Kep city is a seaside tourist city located 173 kilometers southeast of Phnom Penh. Visitors from Phnom Penh take national road 3 via Kompot province or National road 2via Takeo province. In addition, the train from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville stops at Damnak Chang Eur station about 7 kilometers from Viename can enter Cambodia via the Ha Teang Prek Chak border checkpoint or they can travel by boat from Vietnam to Kep City.
Phnom Sar Sear
Phnom Sar Sear a nature and culture site located about 14
kilometers southeast of Kep City. This mountain is called Phnom Sar Sear because, according to Khmer legend mentioned
above when Prince Sakor Reach led the troops to this place, he got off his
horse and moved furtively ahead of his pursuers along the mountain was call
Phnom Sar Sear. Phnom Sar Sear is composed of three small mountain about 1.5
square kilometers. It is about 40 meters high. The site features two natural
caves Phnom Damrei Sar and Phnom Ach Prochiev which tourists can explore. In Phnom
Damrei Sar cave, there is a beautiful mountain well called Viel Sre Muoy Roy. In
the past, this site was also popular with filmmaker. At the foot of the mountain
are a number of small halls where clergymen and nuns meditate. Along the way to
the mountaintop, there is a Buddhist pagoda where monk live. On the mountaintop
sits a colorful, finely sculpted Stupa built in 1964 by Prince Rasmei Sophoan. A
place of worship, it also houses a Buddha relic. The fresh air and beautiful
natural scenery make Phnom Sar Sear popular with tourists throughout the year. From
the mountaintop , visitors have an excellent view of the rice paddies, the
island and the sea below, as well as the distant mountains. Buddhists go there
top pray for good fortune.
Koh Tonsay
Koh Tonsay is located about 4.5 kilometers southeast of Kep.
Tourists are drawn to the two beautiful whited sand beaches. The sea here is
shallow and has a long slope, making Koh Tonsay excellent for swimming. At the
sea bottom are a variety of corals, sea animals and plants which attract
researchers and ecologists. The name of Koh Tonsay is derived from the word
Rumsay. While trying to avoid the commander’s troops. Prince Sakor Reach grew
hopeless because his own troops began to tire. He led his remaining troops
across the sea to an island in front of Kep city, where the troops spread out. Accordingly,
the island was called Koh Rumsay, then Koh Ormsay or Koh Ornsay, and then Koh
Tonsay, as it is known today. Koh Tonsay is 2 square kilometers. During then
Prince Norodom Sihanouk’s Sangkum Reastr Niyum regime, it was used as a place
to rehabilitate criminals, who were also used to defend the island. Horse cart
paths and wooden, thatch-roofed motels were also constructed during this time. Most
of this infrastructure has been destroyed by weather and decades of war. Today,
fourteen families live on the island. They earn their living by fishing and
growing coconut tree.
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