Rivers of Cambodia to Know About

Located in the northwestern part of the country, the Siem Reap river in Siem Reap province is a tributary of the beautiful Mekong River. A popular tourist attraction, the river has plenty of boat tours to explore the inner side while the bank of Siem Reap river hosts several luxury boutique hotels that offer fantastic views of the majestic river setting. If exploring Siem Reap beyond temples is your idea, a short getaway to the river is one of the must-do things to experience rich nature consisting of dense forests and wildlife.

Flowing from Vietnam to Cambodia through district 1 in Ho Chi Minh City, Saigon river serves as an important water supply to the city and has the Saigon Port by it. The tourist village of Binh Quoi is located on the Saigon and the river also boasts of an underwater tunnel through it that is open to regular traffic.

Tonle Sap river that has an adjacent ‘Great Lake’, is a magnificent river flowing through the Battambang area in Siem Reap and bridging the gap between Tonle Sap lake and the enormous Mekong river. The river along with its large freshwater lake is widely responsible for the agricultural practices and Khmer civilization in the Siem Reap Province.

Flowing through Vietnam into the northeastern part of Cambodia, Tonle San or Sesan river is a magnificent river and a tributary of the Mekong river. A significant section of the Tonle San river forms a fine border between the two nations, Cambodia and Vietnam. Due to its powerful stream, Tonle San has plenty of hydroelectric power plants exploiting its cascade

Located in the northwestern part of Cambodia in the Battambang province, Sangkae river is one of the longest rivers in Cambodia with a stretch of 250 kms before joining and becoming a part of the larger Tonle Sap lake. Visitors can sail across the river or explore it by canoeing or boarding a boat cruise and observe the life of these habitants on the banks of Sangkae river.

Situated in Kompong Thom, the pleasing Steung Saen river is a popular tourist site and is often visited by locals too. The river banks form a picturesque backdrop with its waters, especially during monsoon when the riverbed overflows. Tourists can hire a boat or go canoeing across the river and witness the locals and fishermen swim, fish, or graze their cattle.

With a length of approximately 265 kms, Chinit River in Kompong Thom is a tributary joining the Tonle Sap lake and further the Tonle Sap river. The river forms a loop entering and leaving Tonle Sap. The main city of Santuk district is located along its banks. The river is home to over 70 species of fishes and aquatic animals.

The beautiful river of Mongkol Borey located in western Cambodia in the Banteay Meanchey province is one of the major rivers in the country and flows from the Chanthaburi Province in Thailand. It is a tributary of the magnificent Tonle Sap lake. The bridge that was used to get across the river initially was destroyed during the brutal Khmer Rouge period.

One of the longest rivers in Southeast Asia, the glorious river of Mekong runs along seven countries and stretches about 4350 kms with its initial point from Tibet. Mekong has several tributaries in all the countries although it serves as a significant trade course between China and the rest of Southeast Asia. Tourists can rent boats or go canoeing across the river to explore its majestic waters and watch a breathtaking sunset. In Cambodia, the Mekong river is located in the Kratie Province.