Kampong Chhnang is a relaxed provincial town set beside the Tonlé Sap River, roughly halfway between Phnom Penh and Battambang. It’s best known for its pottery traditions, floating villages and easy-going riverside atmosphere, making it a worthwhile stop for travellers who enjoy seeing everyday Cambodian life away from the main tourist centres.

The name Kampong Chhnang means “Port of Pottery”, and ceramics remain an important part of the town’s identity. In nearby villages, you can see local families shaping clay by hand, firing pots in traditional kilns and producing simple, practical wares that are still used in homes and markets across the region. It’s a quiet craft experience, but an authentic one.

The river is the other great feature of Kampong Chhnang. A boat trip through the floating communities gives a fascinating glimpse of life shaped by water, with houses, shops, fish farms, schools and places of worship all adapted to the seasonal rise and fall of the river. It’s less visited than the floating villages near Siem Reap, which can make the experience feel calmer and more natural.

The surrounding countryside is gentle and attractive, with rice fields, palm trees, ox carts, small farms and village roads that are well suited to slow exploration by bicycle or tuk-tuk. Nearby Phnom Neang Kang Rey offers a local hilltop viewpoint and a touch of Cambodian folklore.

Kampong Chhnang isn’t polished or dramatic, but that’s part of its charm. It’s a rewarding place for travellers who value craft, river life and a quieter look at rural Cambodia.