The Phat Sanday Ecotourism Community was established in 2019, and covers an area of approximately 23,000 hectares. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
PHNOM PENH: Kampong Thom province is fast overcoming its reputation as a province that holiday makers pass through on their way to a more established destination. Near enough to the capital for a viable day trip, one village in particular is enjoying a tourism resurgence.
Situated on the waters of the Tonle Sap Lake, the Phat Sanday Ecotourism Community covers an area of approximately 23,000 hectares.
The community is located in the Phat Sanday commune of Kampong Svay District, less than a half day’s drive from Phnom Penh.
Established in 2019, it offers domestic and international tourists unique new experiences in the community forest and flooded forest, with services such as lodging, camping, food and boat trips.
“The establishment of the Phat Sanday Ecotourism Community was based on the area's ecotourism potential. The people live on the Tonle Sap Lake and are surrounded by beautiful natural resources. We have a protected creek rich in breeding fish, with community forests and flooded forests covering approximately 23,000 hectares,” said So Son, deputy chief of the community.
After recognising the area’s ecotourism potential, the Fisheries Alliance for Conservation of Natural Resources (FACT) initiated the idea of establishing the community, with additional support from development organisation VSO Cambodia.
Before the community was established, national fisheries by-products had fallen due to various fishing crimes, and the public lacked awareness of conservation and sanitation.
“In the past, before the community was formally established, we did not have as many fish as we do now. The lack of patrols allowed illegal fishing, reducing the abundance of fish,” explained Son.
Since the community was formed, FACT has implemented numerous projects for Phat Sanday, including clean water, waste management, livelihood improvements through ecotourism activities and the creation of a Tonle Sap Lake ecotourism network.
“By 2019, with FACT's support and various subsidies, we formed a committee to establish patrol groups, processing groups and other small groups. Over the last five to six years, fish have become very abundant, earning praise from national leaders and citizens,” added Son.
The Phat Sanday commune comprises five villages with over 1,000 families, approximately 90 per cent of whom are engaged in fishing. With 24-hour community monitoring, both fish and bird populations have steadily increased.
The Phat Sanday Ecotourism Community is located about 50 kilometres from the provincial capital. Tourists can travel by land using a car or motorbike or take a community ferry service from the provincial capital along the Stung Sen River.
Guests can also journey from Kampong Chhnang town to Kampong Touk, a distance of about 40 kilometres, and then take a 10 to 15 minute boat ride.
Tourists typically visit from November to April, so they enjoy the scenery of the community forest and the extensive flooded forests.
Visitors can view floating houses, climb an observation tower to admire the views, learn about fishing activities, and observe the many bird species which inhabit the surrounding areas.
The flooded forest features large stilt trees, over 200 years old, which stand approximately 10 metres tall. During the dry season, visitors can walk around the village to experience local life and even feed fish in breeding ponds.
“The Phat Sanday Ecotourism Community, a protected area, is a major tourist destination,” said Oung Chanthorn, a representative of the community. “We offer lodging, camping, food small and large boats for transporting guests to the community forest, and opportunities to watch the sun rise and set on the lake.”
Recently, the community introduced a one-day tour package service with a fee of US$29 from Kampong Chhnok Trou in Kampong Chhnang province, or US$39 from Phnom Penh, including food.
“This supports the community. For lunch and dinner, which cost $5 for domestic guests, I deduct $1, and $7 for foreigners, I deduct $2 for the community,” said Chanthorn.
She called on more tourists to visit the area to help improve the villagers' lives and contribute to fish conservation in the Tonle Sap.
The community offers small boat journeys for one to three people for US$15, large boats for four to six people for US$20, sightseeing services for US$20 to US$60, and short rides around the village to admire the rainforest and the tower for US$5 per boat.
Basic accommodation costs US$5 for domestic visitors and US$7 for foreign visitors, while camping services range from US$30 to US$40. Venue rental, for meetings or events, can be arranged for from US$30 to US$50.
“At the end of 2024, we welcomed many foreign visitors and guests from NGOs, as well as Cambodian tourists,” noted Chanthorn.
She believed that each month, the community welcomed about 80 to 100 visitors. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
“They came to explore the community forest and the floating houses, as well as climb the observation tower to take in the scenery. They also took boat rides to see the flooded forests and admired our 200-year-old trees,” she added. – The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
