Battambang

Battambang Province, Cambodia

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Battambang, the capital of Battambang Province in northwestern Cambodia, is the country's third-largest city, situated along the Sangkae River in a fertile rice-growing region often called Cambodia's "rice bowl."

Founded in the 11th century during the Khmer Empire and later a trading hub under Siamese rule until French colonial times, it features well-preserved French colonial architecture, historic pagodas, and a vibrant arts scene with galleries in old shophouses near the central market.

Known for its laid-back atmosphere compared to Phnom Penh or Siem Reap, the city offers excursions like the famous bamboo train, hilltop temples at Phnom Sampeau and Wat Banan, bat caves, and countryside cycling amid rubber plantations and rural life.

With a population around 120,000, it serves as a transport hub connected by road and rail, blending cultural heritage, local cuisine, and emerging tourism while recovering from past conflicts including the Khmer Rouge era.​