Kandal, meaning “middle”, surrounds Phnom Penh on almost every side. The Mekong and the Bassac rivers flow through its flat, fertile land, and its capital is Ta Khmau, just south of the city. For visitors, Kandal is where you go for a day out of Phnom Penh without a long journey.
Conditions now
Kandal
25°C
Partly cloudy · feels like 32°C
- Humidity 97%
- Wind 1 km/h
- Air: Moderate (AQI 60)
- TodayThunderstorms32° / 25°95% rain
- TueShowers32° / 24°90% rain
- WedThunderstorms32° / 25°82% rain
- ThuShowers31° / 24°78% rain
- FriShowers32° / 24°69% rain
Updated hourly. Forecast and air quality by Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0). Conditions can change quickly in the wet season.
Why go to Kandal?
Come for river life close to the capital, with history next door. Koh Dach’s silk weavers and the Mekong and Bassac riversides are in Kandal itself, and the royal stupas of Oudong lie just across the border in Kampong Speu, so a day trip can easily combine the two and still get you back to the city for dinner.
What to experience
Oudong (next door in Kampong Speu)
Oudong lies just across the provincial border in Kampong Speu, about 35 km north-west of Phnom Penh on National Road 5, so it pairs naturally with a Kandal day trip. It was a royal residence and Cambodia’s capital for more than 250 years, until 1866. Stupas holding royal remains line the ridge of Phnom Oudong, reached by long flights of steps, with views across the plains. It is an active religious site, so dress modestly.
Koh Dach
This island in the Mekong, a short trip from Phnom Penh, is known for silk weaving. Cycling its quiet lanes and watching weavers at their looms makes an easy half-day. Buy directly from weavers where you can.
Riverside picnic spots
Along the rivers near the city, local families rent simple huts over the water for weekend picnics. Joining them is a relaxed way to see how Phnom Penh residents spend their days off.
How long should you stay?
Most travellers visit Kandal on day trips from Phnom Penh. Koh Dach and Oudong (in neighbouring Kampong Speu) can each fill a half-day.
Getting to Kandal
How to get there
- Arrange your transport Ask your accommodation, a licensed guide or a local driver to arrange this.
- From Phnom Penh By road or by river. Most sites are an easy day trip.
- Around Kandal A tuk-tuk or hired car works for Koh Dach and the riverside; hire a car or join a tour for Oudong.
Ask your accommodation, a licensed guide or a local driver to arrange this. Cambodia Handbook is independent and not sponsored. Schedules change, so check the operator’s official website or office before you travel. Last checked 19 October 2026. See also transport booking and getting around Cambodia.
Planning notes
- Getting there: a tuk-tuk or hired car works for Koh Dach and the riverside; hire a car or join a tour for Oudong.
- At Oudong: go early to avoid the heat on the steps, and carry water.
- Fees and opening arrangements: confirm current details locally rather than relying on an old price or timetable online.
- Respect: dress modestly at pagodas, ask before photographing people and keep to marked paths at historic sites.
See also our two days in Phnom Penh itinerary.
Kandal FAQ
What is Kandal known for?
Koh Dach’s silk weaving, river life along the Mekong and Bassac, and easy day trips from Phnom Penh.
What is the capital of Kandal?
Ta Khmau, just south of Phnom Penh.
Is Oudong in Kandal?
No. Oudong, the former royal capital, is in Kampong Speu province, about 35 km north-west of Phnom Penh on National Road 5. It is easy to combine with a Kandal day trip.
Can you visit Kandal as a day trip from Phnom Penh?
Yes. Koh Dach and the riverside are a short trip from the city, and Oudong fits into the same day.
Nearby provinces
Continue into a neighbouring province. See all 25 on our provinces of Cambodia page.
Sources: geography from Kandal province (Wikipedia); Oudong, which is in Kampong Speu, from Oudong (Wikipedia) and the Tourism Cambodia travel guide. Last checked 4 October 2026.
Photos wanted. Have you been to Kandal recently? We would love a recent, wide photo taken in 2023 or later. Offer a photo.
Featured image: The view from Oudong in November 1964, by Don Christie, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.