Cambodia’s Floating Villages — Siem Reap’s Best 4 to Visit

Within day-tripping distance of Siem Reap, Cambodia, are several floating villages. Visiting these communities that have made their homes on the wetlands of Lake Tonle Sap is not an attraction in the conventional sense, but if you have a desire to understand Cambodia and its people, it’s an essential addition to your itinerary.

Tonle Sap is the largest lake in Southeast Asia. In addition to the floating settlements, its mangrove forests are host to a myriad of wildlife.

Who Lives in the Floating Villages?

The residents of Tonle Sap’s floating villages are mostly ethnic Vietnamese. They are the third- and fourth-generation descendants of families who came to Cambodia to work during the French Protectorate.

Despite identifying as Cambodian, when the Khmer Rouge took power, those not killed were mainly deported back to Vietnam. With the demise of the Khmer Rouge, they returned, but being unable to prove their identity, they lived as stateless migrants. It’s a position that means they couldn’t buy land even if they could afford to.

The floating settlements are self-sufficient ecosystems. Residents make a living fishing and carrying out their daily chores against the backdrop of one of the beautiful natural landscapes in the world. Meanwhile, schools, churches, and hospitals can be found floating alongside the residential housing. More recently, some villages have geared toward tourists, and children selling fruit and souvenirs will approach via boat.

Chong Kneas

Chong Kneas is the closest of the villages to Siem Reap, being about 16 kilometers, or just under 10 miles, away. It’s also the most commercial. The village mainly caters to Korean visitors, so you will find several excellent Korean restaurants. But if you want to support the 5,000 Vietnamese locals, pick your tour guides, souvenir shops, and restaurants carefully.

Kampong Phluk

Kampong Phluk (meaning “harbor of the tusks”) is a 30-kilometer, or 19-mile, drive from Siem Reap, and in contrast to Chong Kneas, it’s not at all commercial. The 3,000 residents are primarily Khmer, and the houses are built on stilts. Residents mainly make their living fishing. But visitors will also spot small livestock such as pigs and chickens living on the stilted structures. During the dry season, when the mangrove forests aren’t flooded, locals can be seen harvesting some land crops.

Mechrey

Mechrey is about 25 kilometers, or 15.5 miles, southeast of Siem Reap. It’s on the way to the Core Bird Reserve, so visitors planning a trip there can easily pop in en route. In Mechrey, the homes float, and residents move them depending on the level of the water.

This village is off the beaten track for most tourists, and you’ll see a very traditional way of life being carried out among charming views of rice paddies and small pagodas. While life for residents is hard, you’ll be greeted with smiles as they go about their business.

Kampong Khleang

Kampong Khleang is farthest from Siem Reap, about 50 kilometers, or 31 miles, away on the northern lake edge. Several different ethnic groups live together happily here.

The village comprises floating and stilted houses, and about 6,000 residents are living in 1,800 houses. It’s a relatively prosperous, growing community as the environment is fertile and the locals make money ferrying tourists. The settlement includes schools, temples, a hospital, and even supermarkets.

Tips for Visiting the Floating Villages

Tonle Sap dries out during the dry season between October and March, so you’ll be able to walk under the 10-meter-high stilted houses. However, the best time to visit the floating villages is during the wet season, from late April to September. At this time, villagers and visitors get around in small boats.

Always take along sun protection, drinking water, and snacks. And for your safety, wear the life jackets provided by the boat companies. It’s also best to be prepared for the realities of impoverished communities living on the water without modern sanitation (i.e., the water will be smelly). Plus, the boat engines are basic and can be very loud, so take along earplugs if that’s going to distract you from enjoying the trip. And it’s a good idea to take along small change for the local children who will paddle up to sell drinks and souvenirs.

Unfortunately, global warming is affecting the traditional way of life in Cambodia’s floating villages. As the dry seasons extend, it is becoming more difficult for villagers to survive. The floating villages may not be with us forever, so take your chance to see and support them now while village life is still relatively unspoiled. It’s a peek into a culture that hasn’t changed in centuries.