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Kep City - General Information
Province: Kep City
Area: 336sq km
Population: 34,836
Density: 85
Districts: 2
Commune: 5
Village: 58
Kep City is a municipality in Cambodia with the status of a province. Kep is
just a few kilometers from the border with Vietnam located and used to be
Cambodia's most popular beach town but has fallen on hard times in recent years
(especially due to the Khmer Rouge). Many of Kep's, mostly French villas are
abandoned, but some of the town's former splendor is still apparent. The see is
lined with huge sidewalks and some large statues that now seem largely out of
place. The king built a palace overlooking the Gulf of Thailand, but it was
never furnished and now sits empty. A good, paved road connects the small town
with the 15km far away Kampot. The slightly darker beaches than in Sihanoukville
are mostly scattered with mangroves and black rocks, but Koh Thonsáy (Rabbit
Island) is just a short boat ride away (approx. 1/2h). Kep appears to be
experiencing something of a renaissance, with several mid-range and luxury
guesthouses and bungalows recently opened or still under construction. The
seafood is cheap, plentiful and delicious - particularly the quite famous crabs.
Kep is also home to an extensive national park covering some mountains with deep
green jungle.
The French established Kep City during the colonial time in 1908. Today Kep is
mainly popular to the domestic tourists, who choose Kep as their holiday
destination. What's more, Kep offers great seafood and magnificent views of the
mountains and the beaches. Taking a boat to the nearby islands is also a
breathtaking experience. Another itinerary, which must not be missed, is an
excursion to the serene waterfalls of 'Tuk Chhou" situated about 10 km from
Kampot. Kep City is located in the Southwest of Phnom Penh. The city is
accessible by the National Road No 3 from Phnom Penh via Kampot province (173
km) or by the National Road No 2 from Phnom Penh via Takeo province.
Especially during the Sixties, during the time of Sang Kum Reas Ni Yum the city
was developed as a beautiful seaside tourist resort for the rich and government.
The story related to the name of Kep said that there was a king named Sa Kor
Reach, who had a mighty spell. He put a sleeping spell on a commander at AngKor
Thum, than stole the commander's white horse and fled together with his troop to
the Southwestern seaside. When he took a rest at the seaside, he was overhauled
by the commander's troops, who chased him from behind. Suddenly, he got on the
horseback; the horse reared, and made him fall down on the ground together with
the saddle. Then, he got on the horseback again and fled away without picking up
the saddle, because the commander's troops almost approached him. So that’s why
this area was called ' Kep Seh ' meaning ' the saddle ', nowadays it’s only
called ' Kep '.
Source: Ministry of Tourism of the Kingdom of Cambodia |
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