AKP Phnom Penh, March 22, 2025 --

Takeo province — some 70 kilometres southern of Phnom Penh — is hosting the 9th River Festival to attract tourists under the theme “The Value of River - Linking Culture and Natural Tourism.”

The official opening ceremony of the three-day event (Mar. 21-23) was presided over this evening by Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet said this is a fruit of peace and will further promote tourism sustainably, and increase benefit for the people and so on.  

The Premier encouraged all stakeholders to join hands with the Ministry of Tourism to boost tourism development in Cambodia, especially the community-based tourism.

H.E. Huot Hak, Minister of Tourism took this opportunity to encourage the public to contribute with the Royal Government and his ministry to promoting tourism in Takeo.

H.E. Vei Samnang, Takeo Provincial Governor expected that this event will further promote the province to the international and local tourists as this is the first time that Takeo hosted this annual event.

“This is the historical event for Takeo, one of the old civilisation of Cambodia,” he underlined.

The River Festival was first organised in 2015 in Kratie province, then in Stung Treng, Kampong Cham, Thbong Khmum, Kandal, Kampong Chhnang, and Battambang provinces.

It was suspended during COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 and 2022. In 2023, the festival took place in Kampong Thom province, and last year in Siem Reap province with over half a million visitors.

This year, the Ministry of Tourism and Takeo provincial administration have arranged 10 different sports activities including cycling, running, Khmer traditional chess, volleyball, canoeing, Kun Khmer, and so on.

By Heng Panha