Kandal

Kandal is a low-lying province in central Cambodia that surrounds Phnom Penh, with its capital Ta Khmau sitting about eight kilometres south of the capital's centre. Rivers such as the Mekong and Tonlé Sap shape the landscape, mixing fertile farmland, quiet islands and growing urban corridors that connect directly to Phnom Penh.

The province has deep historical roots. Oudong, in Ponhea Leu district, served as Cambodia's royal capital from 1618 to 1866 and remains the region's most important historic site, with royal stupas, a large reclining Buddha and the weathered Ta San Mosque across its low ridges.

Ta Khmau is the commercial and administrative hub, while districts such as Kien Svay and Khsach Kandal offer riverside pagodas, local markets and silk-weaving communities on Mekong islands like Koh Oknha Tey. Ang Kor Chey Pagoda, reached along National Road 1, is a well-known day trip for its monastery setting.

Kandal benefits from its position beside Phnom Penh, with garment factories, logistics operations and new development along its national roads. Local food is rooted in Khmer river cooking, including freshwater fish, noodle soups and market snacks, with riverside restaurants and picnic resorts popular on weekends.

For travellers, Kandal works as an easy extension of a Phnom Penh visit, offering royal history, rural scenery and convenient airport access for both leisure and business trips.