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Mondulkiri Province


Tables of Contents

 

 
Overview
Map

Mondulkiri is an eastern province of Cambodia, bordered by Ratanakiri to the north, Vietnam to the Refer to page 14 for its geographic location east and southeast, Kratie to the southwest and west, within Cambodia and shares a very small border with Stung Treng to the north. It is the largest province of Cambodia, but It is the most remote and sparely populated province with the total inhabitants of some 40,000, and 80 percent of them are made of ten different tribal minorities, with the majority of Phnorng. Variety of languages are being used: Khmer, hill tribe languages, Vietnamese and Lao. The remaining 20 percent are Khmer, Chinese and Muslim Cham. Most of the population lives off the land, planting rice, fruit trees and a variety of vegetables. Others grow, coffee, strawberries, rubber and cashew nuts. The province 's appeal lies on the perfect weather and the stunning view of long grassy hills, dense forests, wildlife and majestic waterfalls, which all help earn Mondulkiri the candidateship of Cambodia 's eco-tourism. Despite the growing deforestation, especially due to the valuable minerals remaining in the deep red, fertile ground, Mondulkiri has still one of the biggest successional woodlands of Cambodia. Except being in Sen Monorom, you 'll find deep pure jungle, with a huge variety of flora and fauna. You may also find gigantic and beautiful waterfalls, where you can take an empowering shower, such as the impressive Bou Sraa.

Sen Monorom is the provincial capital and doesn 't show up as a typical Cambodian town, while it is the only town the province has to speak of. With approx. 7500 inhabitants, 20 guesthouses, 12 restaurants, 3 bars and no post office it is often compared to American Wild West frontier towns. Concerning the quietness and beauty of Sen Monorom people from other parts of the country move here and therefore the land price doubled from 2006 to 2007.

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The town of Sen Monorom is the best base camp for travellers who want to explore the surrounding areas. A quiet but beautiful town nestled into the hills; it has a lot of potential to develop into a centre for non-intrusive eco-tourism. At present, it 's very undeveloped, which gives you a feeling of going somewhere off the beaten tourist trail. Add to that the communities of hill tribe people, who are not affected by mass-tourism. You have an area that is very attractive to the adventure traveller.

Pou Lung Village

Although more and more houses are built in 'Khmer style', you still can find the traditional Phnong houses. In the houses you'll find big jars, which are said to be more than a thousand years old, and traditional gongs. There are various sorts of gongs used at different occasions. Jars and gongs are among the most valuable possessions of indigenous communities both in traditional and spiritual as well as material terms. During the times of Pol Pot those objects were buried in hidden places in the jungle and in many cases they still wait in the ground.

The vast majority of the indigenous peoples living in Mondulkiri are subsistence farmers, who are planting some rice and other vegetables, more or less to feet themselves. There is also a quite common production of the famous rice wine here, which is one of the best in the country. Additionally the indigenous people are selling handmade products such as bracelets, necklaces, scarfs, Kramas etc. to the few visiting tourists.

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Geogrpahy

Mondulkiri province is situated on the South - East plateau (approx. altitude around 200-1000 metres), it 's capital Sen Monorom is about 375 Km from Phnom Penh. It is bordering Vietnam to the East and South, Ratanakiri to the North, and Kratie province to the West. Beside a bunch of smaller rivers, which grow quite big during the rainy season, there are two bigger rivers crossing the province ( the Preaek Chhbaar and the Preaek Te River ). The total area of Mondulkiri is about 14,288 square kilometres.

Tourist Attractions

The road trip via Snuol, Kratie to Sen Monorom, provincial town of Mondulkiri, is breathtaking and is worth trying. Most of the roads are paved and flanked with beautiful sceneries. At one point, the road is bumpy as it climbs up and down the Mondulkiri mountain range, but the landscape view will be well worth the effort. The province of Mondulkiri is in the northeastern part of Cambodia. It gets its fame for its distinctive hilly landscape, vast thick forests, thunderous waterfalls, hills stretching up and down towards misty and faraway horizons, and wildlife sanctuary corridors. Visitors will find themselves immersed in the beauty of nature.

First Stop: Oromis Resort
Map

It is small resort just off the main road where it emerges from the dense forest. It is located about 5 km west of the town of Sen Monorom. In addition to a beautiful landscape, the resort offers a restaurant, a precious stone shop, and lodging in cottages. There is no entrance fee to visit, other than a small tip to the parking attendant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Town of Sen Monorom

Presently, Sen Monorom is a  small town with a few hotels and guesthouses. Most restaurants close at the early evening hours. Nightlife activity is minimal. Visitors come to enjoy the beauty of nature that this town offers. There are marketplaces where the local indigenous people sell their produce.

senmonorom senmonorom senmonorom

Phnom Dos Kramom

Phnom Dos Kramom literally means the “Virgin’s Breast Hill.” It gets its name from its natural form. It is about 3 km northeast of the town of Sen Monorom. A dirt road (a trail in the old days), running from north to south, passes through two small hills. From a distance, the two adjoining hills are shaped like human breasts. At the top of each hill is a small covered building that houses a large statue of the guardian matron. The one on the west has a deck overlooking the town of Sen Monorom and where visitors may enjoy the sunset at dusk.

Phnom Dos Kramom

 

Phnom Dos Kramom

 

Ocean of Trees

A few kilometers northeast of Phnom Dos Kramom, via a dirt road, there is a massive area of forest stretching beyond the horizon, as far as the eyes can see. It is known as the “Ocean of Trees” as the foliage bends with the blowing winds, as if they were ocean waves. Visitors can view this beauty of nature from the Sambol Cher lookout.

Ocean of Trees 

 

Mondulkiri Coffee Plantation

The coffee plantation is a lush area and serves as a stopover on the way to or from Bou Sra Waterfall. While the world has tasted coffee from just about everywhere around the world, one would have not thought that their next cup of great coffee could be filled from an unfamiliar location, Mondulkiri, Cambodia, located in Mondulkiri Hill, 800 meters above sea level. The climate there makes it perfect for growing world-renowned Robusta coffee beans. Coffee at Mondulkiri plantation is processed manually. The grains are dried under the sun, then roasted until they are almost black. Then they are grinded into fine grains. Mondulkiri coffee is rich in taste. Beside local consumption, it has been exported to Korea, Malaysia, Japan and some Khmer grocery stores in the US. Visitors can tour the plantation and walk on alleys flanked by coffee trees.

Mondulkiri Coffee Plantation

Mondulkiri Coffee Plantation

Mondulkiri Coffee Plantation

More pictures of Mondulkiri Coffee Plantation

Bou Sra Waterfall
Bou Sra Waterfall
Bou Sra Waterfall is a world-renowned tourist attraction with multi-stage falls and a large swimming basin. The water continues to flow across a flat area, then onto a sudden sharp cliff.

HANG AROUND THE FALL

Bou Sra Waterfall is a magnificent waterfall, located in Pich Chenda district about 43 kilometers from Sen Monorom, the provincial town of Mondulkiri, a beautiful northeast province of Cambodia. Traveling from Sen Monorom to Bou Sra is now a lot easier than before, thanks to the paved roads. Currently, overnight lodging is not available at Bou Sra; however, you may rent a cottage by the hour or for a whole day, where cooked meals are available for purchase. You may spend a night in the town of Sen Monorom where you may find a variety hotels or guest houses. In the morning, spend some time visiting the town before heading to the waterfall. To add pleasure to your trip, stop by the Mondulkiri coffee plantation, which is on the way to Bou Sra. Mondulkiri coffee is one of the finest in the world.

There is an entrance fee for the park. On any given day, you can see many motorbikes, cars, vans, and tourist buses in a busy parking lot. The waterfall cannot be seen from the lot. Its pristine setting is in the heart of an evergreen jungle. The impressive waterfall is surrounded by dense majestic trees. On a quiet day, you can hear the sound of the waterfall. After parking your car or once you get there through other means of transportation, walk on a concrete pathway, passing a visitor center and many souvenir shops. At the beginning, the pathway is somewhat flat; but as you approach the falls, the path become steeper and steeper. There are many food vendors along the way.
Phnorng
You may also meet some indigenous people, the ethnic Phnorng, play their traditional music instruments for money at the pathway stop. 
Bou Sra Waterfall is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful places on earth, and one that should not be missed. It is one of the major eco-tourist attractions in South East Asia. There are paved national highways and roads connecting major towns like Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, etc., to Mondulkiri.
When you reach the fall, you are actually at the second stage of the fall, a flat area where all visitors will stay and enjoy the scenic view. In a natural setting, the Bou Sra waterfall is divided in three stages. At the first stage, the fall can be up to 12 meters high and 15 meters wide. At the second stage, which is 150 meters from the first stage, the fall can be up to 20 meters high and 25 meters wide. It is very popular with local people and visitors as they frequently bathe or pose for photos there. At the third stage, the water speed increases. This stage cannot be reached, at least not by foot, because it is in the thick forest with steep slopes. There are no marked paths. Dangerous wildlife inhabits the area.
A visitor wrote in his diary that God has created a wonderful kingdom on earth, nothing but only a godly perfection of massive water cut itself through a gorge over millions of years without any help from man whatsoever. A story was told that in the old days, some visitors encountered a flock of wild elephants roaming across the area. This may not happen again as the logging has caused the area to be mostly cleared. Once, a group of visitors arrived late in the afternoon and wondered why no one was around, not even a single vendor. They later found out that earlier in the day, wild animals had come to quench their thirst at the fall. So be sure to check with local people before you are heading there.

 

 

Bousra

Bousra

Bousra

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More pictures of Bousra Waterfall

Video of Phnorng plays his traditional music instrument, Kangreng

Video of Bousra Waterfall

 

Chrey Thom Waterfall
Chrey Thom Waterfall

Chrey Thom Waterfall is located at Sen Monorum District in 43 kilometer distance from the provincial town. During the dry season, the waterfall has 15 meters height and 2 meters diameter, and during the rainy season, the waterfall has 11 meters height and 8 meters diameter. The waterfall fall us near a plantation of Srolao trees and a big, branchy Chrey tree.

The provincial tourist service is working with the local authority to prepare this site as a tourist destination in place of Busra waterfall, which is inaccessible during rainy season.The Chrey Thom Waterfall is situated in Poules and Pouchhob Villages, Dakdam Commune, Oreang District; 20 km away from the provincial town. It can be accessed by the red pebble path. There are more than 208 families living in the Chrey Thom area of 303.555 ha, whose main occupations are farming. The resort provides plenty of opportunities for picnicking, hiking, swimming, especially for visiting an ethnic village and purchasing some souvenirs beautifully produced by ethnic groups. Its main points of interest are a spectacular waterfall, dramatic mountainous forest, impressive undulating hills, and fresh air. Chrey Thom Waterfall is one of the loveliest Tourist Attractions in Mondulkiri. Tourists love spending a day at the site of this beautiful waterfall only for its natural beauty. Chrey Thom Waterfall, Mondulkiri is a natural waterfall and is surrounded by lush green woods.

O Taing Laing Waterfall O Taing Laing Waterfall is 60 km (4h) From Provincial Town.Description: Natures & Wildlife Preserves. Location: Memorng Commune, Keo Seyma District.

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Plantation of Pinetrees

On the highlands in Sen Monorom district, about 6 kilometers from the provincial town, is a large pine tree plantation where hundreds of towering pine tree, planted before 1970, are growing in rows. Fallen needles from the trees turn the ground into a golden carpet. The needles are so numerous that visitors can lie on the ground without disturbing them.

Pine trees are believed to have been planted before then Prince Norodom Sihanouk founded his Sangkum Reastr Niyum regime, at which time the province was created. In addition, according to hunters in the province, there are more than 60 waterfalls, both big and small, making Mondulkiri province a potential source for hydro electric power.

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Sen Monorum Waterfall
Sen Monorom Waterfall

Sen Monorum Waterfall is located at Sen Monorum District in five-kilometer distance from the provincial town by red soil trail, Along either sides of the trail, there are industrial plantations like rubber, coffee and cashew as well. The local people usually meet each other at Sen Monorum waterfall during the holidays and national festivals because it closed to the provincial town. Sen Monorum waterfall has three stages: -First stage: The waterfall has slow speed, one-meter height and 2-4 meter diameter. - Second stage: During the rainy season, the waterfall has strong speed, 6-7 meter height and 8-meter diameter. During the dry season, the waterfall has 7-9 meter height and 4-5 meter diameter. At the waterfall, there is a large space of resting and enjoying. - Third stage: Locates at one-kilometer distance from the second stage. The waterfall has 1.5-meter height only.Getting to Sen Monorom is difficult, adding to its off-the-beaten-path allure. From Phnom Penh, it takes about 10 hours.

 

You Can Help

All donations are tax-deductible to the extent of the law. A financial statement is available upon written request from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer services, Office of Charitable and Regulatory Programs.

 

 

Communities

VOA News Coverage - CCD 2012 (click on pictures)

Voice of America/Khmer: Dr Chanthourn Thuy

A Khmer Archaeologist visited USA in July 2012 to present his research finding about ancient iron smelter in Cambodia to Cambodian-American communities. One of his stop was Washington, DC Metro area. 


 

Voice of America Interviewed Ms Sophia Tep, CCD Vice-President

Click the picture to read and play the video.


Sam Relief Dec 2012 Newsletter

Sam Relief was very busy in early April of 2012 and has delivered another 10 tons of rice to Angkor Children Hospital at Siem Reap.


Women's Health Study: http://mapa.nur.utexas.edu


Replica of Angkor Wat

We have bought a replica of Angkor Wat (picture shown above). It is a sculpture made out from stone, by a sculptor in Pursat province, Cambodia. It is 1.3 meter long, 1.1 meter wide and .35 meter high. It took more than 2 months to complete the sculpture. Click the picture to enlarge.


Phare Ponleu Selpak

Phare Ponleu Selpak (website: www.phareps.org) is a Cambodian association providing artistic activities to children and adults around the Battambang vicinity. The artistic fields are: performing arts (circus, theater, dancing, music), visual arts (cartoon animation, painting contemporary, illustration and graphic design) and social actions (governmental school pre-school through high school, child care center, and transitional youth house). Learn more ...

Khmer Music Festival

Thank you for coming to our Khmer Music Festival on Saturday September 5th 2015

Click here to see photo gallery.

2015 Miss Cambodian American DC

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Talented Cambodians

Worldwide Perspectives

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