Oudor Meanchey Province is a recent creation that was carved out of the northernmost part of Siem Reap Province and it straddles the Thai border on the northern edge, with also covered Dangrek Mountain. It is where Pol Pot died mysteriously and where the top military officers loyal to Prince Norodom Ranarith fled (O’Smach) after the factional fighting in July 1997.With its land area of 6158 sq.km, has a population of 91261 comprising 46,327 males and 44,934 females. The percentage of females’ population is 50%. The province consists of districts, 24 communes and about 231 villages.
This is the newest of Cambodia’s province, carved out of sections of Siem Reap Province that the government did not control for much the 1980s. The name means “Victory Province”, a little optimistic for much of the period, but suitable enough by 1999. This is a dirt-poor province thanks to the sorrow of war, and produce very little apart from opportunity for aid organization. Sharing a lengthy border with Thailand could eventually prove a road to riches for some local entrepreneur. Illegal logging was rampant for a few years but seem to have stopped for the time being. There are few attractions for tourists in this province, although some visitors are drawn to the former Khmer Rough town of Anlong Veng, with its many associations with Pol Pot and other leading figures from the movement.
Getting around the province is tough in the wet season, as there are no sealed roads. The road from Siem Reap to Anlong Veng is generally good in dry season, but it is new roads the locals are eagerly anticipating. The Thai military is building a road from O Smach to Siem Rreap and the Cambodia government is build the road from Anlong Veng to Preah Vihear, both of which could help put this province on the tourist map.
Samraong
There are Samraong through Cambodia, as the means “Dense Jungle”, sadly something no longer extensive in this area. Samraong is the provincial capital of Oddar Meanchey Province and is slowly reemerging after decades of isolations as a result of its frontline position in the long civil war. There is nothing see or do up here for foreigners, unless they happen to be in development work- something much in demand around here.
Border Check-Point of Ou Smach
Located at the common border of Cambodia-Thailand in 41-kilometer distance from the provincial town by Road No 68. Ou Smach is the man-made tourist site, which has been invested by Royal Group Company and VTP shop Group Company on Casino, five-star hotel and restaurants. The site has been organized as the entertainment spot in international standard. Most tourists who go there are Thai tourists.
Tamuk House
The place displayed statues depicting the lifestyle and troop arrangement of Khmer Rouge during the period of their struggle against the Royal Government. This area had been organized and controlled by Khmer Rouge since 1979 to the end of 1997. The cultural site of Khmer Rouge is located at the center of An Lung Veng Districial in 100-kilometer distance from the provicial town by Road No 68. At present, there are many tourists who visit the area and take picture of Khmer
For almost a decade, this was the ultimate of Khmer Rough strongholds- home to Pol Pot, Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan and Ta Mok, the most notorious leaders of Democratic Kampuchea. AnLong Veng fell to government force in 1998, at the same time that Pol Pot mysteriously died near the Thai border, and soon after Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered that a major raod bulldozed through the jungle to ensure the population didn’t have second thoughts about ending the war.
Today Anlong Veng is a safe, dusty, poor town in Cambodia’s far north that has begun to attract some visitors thanks to the macabre lure of all things association with the Khmer Rouge. The average visitors will find little of interest here compared with what’s on offer around Angkor, but for those with a keen interest in contemporary Cambodian history it is an important part of the picture. North of town along the ridge of Chuor Phnom Dangrek are the house of several former leaders of the Khmer Rouge, as well as some dense jungle and compelling views.