Banteay Meanchey Overview

Banteay Meanchey is a province in the northwest of Cambodia, and its capital is named Sisophon. Sisophorn is a charming, quiet town that only gives hints to its turbulent past upon closer examination. Control of the province has changed hands many times between the Thais and the Khmers in the more distant past, and the Khmer Rouge and central Phnom Penh government in recent decades. With the final demise of the Khmer Rouge , the province and towns are striving to rebuild their culture and economy.

This is a very friendly place with the locals genuinely happy to see foreign faces and the stability that it implies. The area has a few sights that warrant a visit, such the Banteay Chhmar temple ruins, the only other Khmer temple ruins besides the Bayon and Preah Khan that features the famous four-faced monuments.

This area was part of the Khmer empire, with its most famous remains the Banteay Chhmar temple in the north of the province, built in 12th and 13th century. In the 17th century the Siam people took control over Cambodia, and made the area of the modern province part of Sisophon Province. In the year 1907 the Siam had to cede control to the French, and the area was then belong to Battambang Province. The province Banteay Meanchey was split off from Battambang in 1988.