Trip report from my visit in December 2024, including the two-tower apartment project in Kampot Town, the Tiktokification of tourism landmarks, and land reclamation in Kep.

Kampot and Kep are the southernmost provinces in Cambodia. Kampot Province includes the charming colonial-era riverside city of Kampot, and Kep is reawakening as a coastal tourism destination.

Kampot Province (in red) surrounding Kep Province (via Wikipedia).

I’m a regular visitor to Kampot and Kep, partly because they are on the train route between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville and partly because it’s a beautiful part of Cambodia.

I returned to Kampot and Kep in December 2024 and visited some of the main projects of the two provinces. This report covers the two-tower apartment project in Kampot Town, the Tiktokification of tourism landmarks, and land reclamation in Kep.

Kampot

The last time I was in Kampot was in January 2022, a month after the country had reopened. Most of the foreigners were expats who had stayed during the pandemic, and there were still many shops closed.

I returned to Kampot in December 2024 after visiting Sihanoukville. It was a Sunday afternoon during the Sea Festival, and the contrast to my last visit couldn’t have been starker. I had never seen Kampot so busy in any of my previous visits.

Sea Festival crowd

There were nearly 400,000 visitors to Kampot during the festival. I was concerned that the scourge of overtorusm had reached Kampot, but this turned out to be a festival crowd. The town reverted to its sleepy state after the festival weekend.

Kampot has a lovely old town area, and I have often wondered why it isn’t more famous. Being inland from the sea has probably been its saving grace.

An old cinema converted into a hotel

There are signs, though, that Kampot has been discovered (or at least considered a safe bet to open chain stores). The most gobsmacking sign of gentrification is the opening of a Starbucks in the historic Fish Market building on the riverfront.

Starbucks at Kampot Fish Market

I was pleased to see that a Brown Coffee store had also opened in Kampot. Brown Coffee are a chain that began in Phnom Penh, and their lattes are more Australian-style than Starbucks-style.

And the ultimate sign that your small town has graduated to city status is when 7-Eleven arrives.

7-Eleven in Kampot

There has been talk of developers buying up large plots of land to redevelop Kampot, but it’s not evident in the old town area yet. This speculation was around when the largest apartment project in the city began construction.

The Thai Boon Roong Kampot Building was under construction when I visited in 2022, but construction has stalled. The same developer was going to build the world’s tallest twin towers in Phnom Penh.

Thai Boon Roong Kampot Building

Apart from this abandoned apartment project, there aren’t many big projects in the city area. There is a tall apartment block on the other side of the river that is also unfinished. This side of the river (where there are no historic buildings) is where they should be building tall apartments.

There are signs that the city has thought about making itself more appealing for visitors, with new landmarks for the Instagram/TikTok era. A seahorse fountain statue was installed on the riverfront, and it was instantly likened to the Merlion statue in Singapore.

Another new landmark is the Giant Clock. It’s an interesting design, but it’s too far for it to be TikTokable if that was the intention.

The old bridge also has had some new lights added to it to make it more visually appealing for social media.

I would normally get the train to Kamport, but on this trip, I got a van from Sihanoukville to Kampot. There is only 1 train a day in each direction, and the train from Sihanoukville to Kampot leaves late in the afternoon.

I went to Kampot Station to watch a train arrive. The train was an hour late, and I didn’t have the time to wait around. If Cambodia eventually rebuilds the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Railway, there would be trains running throughout the day. If that happens, then there would be an apartment boom in Kampot as it would become easier to travel from Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville.

The biggest planned development in Kampot is the Funan Techo Canal. The canal will connect the Mekong River in Phnom Penh to the sea in Kampot. The project was officially launched in 2024, but there hasn’t been any progress on construction.

There are advertising billboards in Kampot promoting the project.

Kep

Kep is a coastal province that is surrounded by Kampot. There aren’t white sandy beaches here like in Sihanoukville, which has spared it from being overdeveloped.

There is a resort being built on the coastal road when you enter Kep Province, but it has already been abandoned midway through construction.

The government has been reclaiming land along the Kep coastline. This area was busy with construction equipment when I was last here. The sea has now been filled in and there is a road to the new seafront. This is part of a 2.7km long land reclamation project.

Reclaimed land in Kep

There is a restaurant on the new seafront called The Wave, and the businesses in this area are being branded as Kep West. The restaurant has been featured in architecture news sites for its design.

The Wave Kep West

Next to The Wave is a new pier that is part of the Royal Cambodia Yacht Club. The pier is purely decorative as there is no way to moor a boat next to it.

Land reclamation was also happening at the famous Crab Market. A new harbour has been created for fishing boats.

Kep Beach is the main beach of the province.

It’s a small beach with imported sand, and there is no way it can compete with the powdery sand in Sihanoukville.

Propaganda billboards for the Funan Tech Canal are also in Kep, even though the canal doesn’t go through Kep.

Kep Town is the main city of Kep Province. Most of the activity of the town/city is on the main road that follows the coast. There is a gridded-out city area off the main road where the famous villas of Kep were in their heyday.

The gridded area of Kep has the remains of villas from the French colonial era. Most of the villas were destroyed by the Khmer Rouge.

There are some new houses and hotels in this area, but everything is so spread out that there is no feeling of it being a coherent town centre.

Despite the number of abandoned villas, the roads are well-maintained.

There are a few hotels in this area, but you need your own transport to stay there. Kep Town is nothing like Kampot Town, where you can stay without needing transport.

There is a new road that follows the coastline of Kep to Angkol Beach. This is another area in Kep that is being developed into a tourist destination.

After this Kampot/Kep trip, I got a bus to Ha Tien in Vietnam. The bus went on this new road to Angkol Beach, and it was an unusual sight to see such a good road with no traffic on it. I have marked it on my map for a future visit.

Thai Boon Roong Kampot Building is a two-tower development in Kampot, Cambodia. The project occupies an entire city block on the riverfront, next to the old bridge (Entanou Bridge).

The two towers will be apartments, with the back tower slightly higher and it is reported to be 36 floors high. The podium will include a shopping mall, entertainment centre, and restaurants.

Thai Boon Roong Kampot Building Map

Thai Boon Roong Kampot Building is on Street No. 735 (which runs along the east bank of the Praek Tuek Chhu River) and Street No. 700 (at the entrance to the old bridge).

[Map of Thai Boon Roong Kampot Building.]

[Thai Boon Roong Kampot Building on Street No. 735.]

Links And Resources

Developers: Thai Boon Roong Group and Baye of China.
News: skyscrapercity.com.

Thai Boon Roong Kampot Building Images

Thai Boon Roong Kampot Building Construction Photos

Photos from my visit in December 2024.

Photos from my visit in January 2022.

The Funan Techo Canal is an under-construction waterway that will connect Phnom Penh to Kampot via the Bassac River. The canal will enable goods to be shipped to and from the Phnom Penh Autonomous Port without having to go through Vietnam.

The project was formerly known as the Bassac River Navigation and Logistics System (“BRNLS”), and it was also referred to as the Bassac Sea-Link. The project was named Funan Techo Canal at the 6th Plenary Session of the National Assembly on 19 May 2023.

The Funan Techo Canal will be approximately 180 km in length. The project will include a 7km-long new canal, and segments of existing waterways will be deepened.

The project will have three locks to maintain the water level. The gates are from the Mekong River to the Bassac River, in Takeo, and in Kep.

The Bassac River is a distributary of the Tonlé Sap and Mekong River that starts in Phnom Penh and flows into Vietnam near Chau Doc in the Mekong Delta Region.

[Bassac River in Phnom Penh.]

The new waterway would bypass the need to transport goods through Vietnam. The government claims that the canal will reduce processing and shipping costs, though independent reports say it will be more expensive.

The new water link has the potential for tourism use and for new urban developments along the canal.

Here are my thoughts on the canal: Cambodia should rebuild the railway instead of building a canal.

Funan Techo Canal maps

This map shows landmarks near the canal path.

[Map of Funan Techo Canal.]

Approximate route of the canal showing the location of the Bassac River and Mekong River.

[Funan Tech Canal map via Reuters.]

Map of Funan Techo Canal in relation to the railway in Cambodia.

[Map by EOBKR via Wikimedia Commons.]

News archive

2025

Beijing ensures $1.7 billion Funan Techo Canal completion by 2028 [16/09/25]

2024

Funan Techo Canal phase 1 land demarcation 55% completed – [17/12/24]

Weaknesses in Mekong River Governance: The Case of the Funan Techo Canal – [16/12/24]
“Cambodia’s Funan Techo Canal, which aims to connect Phnom Penh to the Gulf of Thailand, has sparked regional concerns, particularly from Vietnam, due to potential environmental impacts and geopolitical implications.”

Cambodia rejects Reuters claim that Chinese loans ‘frozen’ – [16/12/24]

Govt begins pre-construction work on FTC megaproject – [11/12/24]

The murky waters of Cambodia’s Funan Techo Canal – [05/12/24]
“A 180-kilometre waterway to criss-cross the country, but who pays?”

Cambodia says Xi supports controversial canal, but China’s silence keeps questions flowing – [05/12/24]
“Former Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen thanked Xi Jinping for backing Funan Techo Canal when they met this week.”

Hun Sen thanks China for unwavering support of FTC megaproject – [05/12/24]

Shanghai firm keen on investing in FTC project – [03/12/24]

Funan Techo Canal to be completed as scheduled, says Chanthol – [29/11/24]

International media criticize stalled Funan project as affected residents demand updates from government – [29/11/24]

China pledges unwavering support for Funan Techo Canal project – [28/11/24]

Chanthol dismisses international reports of Funan Techo Canal funding challenges – [27/11/24]

The Cambodian Ministry of Public Works denies allegations about Funan Techo Canal Project funding issues – [23/11/24]

Cambodia’s flagship canal in hot water as China funding dries up – [23/11/24]

Kingdom, China agree to accelerate FTC project – [21/11/24]

Vietnam hopes Cambodia will soon participate in joint research on Funan Techo Project – [23/10/24]

Cambodia’s ambitious China-backed Funan Techo Canal risks harming Mekong River – [09/10/24]

Lands along FTC route under assessment – [07/10/24]
“Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol, First Vice-Chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia, said that a working group has been surveying the land affected by the Funan Techo Canal megaproject, noting that it will take at least six months to a year to complete the assessment.”

Why is China investing in a $1.7 billion canal in Cambodia? – [30/09/24]
“The Funan Techo Canal is the latest in a string of flashy Chinese investments in Cambodia. How did Cambodia, a lower-middle-income nation of 17.5 million people, become a focal point of Chinese foreign policy and investment?”

Cambodia hopes a new canal will boost trade. But it risks harming the Mekong that feeds millions – [25/09/24]
“Cambodia has broken ground to build a China-funded canal to eventually link its capital Phnom Penh to the Gulf of Thailand.”

Cambodia’s controversial canal – [19/09/24]
“Cambodia has started a massive project — a canal that links the Mekong River to the sea. Its deputy prime minister says the Funan Techo Canal is ‘a game-changer’. But Cambodia’s neighbours worried. Not only about the impact the canal could have on the Mekong Delta, but about China’s influence as well.”

For China, a Cambodian canal project shows how Belt and Road Initiative can go only so far – [19/09/24]
“With the power to reshape trade routes and affect geopolitical ties, the Funan Techo canal has become a litmus test for China’s project partnerships overseas.”

Will Cambodia’s Funan Techo canal be a success? – [19/09/24]
“Questions raised about the viability of the China-backed project, hailed as strongman Hun Sen’s great legacy.”

China’s powerful NDRC steps in to speed up the Funan Techo Canal work – [12/09/24]

Funan canal activity silent a month after groundbreaking; ministries start interviewing residents – [10/09/24]

Speedier resolution: Govt accelerates compensation process for Funan Techo Canal project – [04/09/24]

No bribes needed for employment on Funan Techo Canal, says Chanthol – [27/08/24]

Impacts of Cambodia’s Funan Techo Canal and implications for Mekong cooperation – [25/08/24]

Viet Nam respects Cambodia’s construction of Funan Techo Canal – [09/08/24]
“Viet Nam respects Cambodia’s implementation of the Funan Techo Canal project, said Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Doan Khac Viet.”

Cambodia breaks ground on Funan Techo Canal with ‘spectacular’ celebration – [05/08/24]
“Cambodia officially broke ground on the historic Funan Techo Canal this morning at 9:09am, with more than 10,000 participants attending a ceremony presided over by Prime Minister Hun Manet.”

[The stage for the groundbreaking ceremony for the Funan Techo Canal in Kandal province. The photo was taken prior to the event, showcasing the preparations in place. TVK]

Why China’s backing for Cambodian canal on Mekong River could push Vietnam closer to US – [03/08/24]
“‘Historic’ Funan Techo canal, a 180km project from the Mekong River to the coast, aims to reduce Cambodia’s transport dependence on Vietnam.”

Cambodia’s Hun Dynasty stakes reputation on the Funan Techo Canal – [03/08/24]
“Economic, environmental and security concerns about the vanity project will keep controversy alive for years.”

One-day holiday announced for Funan Techo Canal inauguration – [01/08/24]

Cambodia looks to ‘breathe’ with controversial new canal – [18/07/24]
“Hun Sen, who ruled Cambodia for over three decades, has described the canal as giving the country a “nose to breathe through” and local authorities have been told to launch fireworks for the groundbreaking on Aug. 5 — the former leader’s birthday.”

[This aerial photo taken on July 9, 2024 shows workers using excavators to dig the Funan Techo canal along the Prek Takeo channel that runs into the Mekong River (bottom) in Kandal province.]

If it’s built, Cambodian canal an economic and environmental disaster – [15/07/24]
“There are good reasons why Cambodia should abandon its plan to build a canal between the nation’s capital, Phnom Penh, and Kampot, a coastal town some 180 km to the southeast. None of them seem likely to change the minds of Hun Sen, Cambodia’s prime minister for 38 years, or his son Hun Manet, installed last August as the new prime minister, or, absent a signal from the top, of the rest of Cambodia’s governing class.”

Cambodia’s Funan Techo Canal project: A catalog of worries (analysis) – [15/07/24]
“Cambodia plans to build a 180-km (110-mi) canal from its capital to its coast on the Gulf of Thailand, a $1.7 billion project aimed at reducing its dependence on moving cargo through ports in neighboring Vietnam.

But this analysis concludes that the plan is financially unfeasible, would have severe environmental impacts, and would exacerbate water scarcity in a region already suffering from critically low levels in the Mekong.

The Cambodian government’s argument that the canal would make freight transport cheaper falls apart under cursory calculations, which show shipping costs will be even higher than via the Vietnamese ports.”

[I concluded that using the FTC route (A-C-B) in year 1, commercial vessels would have to pay $550/TEU. Alternatively, if using the Vietnam route (A-B), they would pay $145/TEU in current dollars.]

Residents demand fair compensation for Cambodia’s canal project – [08/07/24]
“Despite the Funan Techno Canal groundbreaking in a month, villagers remain in the dark about compensation and livelihoods.”

Cambodia to beat gongs and drums on August 5 to commemorate groundbreaking ceremony for Funan Techo Canal Project – [08/07/24]

How the ‘politics of gratitude’ inflames Cambodia-Vietnam relations – [07/06/24]
“Some Vietnamese nationalists view Phnom Penh’s decision to press ahead with a controversial canal project as a sign of ingratitude.”

Cambodian canal project to kick off on Hun Sen’s birthday – [07/06/24]
“The construction of Funan Techo canal is set to start on Aug. 5 but questions remain over its feasibility.”

Cambodia and Vietnam: when a canal should not divide – [05/06/24]
“Vietnam has, at times, sacrificed its national interests for the sake of good relationships with its neighbours. This still rings true today.”

Funan Techo Canal Project underscores Cambodia’s struggle for strategic autonomy – [04/06/24]
“Cambodia’s Funan Techo Canal project aims to decrease reliance on Vietnam’s trade routes, boost economic growth and improve water resource management. Yet, discussions surrounding the project are becoming increasingly securitised and politicised while concerns have arisen. Cambodia dismisses these concerns, emphasising its right to pursue development projects and its policy of neutrality. The project highlights the complex geopolitical landscape in the Mekong region, with discussions extending beyond Cambodia and Vietnam to involve various stakeholders. It also presents a potential opportunity for ASEAN to mediate tensions and manage regional conflicts.”

Water woes: Cambodia and Vietnam clash over the Funan Techo Canal – [29/05/24]
“Environmental, economic and geopolitical concerns are all bound up in the latest tensions along the Mekong River.”

CDC official: Funan Techo Canal will curb Vietnam floods – [24/05/24]

The Funan Techo Canal: treading new waters, stirring old ripples – [24/05/24]
“Cambodia’s Funan Techo Canal is an embodiment of the country’s renaissance and grievances of its past.”

“Beneath the veneer of the canal’s economic promise, there are deep layers of historical sensitivities in Cambodia-Vietnam ties, which continually simmer below the surface of their “special relationship”. In a sense, the canal embodies the Cambodian confidence in their country’s present renaissance and grievances over their past. Its name evokes the ancient Funan kingdom in the 1st-6th century CE, harkening back to a time when the Khmer people flourished and built their empire in the Mekong Delta before parts of their domain gave way to the Viet southward expansion and Siamese encroachment.”

The Funan Techo Canal won’t have a military purpose – [23/05/24]
“Arguments that Cambodia’s China-backed canal project will pose a security threat to Vietnam are wildly overblown.”

Cambodia’s planned canal isn’t in its own interest, only China’s – [22/05/24]
“Development should be halted for independent review of risks and benefits.”

Hun Sen: Viet Nam’s concerns about the Funan Techo Canal are unnecessary; the canal has no adverse effects, neither on the environment nor other countries – [17/05/24]

Hun Sen calls for immediate start to Funan Techo Canal – [16/05/24]

Impacts of Cambodia’s Funan Techo Canal and implications for Mekong cooperation – [09/05/24]
“How a new Belt and Road project in Cambodia could increase water and flood risks in Vietnam and weaken the 1995 Mekong Agreement.”

Cambodia says it will cut shipping through Vietnam by 70% with new China-funded Mekong canal – [07/05/24]

Vietnam hopes to work with Cambodia to assess impacts of Funan Techo canal: spokeswoman – [05/05/24]

The Funan Techo Canal won’t end Cambodia’s dependency on Vietnam – [04/05/24]
“Numerous regional and economic factors will keep Cambodia dependent on serving Vietnam’s supply chains.”

Cambodian goods rely on Viet Nam’s approval for shipping via Mekong River, Hun Sen says – [27/04/24]

Hun Sen declares ‘no backdown, negotiations’ on canal project – [27/04/24]
“Senate president Hun Sen has made it clear that Cambodia will not back down or negotiate with any country regarding the 180km Funan Techo Canal.

He stressed that the 1995 Mekong Agreement does not require any of the members of the Mekong River Commission (MRC) members to do so.”

Experts outline benefits of Funan Techo Canal – [25/04/24]

Cambodia’s Funan Techo canal could upset Mekong Delta ecosystem: experts – [24/04/24]
“Construction of the Funan Techo Canal from the Mekong River to the Gulf of Thailand will cause water shortages and increase salinization in Vietnam’s already parched Mekong Delta, experts said.”

Matter of principle: Cambodia willing, but not obliged to share info on Funan Techo Canal – [19/04/24]

US calls for transparency from Cambodia over China-backed canal – [19/04/24]

$1.7 Billion Cambodian Canal Project Draws Increasing Scrutiny – [12/04/24]
“The China-backed Techo Funan Canal, which will connect the Mekong River to the country’s coast, has given rise to environmental and security concerns.”

Cambodia to push forward with plans to build US$1.7 billion canal, says PM Hun Manet – [12/04/24]

Vietnam requests Cambodia share information on Funan Techo canal – [11/04/24]

Hun Sen denies Cambodia canal project could facilitate Chinese military access – [09/04/24]

Vietnamese concerned that canal project in Cambodia could be potential gateway for Chinese forces – [09/04/24]

Cambodia plans to start Funan Techo Canal work this year – [04/04/24]

Why a Chinese-backed canal project in Cambodia is making Vietnam very nervous – [02/04/24]

Hun Sen seeks China’s support for Funan Techo Canal project – [01/04/24]

Cambodia getting a China-backed, game-changing canal – [01/04/24]
“Funan Techo Canal will allow Cambodia to bypass Vietnam for its international trade and pull it even tighter into Beijing’s sphere of influence.”

Cambodia seeks China’s support to Funan Techo Canal Project – [29/03/24]

Cambodia’s Ambitious Funan Techo Canal Project Sparks Concerns Near and Far – [23/03/24]

Cambodia’s ambitious Funan Techo canal project sparks concerns near and far – [22/03/24]

Villagers near proposed canal in Cambodia worry and wait – [18/03/24]

Agenda of lies: PM slams groups creating false narratives to sabotage Funan Techo Canal project (VIDEO) – [13/03/24]

Cambodia to divert Mekong trade via China-built canal, vexing Vietnam – [12/03/24]
“Planned Phnom Penh-coast link raises alarms amid regional influence tussle.”

Video: PM reaffirms benefits of Funan Techo Canal Project – [12/03/24]

BRI’s Funan Techo Canal could steer Cambodia away from Vietnam and towards China – [11/03/24]

Kingdom targets concession agreement for Funan Techno Canal project by June – [06/03/24]

The Funan Techo Canal’s advantages for Cambodia and the region – [26/02/24]

Q&A: How Cambodia’s Chinese-backed Funan Techo Canal risks destabilizing the Lower Mekong Delta – [20/02/24]

Australian Ambassador highly interested in the beneficial “Funan-Techo Canal” project – [15/02/24]

Funan Techo Canal ‘to be a game-changer’ for Cambodia – [31/01/24]

Cambodia’s canal project would link its coast with the Mekong River – [23/01/24]

Transport Minister: Funan Techo Canal project to begin construction in late 2024 – [18/01/24]

Why is Vietnam worried about Cambodia’s Mekong canal project? – [02/01/24}
“The proposed Funan Techo Canal is set to connect the country’s coast to the Mekong River via a system of lock gates.”

Funan Techo project calls for joint approach to Mekong development – [01/01/24]

2023

Ministry rejects “false and baseless” claims by The Cambodia Daily about Funan Techo canal project – [27/12/23]
“The Ministry stated that The Cambodia Daily had published an article on its website and Facebook page “The Cambodia Daily Khmer” on December 26, 2023, alleging that that the Cambodian government has borrowed 5 billion US dollars to build the Funan Techo canal project.”

Techo Funan Canal project to be developed under BOT contract – [26/12/23]
“The Techo Funan Canal project to link the river system to the sea route will be developed under the BOT (build-operate-transfer) contract, underlined here this morning Prime Minister Dr Hun Manet.”

PM: There is no secret about the construction of the Funan Techo Canal – [22/12/23]

Cambodia tries to reassure Vietnam that proposed canal won’t affect Mekong River – [21/12/23]

In-depth explanation: Cambodia allays Vietnam’s concern over Funan Techo Canal – [15/12/23]

Vietnam assured of canal’s environmental neutrality – [14/12/23]
“During his first official visit to Vietnam on December 11-12, Prime Minister Hun Manet assured the Vietnamese side that the Funan Techo Canal project would pose no harm to the environment or the Mekong River’s flow.”

Cambodia’s Funan Techo Canal, a game changer? – [04/12/23]

Funan Techo Canal to provide economic dividends, says PM (VIDEO) – [26/10/23]

Signing takes ‘Funan Techo Canal’ project further forward – [20/10/23]
“Alongside the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, the Royal Government of Cambodia has officially signed an agreement to allow Chinese companies to conduct a feasibility study on the Kep to Bassac River ‘Funan Techo Canal’ project.”

Cambodia and Chinese company sign canal pact – [18/10/23]

Inter-ministerial commission formed to oversee canal project – [12/06/23]
“The government has established an inter-ministerial commission to implement the long anticipated Bassac-Kep river navigation and logistics system, a first-of-its-kind waterway transportation project in Cambodia which has been named the “Funan Techo Canal”.”

Bassac-Kep river link dubbed ‘Funan Techo Canal’ – [20/05/23]
“The hotly anticipated Bassac-Kep river navigation and logistics system, the first-of-its-kind waterway transportation project in Cambodia, has been renamed “Funan Techo Canal”, according to the minutes of a May 19 Cabinet meeting.”

Waterway link study sent for Cabinet approval – [20/04/23]
“The “two-year-long thorough and comprehensive” feasibility study was conducted by the Chinese state-owned China Road and Bridge Corp (CRBC) and CCCC Water Transportation Consultants Co Ltd, in collaboration with technical experts at the involved ministries, it recapped.”

Bassac sea link project to be submitted for Cabinet approval – [20/04/23]
“After finding no technical issues or environmental impact, the feasibility study of a navigation and logistics project to link the Bassac River in Kandal province to a seaport in the Kep province is set to be submitted for Cabinet approval soon, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport said.”

No issues with Bassac-Kampot seaport project: study – [04/03/23]
“The feasibility study of a navigation and logistics project to link the Bassac River in Phnom Penh to a “seaport” in the Kampot-Kep region shows that there are no technical, environmental or legal issues, according to the transport ministry.”

Bassac sea link needs just one new canal: Chanthol – [19/02/23]
“The completion of a proposed waterway link from the Bassac River to a “seaport” in the Kampot-Kep region will require the excavation of just one new canal, around 7km long, according to Minister of Public Works and Transport Sun Chanthol.”

Bassac sea-link to reach Kampot seaport: ministry – [01/02/23]
“A key study on a proposed waterway link from the Bassac River to the sea in the Kampot-Kep region has been completed, the transport ministry reported, revealing plans for the project to connect to a “seaport” in Kampot province, igniting hopes for a solid pop in economic growth for the Kingdom.”

Detail study on new waterway connecting Tonle Bassac to Kep set for completion – [31/01/23]
“According to the study, the project will have three gates including a gate from the Mekong River to the Bassac River, a gate in Takeo, and a gate in Kep to stabilise the water level.”

2022

Bassac sea-link Phase II studies due end-Jan – [15/12/22]
“The second phase of a feasibility study on a proposed waterway link from the Bassac River to the sea in Kep province is scheduled to be completed by end-January, reported the public works ministry. The project is seen as a massive support for the transportation market and the export business.”

Feasibility study of new waterway connecting PP to Kep to be finalised in November – [22/09/22]
“The detailed feasibility study of a project to build a new water transport system along the Bassac River connecting Phnom Penh Port to Kep, Kampot, and Sihanoukville Ports is scheduled for completion in November.”

Prek Ambel eyed for Bassac sea link – [18/07/22]
“Cambodia is pushing to complete a study on the feasibility of using southeastern Kandal province’s Prek Ambel village as the starting point for the Bassac River waterway link to the sea in Kep province.”

Study on Bassac River-Kep sea waterway link finished – [24/04/22]
“Minister of Public Works and Transport Sun Chanthol on April 22 met a delegation of the China Road and Bridge Corp, “representing CCCC Transportation Consultants Co Ltd”, via video link to discuss a recently-completed feasibility study on the Bassac River Navigation and Logistics System project, the ministry said in a statement later that day.”

Cambodia initiates study on Bassac River Waterway for logistics project – [23/04/23]
“The Ministry of Public Works and Transport is planning to establish a new waterway utilising a canal from Bassac river to the sea in Kep province for the transport and tourism sectors without having to go through Vietnam.”

Waterway to connect Phnom Penh and sea in Kep province – [01/02/22]
“Public Works Minister Sun Chanthol said that the ministry was studying connecting waterways from Phnom Penh to the sea in Kep province to facilitate overseas shipping without going through Vietnam.”

Bassac River-Kep sea waterway link on the cards – [31/01/22]
“The Ministry of Public Works and Transport plans to create a connection between the Bassac River and the sea in Kep province to provide a viable alternative for waterway passenger and freight traffic to enter Cambodia without passing through Vietnam, and hence spur economic growth.”

[Railway at Kampot, Cambodia.]

Cambodia is studying a proposal to build a waterway and canal system to connect Phnom Penh to Kampot Province via the Bassac River.

The 180 km Funan Techo Canal will utilise the Bassac River and other waterways through a system of locks, along with a 7 km-long new canal. One of the selling points of the sea link is to bypass the Mekong Delta, thus removing a border crossing in Vietnam.

Instead of building this canal and waterway system, Cambodia should focus on redeveloping the railway system.

Here is why the railway would be better than a canal system.

The Southern Line is already planned to be redeveloped

The current Southern Line is a single-track metre-gauge railway that links Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville. There is a passenger service that runs on the line, and it is also used for shipping freight from Sihanoukville Port to Phnom Penh.

There are now plans to rebuild the Poipet-Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville line into a high-speed railway. The “high-speed” was mentioned as 160 km/h, which is semi-high-speed, but that is an ideal speed for Cambodia.

This railway redevelopment is already being planned, so money spent on the canal, locks, and dredging would be better spent on rebuilding the railway.

[Read more about current and proposed railways in Cambodia.]

The canal can only be used for Kampot, even though Sihanoukville is the largest port

The news reports mention that the waterway will serve a port in Kampot. While it doesn’t say exactly, it is assumed that it will be the new International Multi-Purpose Logistics and Port Centre in Kampot. The canal doesn’t reach Sihanoukville, which is the largest port in Cambodia (and is now being expanded).

All the money spent on the new canal system will only benefit this minor port.

A rail link to the Kampot port would only require 2-3 km of new railway

The Kampot International Port is close to the Southern Line, so it would only be a matter of building a spur line of 2 or 3 km to connect the port to the railway. Phnom Penh would then be connected to both ports by rail.

The train will not add any extra handling

Moving shipping containers from the sea to Phnom Penh will take the same amount of labour, no matter what system is used:

– A container ship arrives at Sihanoukville or Kampot, and the containers are unloaded.

– Containers are then transferred to a river barge or a train.

– The containers are then unloaded in Phnom Penh from the river barge or train.

– Containers are then loaded onto trucks for final delivery.

The most important factor for Cambodia is that containers are arriving in Cambodia, so there is no crossing another border to get to Phnom Penh.

The train will be faster than a riverboat

If the new railway is planned to operate at 160 km/h, that would be the same speed that is used on the Laos-China Railway. Freight trains on that line run at an impressive 120 km/h. Compare that to a riverboat that goes through many small river systems, locks, and a narrow canal, which would likely take all day.

Reduce container-truck traffic in central Phnom Penh

An additional benefit of using the railway instead of waterways would be the reduction of traffic to the Phnom Penh Autonomous Port. The port is on Sisowath Quay near the city centre, so if containers are shipped to a yard outside of the inner city, that would be better for the city of Phnom Penh.

Kampot and Kep are two coastal provinces in Southern Cambodia. Kep was actually part of Kampot until it was turned into a province in 2008. Kep is the smallest province in Cambodia (and smaller than Phnom Penh), so I’m not sure of the logic of turning it into a province instead of a city within Kampot.

[Kampot Province (in red) surrounding Kep Province (via Wikipedia).]

The two provinces are neighbours to Sihanoukville, which has been in the news for its rapid growth. Developers are now looking at the coastal areas of Kampot and Kep.

After visiting Sihanoukville, I stayed in Kampot in January 2022 and used that as a base to visit other parts of Kampot and Kep. This construction update covers Kampot and Kep together in a single report.

Kampot Province

This map show places mentioned in this article.

[Map of Kampot Province.]

Kampot City

The big story out of Kampot City is the Thai Boon Roong Kampot Building.

This two-tower apartment complex is being built in the historic city centre. An entire city block was demolished to make way for this project, including heritage buildings that give Kampot its character. Cambodia had previously considered listing Kampot as a UNESCO World Heritage site for its colonial architecture, but doing something like this is not how you prepare to apply to UNESCO.

There is one building on this block that didn’t get demolished, and I would like to know the story of this. These are called nail buildings in China, though at least it is on a corner and doesn’t affect the construction of the building.

This project is next to the old bridge, and next to the old bridge is this sign declaring the area as a “heritage conservation zone”.

A more sensible approach would have been to build apartment towers on the other side of the river. There are several large empty blocks of land on the west side of the river that could have accommodated a building as large as the Thai Boon Roong Kampot Building.

There are two smaller apartment towers being built on the west side, including this building next to the Castle Bayview Resort and Spa.

One of the appealing things about Kampot is that it’s on the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville railway line. The railway wasn’t running when I visited, so I walked to the station to have a look around. When the train is running it is a good alternative to getting a minivan to Phnom Penh. The train station has been repainted since I was last here.

Near the station is the Green Residence project.

I saw advertising around town promoting it as “Escape to a Work-from-Home Life”. It’s being advertised in Khmer, English, and Chinese, so the appeal of remote working in Kampot is just as likely to be for a Phnom Penhian as for an international expat.

Next to the railway crossing is the Kampot Mall Project. It is being developed by Furi Corporation, but their website isn’t working. The advertising signs show pictures of Furi Times Square in Sihanoukville, so I’m not sure if this is the same name.

There is a new urban area that is being laid out on the other side of the railway track. I didn’t see any advertising for this, so I will check back on this.

I saw another new urban area on the west side of town named Teuk Chhou Village. It is also being developed by Furi (of broken website fame), so note to self: take more photos and don’t rely on the website being in working order.

Bokor City

Bokor City is a planned new city in Bokor National Park. A city in a national park? I know, right! That is what I first thought when I read this. I thought that they meant within the administrative area of Bokor, somewhere outside the park.

Bokor is the mountain that sits in front of Kampot on the other side of the river.

[Bokor viewed from Kampot.]

Bokor is famous for the abandoned French colonial hill station on the plateau of the mountain. There is an old church and a few other structures.

There is also a hotel and casino complex sitting up there by itself that looks just as haunted as the old church.

I rented a bike to have a look around. At the entrance to the park (near sea level), there is a Special Economic Zone and other urban developments under construction.

Once you cross into the park, the road begins its climb up the mountain. In total, it’s about 25 km from the park entrance to the plateau. I passed some trucks that were on the way to the construction sites.

Once I reached the plateau, it was evident something big was going on there.

Land is being cleared for Bokor City.

I haven’t seen any detailed plans of what is being built, so I will post them on the Bokor City page when I find something about it.

After visiting Bokor, I’m even more baffled as to the purpose of building a city in a national park. I could sort of understand the reasoning if this were on the way to somewhere else. For example, in Vietnam, there is a string of provincial capitals connected in the Central Highlands Region.

The road to Bokor is a dead end, though, so it’s not on the way to anywhere else. This road should just be kept for tour buses and day-trippers rather than as an artery to serve a city that didn’t need to be here.

I’m not against Cambodia planning to build new cities, and it appears that there is another new city/SEZ being built at the foot of the mountain.

It would make more sense to have New Bokor City here rather than on top of the mountain. It is on the main highway between Kampot and Sihanoukville, and near to the new port area. The railway line also goes through the middle of this area, so they could build a new station to serve the area.

Kep Province

Locations of projects mentioned in this article are on this map. All Kep projects can be viewed at Future Kep.

[Map of Kep Province.]

Kep

Kep is famous for the ruined villas that are scattered along the coast and main township. Most of the coastline is mangrove forests, so it’s not considered a beach destination.

To counter this perceived problem of lack of beach, the government is building a 2.7 km artificial beach by reclaiming land along the coast and then dumping sand on the mudflats. I had been seeing news about this project filtering through my news stream.

filling up into the sea near crab market… pic.twitter.com/XuNOVH76BC

— Mech Dara (@MechDara1) January 15, 2022

Half of the road from the White Horse Circle to the Crab Market road has been blocked off for use by trucks carrying landfill. The road is a muddy mess as trucks are continually travelling down the road.

I rode towards the first available road to the sea to see what is happening, and here I could see the land reclamation work in action.

Ironically enough, I parked in front of the Kep Sailing Club. This used to be waterfront property (an important feature for a sailing club), but it is now about 100 metres inland.

Some of the old villas that Kep is famous for can be found along this stretch, and they used to be seafront properties.

There is a saying in the real estate business that “a view is a privilege, not a right”, which is usually said to someone when their view is about to be built in front of. I’m not sure if there is a similar saying for a seafront resort losing a seafront view.

The mayhem continues at the Crab Market, which is a famous tourist destination in itself. The land reclamation begins at the market, and when I visited, there was a steady stream of trucks dumping landfill.

The plan is to make the landfill a landscaped public park. There hasn’t been any mention if there will be any hotel or resort developments on this 2.7 km section. Hopefully, these crab shacks will be able to claim their seafront location as well.

After the Crab Market, I continued along the coast to Kep Beach. This is the main beach of Kep, and it is artificial. Time will tell if the new beach looks like this.

I have wondered why Kep Town has not had any serious development proposals yet. It has good bones with an already established street grid. They could turn this into a new city with less effort than having to build a new city from the beginning.

[Empty block on the gridded streets of Kep.]

In the Future Kep report, there is a news article that says there are over 200 development projects included in Kep development master plan. I haven’t found any more details about that, though more may be revealed once the artificial beach is opened this year.

Kampot is a coastal province in southwestern Cambodia. Its capital is the city of Kampot, which is famous for its colonial remnants. The province is building ports and Special Economic Zones in a bid to increase tourism and investment.

Here is a list of projects that are planned or under construction in Kampot Province.

Kampot Province map

[Map of Kampot Province.]

Kampot construction updates

Kampot and Kep (Cambodia) construction and tourism development (December 2024)

Kampot and Kep construction update – 2022 edition.

Kampot City

Thai Boon Roong Kampot Building

Thai Boon Roong Kampot Building is a two-tower development in Kampot, Cambodia. The project occupies an entire city block on the riverfront, next to the old bridge (Entanou Bridge).

Read more about the Thai Boon Roong Kampot Building.

The Green Residence

Website: boreygreen.com.

The Green Residence (also advertised as Borey Green) is a new housing development near Kampot Railway Station.

Kampot Mall

Developer: furicorporation.com

Kampot Mall is a new mall on Highway 3 next to the railway crossing. It is being developed by Furi Corporation, who also built Furi Time Square in Sihanoukville.

Teuk Chhou Village

Developer: furicorporation.com

Teuk Chhou Village is a new urban development in the western half of Kampot City.

Borey Icon Kampot

Facebook: Borey Icon Kampot.

A residential development featuring residences, shophouses, and a central market.

Tuek Chhou

Tuek Chhou is the district that surrounds Kampot City.

Kampot International Tourism Port

Kampot International Tourism Port is 6km southwest of Kampot City, and it is being built to accommodate ferries and small cruise ships.

News
$20 million Kampot tourist port completed – [09/10/22]
“The main tourist port in Kampot province is located next to Dang Prek, a tributary in Teuk Chhou district, about 6 km from Kampot city. Construction of the seaport on more than 4 hectares of land began in 2018 and was completed in June 2022.”

Kampot tourism quay ‘90% done’ – [09/01/22]
“Construction on Kampot International Tourism Port – a 4ha quay in Teuk Chhou district about 6km west of Kampot town – has fallen off track, reaching 90 per cent completion, according to a senior Ministry of Tourism official last week.”

Kampot International Tourism Port will be completed at end of 2021 – [30/09/21]
“The seaport is 300 metres long and capable of accommodating vessels carrying 300 to 400 passengers. The port is an international tourist port that is planned to accommodate about 1 million tourists and passengers.”

ADB funds Kampot port – [15/03/19]

ADB loan for marine ferry terminal in Kampot to boost southern tourism – [25/11/14]
“The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved an $18 million loan to build a marine ferry terminal and other infrastructure in southern Cambodia to open up new opportunities for tourism beyond current popular destinations like the famous temples of Angkor.”

French Riviera Marina

New $23b Kampot resort – [16/08/17]
“The first large-scale international project slated for the region is called the French Riviera Marina; a project valued at $23.2 billion, which will be constructed along the coastal area of Kampot and Kep.

According to the developer, the Pallas Group, the French Riviera in Kampot will offer a secure ocean-side parkland community, consisting of hotels, villas, apartments, a water park, private and artificial beaches, a golf course, a marina, an amusement park and a shopping centre, among other facilities.”

Kampot awakens from slumber – [08/12/16]
“The project – dubbed the ‘French Riviera Marina’ – is designed to turn Kampot and neighbouring Kep province into city centres brimming with residential, commercial and tourism-focused projects.”

Scepticism clouds massive coastal development plan – [17/10/16]

Bokor Town

Bokor Town is a new administrative area within Teuk Chhou district.

Bokor becomes Kampot’s second town – [30/03/21]
“Prime Minister Hun Sen has decided to create Bokor town in Kampot province’s Bokor area by combining three communes from the province’s Teuk Chhou district to ease administration and aid development.”

Bokor City

Bokor City is a proposed new city in Bokor National Park. The new city was announced in August 2019 under the “Master Plan for Bokor City Development Project until 2035”. The new city will occupy about 9,000 hectares of land in the park.

Read more about the Bokor City.

Multipurpose Port

This new port could potentially be connected to Phnom Penh via the Bassac Sea-Link.

New Kampot international port planned for $1.5 Billion – [15/06/22]
“The new project, called the Kampot Logistics and Multipurpose Port, has recently started construction and will cover more than 600 hectares of land. The new port is being invested in by the Kampot Logistics and Port Company Limited, a Cambodian company based in the province.”

Construction begins in Cambodia on new $1.5B port built by China – [06/05/22]

CDC okays $1.3 b multipurpose port in Kampot province – [21/01/22]
“The Council for the Development of Cambodia has approved a massive investment project worth $1.3 billion to develop a logistics and multi-purpose port in Kampot, one of southern Cambodia’s coastal provinces.

Located in Bokor city, Kampot province, the investment is registered under the name of Kampot Logistics and Port Company Limited.”

Gov’t Approves US$1.3-billion Multipurpose Port & Logistic Centre for Kampot Province – [18/01/22]
“The Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) has given a permit to Kampot Logistics & Port Company Limited to invest US$1.3 billion in establishing a multipurpose port & logistic centre in Kampot province.

According to the CDC’s announcement on Monday 17 January, the project will be located in Changhon village, Sangkat Prek Tnaot, Bokor City and will create at least 590 jobs for locals.”

Kampot News

Lack of tourists threaten Kampot businesses – [13/03/24]
“Tourism-related businesses in Kampot are struggling with low bookings and high debt which is impacting their ability to remain open.”

Kampot City wins 4th ASEAN Clean Tourist City Award – [28/01/24]

Kampot steals spotlight as new tourism, investment hub – [22/01/24]

Cambodia’s tallest statue of the Buddha to be built on top of a mountain in 2023 – [18/12/22]
“A statue of the Buddha that will stand 108 meters tall will soon be built on the edge of Bokor Mountain that overlooks an area of 500 or so rice fields. This will be the tallest statue of the Buddha in Cambodia.”

600 hectares of sea privatized for Kampot port project – [09/08/22]

Kampot canal banks to be cleared to make way for park – [03/08/22]

Kampot to remove illegal waterfront structures – [16/06/22]

Kampot investigating ‘irregular’ state-land sales by district officials – [26/10/21]

Chinese construction in Cambodia’s ‘next tourism hotspot’, Kampot, has residents and NGOs worried – [09/01/21]

Cambodian construction boom turns karst mountains to cement – [17/11/20]
“Limestone mountains are being devoured to meet demand from the construction industry, with little thought to the undiscovered species that may be lost.”

Chinese gambling boom looms over Cambodia’s Kampot – [16/09/18]

In Cambodia, sleepy Kampot slowly reawakens – [24/04/05]