The villages in the Sambor Prei Kuk area are very simple. They are indicative of the conditions of ordinary Cambodian rural dwellers throughout much of the country. Despite the lack of wealth and material resources, visitors will find the people welcoming and local culture full of unique points of interest.
In Sambor district the seven villages are: Kampong Chheu Teal, Sambo, Samret, Cheay Sampov, Pou Tret, Ou Kru Kae and At Su village. Those village are surrounded Sambor Prei Kuk Temple.At Sou village there are 175 families, population 580. It is located 6 km from the Sambor Prei Kuk temples and about 8 km to the district town. There is one primary school, one secondary school and one Japanese house (all supported by a Japanese family whose son was killed in the village in 1992) There are many traditional houses made of wood house with tiled roofs. Most dwellings are surrounded by coconut, jackfruit, cashew and mango trees. Villagers use car batteries to generate electricity at night. Water is from wells, supported by NGOs. In this village there are some points of interest such as:
- At Sou grave in memory of a UN Japanese volunteer to Cambodia who was killed during the UNTAC mission in Cambodia in 1990-1993. The grave is located in the compound of the secondary school. (Mr At Sou was shot by an unknown person. To commemorate him, the government in 1995 changed the official name of the village to At Sou.- The building of At Sou’s father. He built it for when he comes to honour the memory of At Sou every year. He is the only one who finances the development of At Sou village such as development of a primary school and a secondary school and development of a village health care project.
- Craft weavers: a group of 10 villagers weaving scarves and rattan baskets for sales in the village.
- Village-based income generation activity project: learn about organization management and how they manage credit, how they operate their capital and share benefits among members. This project is supported by an International NGO (World Vision).
- A group of traditional musicians: they are employed for wedding ceremonies, but can be booked upon request.
- Cashew farming: nearly all villagers have a cashew farm behind their houses for local sales. The harvest season is between late February and mid April.
Ou Kru Kae village: There are 175 families, population 740. It is located 2 km from Sambor Prei Kuk temple and about 4 km to the district town. It is next to a great lake. In the rainy season there is a large body of water that villagers fish in. In this village there is one primary school, one pagoda, and one commune office building. At night they use car batteries for power. Most people go to bed around at 8pm. There are some local points of interest such as:
- The building of the Commune office and the pagoda behind the commune office.
- Village-based income generation activity project: learn about organization management and how they manage credit, how they operate their capital and share benefits among members. This project is supported by an International NGO (World Vision).
- Cycling tour around the village and from the village to Sambor Prei Kuk site.
- Cashew farming: nearly all villagers have a cashew farm behind their houses for local sales. The harvest season is between late February and mid April.
Sambor village: There are 261 families, population 1164. It is 2 km from Sambor Prei Kuk temple complex and about 2 km to the village market of Kampong Cheuteal village. The district administrative buildings are all located in this village such as the district administrative office, police office and agriculture office. At night they use car batteries for light and power. But some villagers use generators. The security is very safe at night. It is not as quiet as At Sou village and Ou Kru Kae. There are some restaurants. Telephone shops and grocery shops are available in this village and some stay open until late evening. In Sambor there is one compound of the district administration, one pagoda, one primary school and one secondary and high school supported by the Thai Queen. There are some local points of interest such as:
- District administrative buildings- Pagoda
- Traditional religious ceremonies celebrated in the village, January to April
- Village-based income generation activity project: learn about organization management and how they manage credit, how they operate their capital and share benefits among members. This project is supported by an International NGO (World Vision).
- Cycling tour around the village, high school, village market and to Sambor Prei Kuk.
- A new biomass electrification project
- Cashew farming: nearly all villagers have a cashew farm behind their houses for local sales. The harvest season is between late February and mid April.
Kampong Cheuteal village : There are 407 families, population 1,352. It is located 5 km from Sambor Prei Kuk temple and about 3 km from the district town. A river (Stoeng Sean river) runs through the village up to Kampong Thom town. A market is located in this village. It is a busy village. Electricity is provided by a village entrepreneur from 6-10pm. It has a night market selling desserts and local snacks until 9pm. Some restaurants, telephone shops and grocery shops are available in this village and stay open until late evening. In this village there is one market, one biomass power generator and one gas station. There are some local points of interest such as:
- Traditional religious ceremonies celebrated at Sambor village, January to April- The Thailand-funded high school at Sambor village. It s possible to do a high school guided tour, watch traditional dances performed by school students, play football, volleyball and basketball and have dinner at the school
- Cycling tour around the village, the high school, village market and to Sambor Prei Kuk archaeological site.
- Possible boat trip on the river (June to December)
- The new biomass power generator in the village
- Village market and night market
Cheay Sam Pov village: There are 181 families, population 1019. It is located 3 km from Sambor Prei Kuk temple complex. Almost all villagers are farmers. They own rice fields and fruit farms. Besides growing rice, they raise pigs, chickens and ducks. In this village there is one primary school and one pagoda. There are some local points of interest such as:
- Small temples (Prang temple group) at the middle of the village next to Ou Kru Kae village.- Fruit farms
- Home gardens
Samrith village: There are 134 families; population 722. It is located 3 km from Sambor Prei Kuk temple complex. Almost all villagers are farmers. In this village there is one pagoda.
Poo Traet village: There are 43 families; population 210. It is located 4 km from the Sambor Prei Kuk temple complex.This village is in a very remote area. All villagers are farmers. This village is next to the Stoeng Sean river. When the rainy season comes, the whole village is flooded and all villagers escort their family and livestock to dry land until the water levels retreat and they can return to the village.
