Kampot

Kampot is a province in southern Cambodia, located along the Gulf of Thailand. The provincial capital, Kampot town, is a historic riverside settlement on the Kampot River at the foothills of the Bokor plateau.

Geography and environment: The province encompasses river plains, mangroves, and rolling hills. To the north and inland rises the Bokor massif, where Bokor National Park protects forest and waterfalls, and the area includes remnants of the early 20th-century Bokor Hill Station.

Economy and production: Agriculture remains central, with pepper farming being a notable specialty; Kampot pepper is internationally known for its aroma and flavor. Salt production has long been part of the coastal economy, along with fishing and tourism-related activities.

Tourism and culture: Visitors are drawn to Kampot town for its French colonial architecture, riverside markets, and nearby natural attractions. The coast near Kep and nearby islands offer beaches, while tours to pepper plantations and Bokor National Park are common day trips.

History: The region has ties to the Khmer Empire and experienced French colonial influence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It has since developed into a destination known for its landscape, pepper, and relaxed pace of life.