Travel to Svay Rieng Province

Travel to Svay Rieng Province, Cambodia by mr.hotsia

Many times I, mr.hotsia, enjoy traveling to small provinces that are not very famous but full of charm and the true way of life of the locals. Svay Rieng Province in Cambodia is one of those provinces I don’t want you to miss if you visit this area.

My route started from Pursat Province, a large city not far from Tonle Sap Lake. I took a boat across the lake from Siem Reap to Pursat, enjoying the scenic views and the vast natural atmosphere. Then I stayed overnight in Pursat to prepare for the next day’s journey.

The next morning, I took a bus from Pursat to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. There, I changed buses to continue to Svay Rieng Province. The bus I took left Phnom Penh at 3 PM but waited a while for the bus to fill up before heading to Svay Rieng, arriving around evening.

Upon arrival in Svay Rieng Province, I took a motorcycle taxi for 20 baht to my accommodation in the city center. Although most accommodations are not lakeside, they are within walking distance to the central lake. The place I chose wasTonlay Waiko HotelA small hotel without Wi-Fi but with good standard rooms, cool air conditioning, and a restaurant with karaoke downstairs. It’s another local experience worth trying.

Atmosphere and Lifestyle in Svay Rieng Province

This province lies on the route from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. Being a border province, it has the Bavet checkpoint connecting directly to Vietnam, about 48 kilometers from Svay Rieng city. From Bavet checkpoint, it takes just over an hour to reach Ho Chi Minh City.

Along the journey, I saw trucks transporting workers home in the evening — open-back trucks filled with locals sitting or standing warmly together. It was a truly local and impressive scene. I took photos and captured these moments to share with you.

The charm of Svay Rieng is not only in the peacefulness of the town but also in the simple lifestyle of the locals who firmly preserve traditional customs and culture. Most locals work as fishermen in the central city lake. There is a private lake in town where locals catch fish and sell them on tricycles in the morning market.

The name "Svay Rieng" has an interesting origin. "Svay" or "Savai" means mango, while "Rieng" is Vietnamese for “private.” I like to think the name means “My Mango,” similar to the mango city Dong Xoai in Vietnam nearby, reflecting that this area might have been a famous mango source in the past.

Visiting Svay Rieng Morning Market and Local Food

I woke up early and took a motorcycle taxi to the city’s morning market. Although the market is not large or full of exotic items, it is vibrant and colorful with local life. I strolled through small alleys guided by GPS on my phone, so I never worried about getting lost.Svay Rieng Morning MarketThere are shops selling traditional snacks like large sticky rice dumplings and rice noodles served in charming wooden baskets.

The food in Svay Rieng is very similar to ours. In the morning, there are curry rice shops where you can scoop curry directly without separate plates like in some Cambodian towns. I tried the braised pork here; it was tasty and not too sweet. Ginger pork stir-fry is available in every province, and the bamboo shoot curry is quite good. I recommend enjoying a full breakfast because other meals might be harder to find familiar flavors.

In the evening, locals like to eat grilled fish rice porridge, a simple dish full of flavor and the warmth of local life.Food and Cuisine of Svay Rieng LocalsI also tried traditional Khmer ice cream sticks sold on the street. They may look different from Thai ice cream but taste refreshing and moderately sweet. Watch the clip I recorded atKhmer Ice Creamto see for yourself.

Accommodation and Transportation in Svay Rieng

There are not many accommodations in Svay Rieng city, mostly located deeper in the city rather than lakeside as I expected, but still convenient to travel. There is one hotel and about three guesthouses, including accommodations near the Bavet checkpoint with casinos and good hotels for tourists seeking that atmosphere.

If you come from Phnom Penh, you must cross the Mekong River at Neak Lueang by ferry. I recommend going up on the ferry deck to breathe fresh air because the Mekong here is wide with beautiful views. Neak Lueang town is lively and still has horse-drawn carts carrying goods to see. From this point, it takes about an hour to reach Svay Rieng.Traveling in Svay Rieng ProvinceThis way, you get both atmosphere and experience.

Svay Rieng Province has an airport, but I have never used it and am unsure about prices and clear routes. Personally, I think taking the bus is more convenient and allows easy connection to Vietnam at the Bavet checkpoint. If you have time, staying a night at Bavet before crossing to Ho Chi Minh City is a good option.

Summary of Travel and Experience in Svay Rieng with mr.hotsia

Although Svay Rieng looks quiet and not crowded with tourists, it is a province I, mr.hotsia, am very impressed with. I learned about the true local lifestyle, challenging journeys full of stories, local food with flavors similar to ours, a warm morning market, and simple but comfortable accommodations.

If you are looking for a destination without just famous places or busy development, Svay Rieng is very interesting. And if you like adventure like me, don’t forget to bring a phone with GPS to help navigate and discover interesting spots around the city.

For more information aboutSvay Rieng Provinceand accommodation detailsHotels in Svay Rieng Provinceor if you want to know about the morning marketSvay Rieng Morning Marketincluding local food I tasted and recommendFood and Cuisine of Svay Rieng Localsyou can read more on the website.