Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia

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Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia

Ratanakiri is located in Cambodia’s far northeast bordered by Laos to the north, Vietnam to the east, Mondulkiri to the south, and Stung Treng to the west. There are two rivers crossing the province (Sre Pork and Sresan River ). Ratanakiri was as recently as 2002 seriously off the beaten track but has since been “discovered” step by step.

Ou'Sean Lair Waterfall

Ou’Sean Lair Waterfall

A remote region of Cambodia’s northeast, Ratanakiri is unique. Its characteristic red earth lines roads and paths bordered with lush greenery and rolling hills. Life is simple; farmers till the earth and work the rice paddies with hand tools. Villagers live in hand-built stilt wooden houses. At night, closely knit village communities gather around the fire and share a warm meal and homemade rice wine. Ratanakiri is like another planet compared to the rest of Cambodia – dusty, red roads curl through the landscape in summer, while in the rainy season the area becomes lush and green turning the roads into slippery mush. Travel to Cambodia

Kres Village of Ratanakiri Province

Kres Village of Ratanakiri Province

Ratanakiri keeps many secrets. Its primordial forests bordering Vietnam are also home to 12 highland tribes the Khmer Loeu. These tribe’s people have often had little contact with the rest of the world, and have maintained much of their traditions. In Ratanakiri’s hills, the Tampuan, Krung, Jarai and Brou tribes farm with the slash and burn method, hunt with crossbows and poison darts, practice animism. Krung women, often bare-breasted, wear sarongs, while Brou women tattoo their faces and wear heavy ivory tusk earrings. Visit Ratanakiri Cambodia with Indochina travel Cambodia

Aerial view of Yak Loum Lake in Ratanakiri province

Aerial view of Yak Loum Lake in Ratanakiri province

A sparsely populated province, it is renowned for its unique natural beauty and wealth of natural resources. The physical and environmental characteristic of the province forms an impressive range including undulating hills and mountains, a level plateau, watershed lowlands, crater lakes, rivers and waterfalls. Forest cover varies from area to area, from the dense impenetrable forest in the northern reaches, which are still rich in wildlife, to the drier and sparser forest, found in the southwest. Similarly, the soil type’s present range from rich volcanic soil to the sandy soil found near rivers. Thus Ratanakiri province offers wonderful opportunities for Eco – tourism in Cambodia.

The Indochina Voyages team.

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