Kampot (city)

Kampot (Khmer: ក្រុងកំពត) is a city in southern Cambodia and the capital of Kampot Province. It is on the Praek Tuek Chhu River southeast of the Elephant Mountains and around 5 km (3 mi) from the Gulf of Thailand.[1] Kampot was the capital of the Circonscription Résidentielle de Kampot under French rule and Cambodia's most important seaport after the loss of the Mekong Delta and before the establishment of Sihanoukville.[2] Its center is, unlike most Cambodian provincial capitals, composed of 19th century French colonial architecture. The region and town are known for high quality pepper, which is exported worldwide.[3] It is also known for its Kampot fish sauce,[4] and durian.[5] Now the government and Ministry of Culture and Fine Art are preparing documents to nominate The Old Town of Kampot in the list of UNESCO world heritage site along with The Old Town of Battambang and The Old Town of Kratie since 2017.

For the municipality, see Kampot Municipality.

Kampot

ក្រុងកំពត

Pony’s playground
City
Kampot
Coordinates: 10°36′N 104°10′E
CountryCambodia
ProvinceKampot Province
DistrictKampot District
Government
 • TypeCity Municipality
 • MayorNeak Sovannary
Elevation
1 m (3 ft)
Population
 (2012)
 • Total49,597
 • Rank10th
Time zoneUTC+7 (ICT)
Websitehttps://kampot.city

History

Under 19th century French colonial administration Kampot became a regional administrative centre with the status of a state border district as a result of the delimitation of the Kingdom of Cambodia. The Circonscription Résidentielle de Kampot contained the arrondissements of Kampot, Kompong-Som, Trang, and Kong-Pisey.[2][6]

In 1889 French colonial census reports a multi-ethnic community: Kampot town consisted of "Cambodian Kampot" on the Prek-Kampot River and "Chinese Kampot" on the right riverbank of the west branch of the Prek-Thom River. Nearby was also a Vietnamese village, called Tien-Thanh and another Vietnamese village on Traeuy Koh Island. A Malay enclave also existed on Traeuy Koh Island. Additional villages of mixed ethnicity are listed.[2]

Crime and security

Whilst Kampot is considered largely safe, the city has seen a rise in crime against tourists and foreign residents.[7] Despite some efforts to provide better security and policing, local authorities have been criticized in recent years for their response to a number of high-profile serious crimes, including rapes and murders, that were dealt with poorly.[8][9][10][11] As in neighbouring Sihanoukville, police in Kampot have been accused of corruption, drug trafficking and drug use, and links to organized crime.[12][13][14] Some members of Kampot's expatriate community have also faced criticism for alleged attempts to censor, cover up, and control any negative news or reviews about the city, its businesses, and inhabitants, especially on social media groups and pages.[15][16]

  • Building with shops
  • Department of Economy and Finance, Kampot Province
  • Kampot Provincial Museum
  • National Bank of Cambodia, Kampot
  • l'Auberge du Soleil
  • Old market
  • Durian Roundabout
  • Old bridge
  • Lotus pond
  • Shophouses
  • Shops and restaurants
  • Praek Tuek Chhu River

See also

References
  1. "A List of Cambodian Islands". Visit Koh Rong. 26 October 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  2. Kitagawa, Takako (March 2005). "Kampot of the Belle Époque: From the Outlet of Cambodia to a Colonial Resort" (PDF). Southeast Asian Studies. Kyoto. 42 (4): 394–417. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  3. "Kampot pepper prices post a new peak". Phnom Penh Post. 6 January 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  4. Trade Promotion Department. "Cambodia Fish Sauce (Kampot)". Cambodian Top Ten Products. Archived from the original on 27 March 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  5. Trade Promotion Department. "Kampot Durian". Cambodian Top 10 Products. Archived from the original on 4 April 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  6. "The History of the Vinh Te Canal". Unrepresented Nations & Peoples Organization (UNPO). 27 January 2004. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  7. Laurenson, Jack (15 July 2015). "Fears Grow over Kampot Crime". Khmer Times. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  8. Laurenson, Jack (18 November 2015). "Double Homicide Shocks Kampot". Khmer Times. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  9. "Kampot: Mystery Tourist Death". www.tripadvisor.com. 12 February 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  10. Pengly, Horng (27 January 2016). "Suspect charged in Kampot rape-murder case". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  11. Ratana, Uong (22 January 2016). "Palm frond suspected as weapon in grisly Kampot murder". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  12. Khuon, Narim (10 February 2017). "Three Kampot Police Officers Test Positive for Meth Use". The Cambodia Daily. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  13. Chanveasna, Ros (19 January 2017). "Cop arrested for drug trafficking". Khmer Times. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  14. Reaksmey Kongkea, Buth (21 September 2016). "Former Police Nabbed With Drugs". Khmer Times. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  15. Laurenson, Jack. "'We Don't Protect Rapists Here'". Khmer Times. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  16. Laurenson, Jack (20 January 2016). "Foreigners Accused of Running Underground Drug Network Acquitted in Expedited Trial". Khmer Times. Retrieved 20 June 2017.

Kampot travel guide from Wikivoyage

  1. Cambodia: largest cities and towns and statistics of their population. World Gazetteer
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