well suited to group trips. Even just having a barbecue at the hotel in the evening makes for a special night.
Kirirom
Kirirom, which I visited for the first time this year, offers a very different kind of charm from Kampot. It's about three hours from Phnom Penh by car or minivan. This isn't really a place for sightseeing around town—it's more about spending quiet time in nature. Kirirom is home to a large resort area where camping and glamping are popular, making it a great spot when you want to leave the city behind and reset on the weekend.
When I visited, I left Phnom Penh Saturday morning and arrived around midday. The day before, I'd picked up sandwich bread, cheese, and snacks at the supermarket, and spent the afternoon relaxing with those after arriving. In the evening, the accommodation set up a barbecue grill, and we cooked the meat we'd brought for dinner.
"Camping" might sound inconvenient, but the resort has cafés, a convenience store, and restaurants, making it far more comfortable than you'd expect. My room even had air conditioning, so even camping beginners like me could enjoy a bit of "glamping-lite" without any trouble.
The next morning, I brewed coffee I'd brought along and spent a quiet moment taking in the cool mountain air. Even leaving around midday, we were back in Phnom Penh by evening.
Cambodia doesn't yet offer a huge number of day-trip options, but even a single overnight stay can be deeply relaxing. There are more options than you might expect around Phnom Penh for refreshing yourself in mountain or coastal scenery.
If you ever have the chance to visit Cambodia, I hope you'll experience this kind of "weekend getaway" alongside the more well-known tourist spots.
Iida-san's Local Cambodia Tips:
■ Kampot's Fruit and Culinary Heritage
On June 1, Kampot Province held a major event celebrating its signature fruits and local food culture. When it comes to Kampot, durian—often called the "king of fruits"—takes center stage. Provincial Governor Mao Thonin spoke passionately at the opening ceremony, calling on the community to protect the pride and reputation of the Kampot brand together. The governor encouraged local farmers and vendors to promote the region further, aiming to draw more visitors ahead of the upcoming green season, considered the best time of year for tourism.
KBC-LINK Featured News:
KBC-LINK Spotlight News: Reading Cambodia's Economy Today, with Iida-san of ABA Bank's Japanese Desk
■ Turning the Rainy Season into Opportunity: Rural Ecotourism Development Advances in Kirirom
Cambodia's tourism industry is increasingly reframing the rainy season—traditionally viewed as the low season—as the "green season," and turning it into a source of new economic value.
On June 28, a 5km fun run held at Kirirom National Park drew the Minister of Tourism and numerous influencers, showcasing the rich natural beauty of the rainy season (ecotourism) to both domestic and international audiences. A new access road, funded by roughly $1.22 million in private investment, has also just opened in the area. Pairing government campaigns with infrastructure development and packaged sports events is drawing attention as a strategy to generate income for local communities and support sustainable economic growth.
As Iida-san's article also reflects, a new style of travel—centered on longer stays and immersive experiences—is spreading, one that finds value in Cambodia's cool, lush everyday scenery during the rainy season, distinct from the dry season.
Author Profile
Asami Iida
Based in Cambodia for 6 years
Japanese Desk, ABA Bank
Supporting Japanese individuals and companies expanding into Cambodia. From financial operations to everyday life, she shares insights into Cambodia’s evolving landscape from both professional and personal perspectives.
Contact
ABA Bank Japanese Desk
Next Episode (Vol.6)
Next month, Iida-san brings us "What's Happening in a Country with an Average Age of 27." Stay tuned!
Editor’s Note
This article is a contributed piece.
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