Travel Kratie Province 2012 (Kratie Province)

Travel Kratie Province 2012: The Charm of the Mekong Riverside in Cambodia by mr.hotsia

If you ask me which province in Cambodia, though not as famous as Phnom Penh or Siem Reap, holds charm and the pure riverside lifestyle along the Mekong River that I will never forget, I must answer immediately:Kratie Provinceor Kratie, the destination that mr.hotsia visited in 2012. I will share honestly from real travel experience, not just a typical article.

Location and Overall Atmosphere

Kratie Province is located in northeastern Cambodia, bordering the eastern bank of the Mekong River. Here, the Mekong flows for about 140 kilometers. I traveled from Phnom Penh by air-conditioned bus of Soraya company, taking about 5 hours. The bus passed winding roads and lush green rice fields before arriving at Kratie town lined along the Mekong.

The distance from Kratie to the Ubon Ratchathani border of Thailand is only 170 kilometers. This proximity makes it an interesting cultural and trade connection point.

Relaxing in Kratie Town

I chose to stay atSantepheap Hotelwhich is located by the Mekong River. The room price is affordable, just over 400 baht per night, with air conditioning, hot water, and wifi. The highlight is stepping out directly to the riverside, where I witnessed one of the most impressive sunsets. The golden light reflecting on the vast Mekong surface made me feel peaceful and truly close to nature.

Most hotels in Kratie are owned by Chinese and there are quite a few options. For those who want to book in advance, Agoda is recommended.

Riverside Food and Kratie Lifestyle

If you like simple, unpretentious food full of flavor and atmosphere, try walking along the riverside shops in Kratie town. Locals enjoychicken rice porridgefried instant noodles with boiled egg or 'egg luk' sold in the evening. I sat eating chicken rice porridge while watching the sunset. The home-style food here reminded me of the simple riverside life.

Walking south of town, you will find grilled chicken, pork, and salt-grilled snakehead fish shops popular with locals who eat them with steamed rice. Seeing life here, I think travelers who love local food must try it.

And if you want to refresh yourself, I recommendavocado smoothiesold roadside in town. Delicious, affordable, and very effective at cooling down.

Mekong Irrawaddy Dolphins: A Symbol and Must-See Destination

For nature and aquatic animal lovers, don’t miss seeing the rare freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong at Kratie. I bought a tour from the hotel starting at 7:30 AM. A tuk-tuk took us along the riverside road to Kampee village, about 15 kilometers from town.

There are about 20 remaining Irrawaddy dolphins to see up close. It was a very impressive experience. Although I have seen dolphins at another Laos-Cambodia border location, Kratie offers a distinctly different atmosphere and natural setting.Read about the Irrawaddy dolphins in Kratieto better understand this special experience.

Ancient Temples and Riverside Community Life

Besides dolphins, I also visited several ancient temples in Kratie town, some over 1,000 years old, built since the 8th century, such as Sarsar Mouyrouy temple with beautiful and impressive ancient Khmer architecture pagodas.

Walking around temples and old communities allowed me to experience the lifestyle of Kratie people who still preserve traditional customs well. The riverside stilt houses and locals making a living by the Mekong look warm and simple. This is the true charm of this province.

Travel and Accessibility

Getting to Kratie is not difficult. From Phnom Penh, there are air-conditioned Soraya buses taking about 5 hours. From southern Laos, you can pass through Stung Treng province and then take a bus to Kratie, taking no more than 3 hours from the border.

Souvenirs and Small Impressions from mr.hotsia

I recommend not missingbanana chipssold at rest stops along the way from Phnom Penh. The Cambodian-style banana chips are crispy and sweet, a great and very cheap souvenir. Also, there arefermented fish and sticky rice in bamboowhich are famous souvenirs of Kratie.

Summary of Feelings from mr.hotsia

For me, Kratie Province is a peaceful corner of Cambodia full of nature, traditional lifestyle, and ancient history. Although not a main tourist city, the sincerity of the people, simple and delicious local food, and the beauty of the Mekong River with Irrawaddy dolphins make me want to return again for sure.

For those who like deep, unhurried travel and want to experience real life, I thinkKratieis a very good answer. If interested in more details about the sunset here, try readingthe article about sunsets in Kratie Province.Or if you like to watch real atmosphere clips, please watchBreakfast at KratieandEating in Kratie, Cambodia - kratie street foodright away.