Cambodia’s central Kampong Cham province’s idyllic rural life, bamboo bridge and wellness

A gentle breeze wafts through the air bringing a welcome respite from the morning’s clammy heat. Faint traditional music rings from one of several small villages that sprinkle the sweeping vistas of paddies and bamboo farms. Temple spires shimmer in the distance and the curve of the mighty Mekong River cuts through the landscape.

Viewed from the peak of Hanchey Hill, about 20km from Kampong Cham city, the serene setting instils a sense of calm – an apt setting for the Hanchey Eco Retreat Centre (HERC). In the making since late 2015, the retreat is a project spearheaded by NGO Buddhism for Social Development Action, which aims to plant Kampong Cham on the regional wellness map.

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Made by workers from nearby villages using local bamboo, HERC looks set to be a game-changer for the area when the first phase of the hilltop retreat is unveiled in August. This will include a meditation centre, restaurant, swimming pool, reception building and 10 villas with private terraces. For now, two villas and the pool area open to guests.

HERC has captured the tone of Kampong Cham province, working in harmony with the area’s rural charm. A sense of stillness even settles on the provincial capital, also called Kampong Cham, which is home to a varied collection of architecture, from Chinese shophouses and French colonial buildings, to structures influenced by the New Khmer Architecture movement headed by Van Molyvann in the 1960s.

Its pristine promenade, by the Mekong River, makes a good spot for a sunset stroll, while the dainty city centre is dotted with manicured gardens, Angkor-style statues and water fountains that light up at night.

Kampong Cham’s most famous feature is its bamboo bridge – once the longest in the world at almost one kilometre long and capable of holding the hundreds of trucks, motorbikes, horses and carts and pedestrians that crossed it weekly. Connecting Kampong Cham city to Koh Paen, a small island in the middle of the Mekong that is home to about 1,000 families, the bridge was rebuilt every year after the monsoon rains and rising Mekong swept it away.

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However, when a concrete bridge opened last year it spelt the end of the iconic bridge in its historic form. A smaller version has been rebuilt close to the former site and is open to pedestrians, who can push bicycles across. While it is nowhere near as impressive as its big sister, crossing the bridge during a visit to Kampong Cham is a must.

Koh Paen embodies idyllic rural Cambodian life, a patchwork of agricultural land with small villages, temples and narrow tracks flanked by tropical green. It is best explored by bicycle.

Cries of “hello” from Cambodian kids on their battered bikes and caressing birdsong occasionally pierce the silence, men snooze in hammocks below their stilted wooden homes, clucking chickens spill onto the road past cattle grazing on patches of grass, and horses and carts trot by.

There is a beach to the north east, which is a popular spot with locals at weekends. Stalls on the golden sand sell snacks and refreshments and you can hire one of the sheltered bamboo platforms that bob on the water.

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If idyllic island life has you hooked, then Mekong Bamboo Hut – a simple but welcoming affair comprised of wooden platforms overlooking the river and shacks containing a restaurant and bar, games room and communal areas – offers hammocks for US$3 a night. It also rents bicycles and motorbikes.

Kampong Cham has temples too, with Wat Nokor being one of the most intriguing. Built during the end of the reign of Jayavarman VII, creator of temples Ta Prohm and Bayon, the hub of buildings, walkways, passages and alcoves remain a tranquil place to step back in time to the Angkor Empire.

Previously known as a stop-off town for travellers making their way from Phnom Penh to Kratie or the mountainous province of Mondulkiri, many are starting to catch onto Kampong Cham’s charm, making this destination one to watch out for.

Getting there: Kampong Cham is about 120km from Phnom Penh. A taxi takes about 2.5 hours, with several daily buses operating, taking between three and four hours.