Anlong Veng

“Where to find Halal food or a Halal restaurant in Anlong Veng, or perform Salat in a mosque in Anlong Veng?“ “Those are some of the questions Muslim travelers often ask when traveling to Anlong Veng.“

TaMokLake - Ta Mok's eerie lake looms on the edge of Anlong Veng

Anlong Veng is a neighborhood and small town in the Oddar Meanchey Province of northwest Cambodia. Its sole claim to notability is its connection to the later days of the Khmer Rouge. Pol Pot, Ta Mok, Son Sen and Khiev Samphan and the leaders of the organisation, all had homes here. The neighborhood also holds the graves of Pol Pot and Ta Mok, as well as the remnants of the structure where Pol Pot was convicted of crimes against the Cambodian people. What might otherwise be an overly morbid itinerary is redeemed by the stunning mountain scenery. There is a border crossing with Thailand's Si Saket Province 13 kilometers north of Anlong Veng town.

About Anlong Veng

Anlong Veng is at a crossroads, literally and perhaps metaphorically. Once its inaccessibility made it attractive to Khmer Rouge fugitives, it is now at the hub of four glorious asphalt highways which blaze trails through the undeveloped hinterland of North-western Cambodia. Highway 67 runs north to Choam and the border with Chong Saturday - Ngam in Thailand bringing an influx of traders. It continues south to Siem Reap and its temples. The more recently completed east-west highway connects the town with its provincial capital, Samraong, in the west and the disputed Preah Vihear temples in the east.

The town is centred on a roundabout near the market. Thit is where the road to Preah Vihear meets Highway 67. The town spreads north towards the man-made lake (see below) and the junction of the road to Samraong.

Travel to Anlong Veng

Next to the roundabout are the offices of G.S.T and Angkor Paramount Transport which both run buses to and from Siem Reap (2 hr, USD8, twice daily) and Sra Em (2 hr, once daily) for Preah Vihear.

Best way to travel in Anlong Veng by a Taxi

Share-taxis and pick-up trucks connect with Siem Reap (2 hr), Samraong (1 hr), Tbeng Meanchey (2 hr) and others. The four primary streets to Anlong Veng are now all sealed.

On the Thailand| (Thai) side and the international border crossing is at the border of Surin Province and Si Saket Province and is accessible from either. The nearest town is Khu Khan in Si Saket Province. From Surin train station to the border takes about 1.5 hr. On the Cambodian side, moto-taxis and pick-up trucks are available in the tiny bazaar.

Transportation in Anlong Veng

The town itself is easy enough to cover on foot. Moto-taxis are eager to take the town's few visitors to the sites listed below for USD7-15. If haggling isn't your strong point and you're not desperate to see every last heap that has a connection with the Khmer Rouge, better prices can be had by taking on a motorbike driver for one-way journeys only. A motorbike to or from the border area should only be USD7-4. The sights in town can be visited on foot. Plenty of drivers hang about at the border, so don't fear being stranded.

What to See

The below sights are either within the town or about 14 kilometers up in the hills near the Choam border point.

In Anlong Veng

• Anlong Veng Lake and Spillway This man-made lake was conceived and carried out by Ta Mok. Many large trees were killed by the flooding and their trunks jut skywards like huge grey bones. The lake itself is unsettling to look at, but local people love the spillway created in the rainy season. Fishing, boating and the general splashing around are available, with just as many spectators as participants.

• Ta Mok's Town House The best-preserved of the Khmer Rouge houses, Ta Mok's house in town overlooks the eerie lake that Brother Number Four created himself. Murals of Angkor Wat and Preah Vihear, as well as a map of Cambodia and a strangely bucolic scene of bathing elephants decorate the walls and are, as yet, undamaged by graffiti.

In the hills

• Pol Pot's Grave Prepare to be underwhelmed. A tin roof and a sign urging visitors to keep the area clean are all the tribute given to Brother Number One by his country. Oddly enough a (Thai) lottery winner has erected a spirit house on the site in honour of the former Khmer Rouge leader, who he claims, appeared to him in a dream with the winning numbers. A small pack of children often materialises when visitors arrive.

• Pol Pot's House Not much left here but a shell of a house, overgrown with foliage and 'decorated' with profane graffiti. Water storage tanks, an underground chamber and a nearby pond round off the excitement. The motorcycle ride to the site is the real attraction, passing through fields and jungle in the Damrek Mountains. You will see Cambodia's iconic 'Danger! Mines!' signs on many of the trees. Do not, under any circumstances, venture off the road. Unfortunately and these mines are still regularly killing and maiming Cambodians.

• Ta Mok's Mountain House Graffiti artists have been at it again with this little shell although this time, it's mostly young lovers proclaiming their eternal fidelity. Considering the amazing views from this site, it's not surprising that it should have become a regular make-out hill. Oddly enough and there are not one but two tiny spirit houses nearby, ostensibly, recent additions. A guesthouse has also been built less than 100 m away, taking advantage of the view. Those who don't fancy a night up here can relax with a juice in one of the many hammocks. The landmine warning applies to the road here as well.

Between the two

• Ta Mok's Grave - Ta Mok's gravesite seems poised to become a much more grand monument than Pol Pot's.

Muslim Travel Tips

An interesting few hours can be spent touring all the above sites, with plenty of vista stops and little encounters with surprisingly friendly local people. Moto-taxi drivers can arrange an itinerary.

Shopping in Anlong Veng

The market has the requisite affordable clothing, rambutans and motorcycle parts. There are a few pharmacies.

There is an ATM at the ACLeda Bank, east of the central roundabout. Note, however, that thit is only Visa-friendly, not MasterCard.

Halal Restaurants & Food in Anlong Veng

To be updated

Buy/Rent Muslim Friendly Condos, Houses and Villas in Anlong Veng

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Ramadan in Anlong Veng

Ramadan 2025 in Anlong Veng

Ramadan concludes with the festival of Eid al-Fitr, which may last several days, usually three in most countries.

The next Ramadan shall be from Friday, 28 February 2025 to Saturday, 29 March 2025

The next Eid al-Adha shall be on Friday, 6 June 2025

The next day of Raʾs al-Sana shall be on Thursday, 26 June 2025

The next day for Mawlid al-Nabī shall be on Monday, 16 September 2024

Muslim Friendly Hotels

There are a few guesthouses in town, in addition to the place near Ta Mok's mountain house. Ask the moto-taxi drivers for advice.

In town

• Monrom Guesthouse and Restaurant | The king of Khmer souvenirs with ostentatious furniture complemented with fairy lights. Rooms are clean and spacious. Air-con rooms are available for USD15.

• New Lucky Star Guesthouse and Restaurant | Clean, spacious and secure. Has plenty of polished wooden furniture. Air-con rooms are available.

• Raksmey Angkor Guesthouse | A bit small and run-down, but run by a very nice family. Fan and en suite toilet.

• Sokhaith Guesthouse | Clean and spacious. It lacks the pretentious adornments that Monrom and New Lucky Star boast, making it less appealing to Khmer politicians and businessmen and therefore more appealing to anyone who doesn't like watching fat, rich men with prostitutes. Haggling is necessary to get a room for USD8 and the initial USD7 for a room with a fan is not worth it given what else is in town. Air-con rooms are available from USD 17. The lakeside setting is a plus, but comes at the price of being a little way from the centre.

In the hills

• Heng Heng Guest House ☎ +855 65 6782121, +855 12 426678 A new set of rooms in Choam. Air-con rooms are available (USD15).

Telecommunications in Anlong Veng

There is Internet cafe. It is about 50 m north of the roundabout at the market. USD0.75/ hr.

Where to go next

• Preah Vihear
• Samraong
• Siem Reap and Angkor Archaeological Park
• Thailand - in Choam, near Pol Pot's cremation site, one can cross to Chong Saturday - Ngam in Thailand. The crossing is open to Foreign Muslims (07:00-20:00). On the (Thai) side, transport connections are fairly informal (i.e., hitching a lift with anything going is standard training). More formal transport can be supplied by a (Thai) border guard called Iing, who can arrange taxis. Call him on +66 81 9271191. The best option appears to be the shuttle vanes and pickup trucks that take Thais to the casino in Choam. They should be able to get travellers to Khu Khan and the closest (Thai) town. Khu Khan has lodging, banks, ATMs and direct bus services to Bangkok, Nakhon Ratchasima|Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat), Pattaya, Rayong, Si Saket and Ubon Ratchathani. Westbound and Ubon-bound buses can be boarded at the junction of Highway 24 and 2201, about 30 kilometers from the border and about 15 kilometers from Khu Khan. On the Cambodian side, motorbike drivers loiter near immigration and will get travellers into Anlong Veng for USD7-4. Choam has at least one guesthouse, so do not worry about arriving at the border late, unless you get stuck on the (Thai) side, which has very little to offer, except an excellent swimming spot at a reservoir behind the shabby looking market.

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