Kratie Province

General information
The province is subdivided into 5 districts; Chhlong, Kratie, Prek Prasab, Sambor & Snoul.  
- Area              :  11,094sq km
- Population    : 302,113 (2008)
- Density         : 24/km2

Kratie is situated along the east Mekong riverbank. It is around 340km form Phnom Penh on the National Road 7 and it is one of the four provinces in northeastern Cambodia. Kratie province shares the frontier with Mondulkiri province in the east, Kampong Cham province and Vietnam in the south, Kampong Thom province in the west, and Stung Treng province in the north. Kratie.  There are seven type of tribes in Kratie namely Phnorng, Kouy, Mil, Khonh, Steang, and Thamoun.

Kratie is famous for its cultural heritage and natural resource. The former Royal Capital Sampheak Borak in Chenla Era is located in Sambo. Kratie has several temples built in the 8th century such as Khvas Pi, Pram, and Koh Kring that has perfect deities, ancient halls, Khmer ancient houses, and French-style buildings. Customs and traditions, diverse festivals and rites, and everyday life activities are also the cultural heritages in the province.

The Mekong River, the natural resource, is about 140 km long flowing through Kratie province. The river is a sanctuary for priceless Irrawaddy dolphins (the rare fresh water mammals), fishes, and birds. The river also has hundreds of Green Island, and circling water, which attract tourists. Besides, there are some large areas of forests such as Phnom Pram Poan range ( 5,000-mountain range), which are sanctuaries for diverse wildlife, and Phnom Prech, and rubber plantations. These cultural and natural potentials are the significant tourist attractions in Kratie province

Tourist Attractions:
Phnom Sambok Resort is the natural and historical resort, locates at Thmor Kre Commune, Kratie District in 9 km from the provincial town by the National Road No 7, then turning more 500 Meters to the mountain. Phnom Sam Bok is the cultural and main tourist resort of Kratie province. The resort has good location and assured safety for tourists to visit. Phnom Sam Bok has been arranged as the tourist resort since the Sang Kum Reas Ni Yum time. The special features of Phnom Sam Bok are: - Closed to the western mountain foot, there is a big pond full of clear water and natural plants. - The mountain has two peaks, a dull peak and a pointed peak. On the mountain top, we can view the beautiful scene especially the Mekong River. - The mountain rich in big trees and birds. - There is a concrete stair stretching from the mountain foot to the top, and there are many resting place at the mountain. The legend said that one upon the time, there was a king named Cha Krey Sara Varman a son of Preah Bat Hathak Athi Reah Varman. After he was on throne instead of his father, he informed officials and high officials to find where having gold mine. Then they found a place closed to the mountain foot of Sam Bok very rich in gold. The local people there called the place “Kan Leng Sam Bo Meas” means “a place very rich in gold”. Long time after that, the word changed to “Phnom Sam Bok Meas”, then only “Phnom Sam Bok” until now.

The background of Phnom Sam Bok: At the beginning of 15th century, there was a monk named Neak Voan, the student who has the same teacher to the monk, Neak Sen. Neak Sen is the teacher of crocodile, Nen Thun and he does meditation on the mountaintop of Sam Bok. The monk, Neak Voan has very strong ritual formulas and he is well known to the near and far local people. The local people accompany each other to learn the ritual formulas from Neak voan. Since that, Phnom Sam Bok becomes the worshipping place until now.
 
Phom Sambor Kaley (45 km from Town)          
Is a historical and cultural tourist spot located at Chambak commune, Prek Prasab district, Kratie province, along west side of the Mekong River, 45km to the south of the provincial Town. Visitors can go to the foot of the mountain through a laterited road about 800 meters from the main road, then continue climbing through 800 concrete steps up to the top of mountain where an ancient pagoda is 100 meter high. Tourists can enjoy the views of rural and farm areas and the Mekong River.
According to a legend, Sambor Kaley Mountain took the name after crocodile Sambor Kaley, who was defeated by Nen Thun. When it died, it turned to be the mountain called Sambor kaley.

Wat Sorsor Muoy Roi (Pagoda with 100 columns)
Located at Sam Bor District in 36-Km distance, North of the province town by the National Road No 7.

In the 16th century, King Chan Reachea reigned over the country and lived in the former capital city of Oudong. He had a daughter named Varakpheak. Once the daughter was ill, he commanded his slaves to invite the head of Buddhist monastery at Neak Sen pagoda ( localed at Chrouy Banteay commune, presently known as Prek Prasab district) to cure his daughter’s illness. While the head of the monk was absent from the pagoda, Nen Thun, his favorite student who learnt white magic spell secretly, and then he was magically transformed into a crocodile called “Grocodile Nen Thun”.

When the teacher returned, Nen Thun had became a crocodile and could not turn to be a human being. Then he always took his teacher on his back to cure the king’s daughter. One day, a mighty crocodile called Sopor Kaley, that wanted to challeng with Nen Thun, stopped Nen Thun while he was carrying his teacher on the way back from the palace where his teacher …. the king’s daughter. The two crocodiles then started fighting. As Nen Thun could not find ways to save his teacher, he decided to swallow his teacher into his stomach to keep safe for a while. The fighting lasted 3 days and 3 nights, and finally Sopor Kaley was defeated and then died and suddenly turned into a mountain presently called Sopor Kaley. When Nen Thun threw out his teacher from his stomach, he was already dead. Nen Thun was very sory and determined to kill the king’s daughter because if his teacher’s death. Nen Thun swam quietly and suddenly swallowed the king’s daughter who was playing at the Royal Palace port. 

King Chan Reachea commanded his confidants to follow Nen Thun until they reached the place now knows as Sambor and caught crocodile ( Nen Thun) there and cut open the crocodile’s stomach to get the king’s daughter out. The king decided to bury her corpse in Sambor and buil a 100 column pagoda to dedicate to the spirit of his daughter.
Nowadays, a big tomb, north of the pagoda, keeps the ashes of bone of Princess Varak Pheak and the king’s kinship as inscribed there.
To the south of the pagoda, there is a hall in which the ceiling was painted with a series of pictures describing the Princess Varak Peheak.

Vihear Sarsar Mouy Rouy was first built in the 16th century by King Chan Reachea. It was made of wood with 100 columns. The Vihear was repaired from time to time. In Pol Pot regime, most parts of the Vihear were damaged. The Vihear was rebuilt on the same location using 116 concrete columns.

Wat Roka Kandal (2km from town)
This is a restored ancient pagoda. It's ideal for a bike ride or extended walk - just go south and stay on the riverside. There is a range of low-priced souvenirs, and the pagoda is worth seeing for itself - as it is an ancient, Laotian style place, which has been beautifully restored, and now offers traditional accommodation. There is also a more modern pagoda over the road, with a good contingent of monk who can be heard chanting at dawn and dusk. It now serves as the local office and shop for the Cambodian Craft Cooperation, which is working with local craftsmen to create quality goods.

Cham basket weavers

Basket weaver villages (15 km south of Kratie)  
There are three basket weaver villages near Kratie. The biggest is the Cham village Chheu Teil Ploch with 4,000 villagers.

Irrawaddy Dolphin Watching
The best spot to watch the dolphin is kampi village, 15km north from Kratie is a very popular activity, but a growing number of tourists are skipping it, because of the increasing cost. As there are less than about 80 dolphins left, you may only see them from a distance, though there are sometimes large groups of them frolicking. The best time for viewing is late afternoon, rainfall permitting. To protect the dolphins, you should ensure that your boatmen follows the dolphin watching guidelines provided and only use oars when near the dolphins. There's also a nice little shop which does benefit the community and helps encourage the villagers conserve the remaining dolphins.  

We wish all of you a pleasant stay in Kratie province!