Cambodia is famous for its strange floating villages that have become tourist attractions because of its uniqueness. The villages are constructed by the residents who live next to Tonle Sap Lake and floating is a way to keep up with the river’s seasonal variations.
Why are they floating?
During the rainy season the water levels in Tonle Sap expands from 3000 square kilometers and 2m depth in the dry season, to a whole 10,000 square kilometers with 14 meter depth. Water flows into it from the great Trans boundary river Mekong during the rainy season. The rainy season ranges from June to October, whereas November to May is a dry season.
The villages are made of small houses and are clustered together giving it a unique charm. During the rainy season they go through dramatic transformation, where floating villages rise up and down with any change in the water levels. During the dry season however, people live close to the shores, where houses are built on stilts.
Life in a floating village:
The communities practically live on water. Most of the people are ethnic Vietnamese and from Cham communities. These people make a living from fishing on the lake. The lake has an abundant stream of fish with almost 300 different species as well as crocodiles, turtles and snakes, which makes it the main source of living. The lake feeds more than 3,000,000 people.
Land in Cambodia is priced too high for residents to buy. Many people are forced to live on the water mostly because they do not own land. Those who cannot afford it choose to live in these floating villages regardless of any risks involved.
The wondrous floating villages also feature floating shops, schools, churches, hospitals and other institutions that allow its people to live in total comfort above water. Many of these amenities are built on stilts. Most of the basic requirements have been set up keeping up with the needs of the people, including a mechanic shop and a crocodile farm! For tourists there are fancy restaurants and sundeck from where one can gaze into the expanse of water, marveling at the beauty of the strange way of living!
Visit to floating villages:
There are three main floating villages around Siem Reap namely; Kompong Khleang, Chong Kneas and Kompong Phluk. Being closest to Siem Reap, Chong Kneas is the most popular of them all. There are approximately 6000 people in Kompong Khleang, 5000 in Chong Kneas and 2800 in Kompong Phluk. The largest floating village is Kompong Khleang with the floating houses extending far and wide.
Chong Kneas is just 15 kms from Siem Reap, and can be easily reached by a boat in less than an hour. Boats are available at ticket booths all day long. It takes around 2 hours for a trip to the village. These boats pass through smaller villages on both sides of the river. One can spot small kids with snakes wrapped around their necks. They are soft drink vendors, who jump from one moving boat to the other without the slightest hesitation! You can’t resist buying a can of soft drink for $1, after seeing a daring stunt like that from a kid barely 7! Boats can also be hired for a day long trip to visit Kompong Phluk and Kompong Khleang.