KAMPONG LUONG
On the shimmering waters of Tonlé Sap—Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake—floats a remarkable community that seems to defy gravity and convention. Kampong Luong, one of Cambodia’s most fascinating floating villages, is not built on land but entirely on water. Here, homes, schools, shops, temples, and even pig pens drift gently with the currents.
A Village That Moves with the Water
Kampong Luong is located in Pursat Province and is home to thousands of people, many of whom are of Vietnamese and Khmer origin. Unlike stilt villages, where houses are built on tall wooden poles, this settlement truly floats. Homes are constructed on large wooden rafts or metal pontoons, allowing them to rise and fall with the dramatic seasonal changes of Tonlé Sap.
During the monsoon season, the lake expands up to five times its dry-season size. As water levels shift, the entire village relocates slightly, maintaining access to deeper water. Boats replace bicycles, and children row themselves to school just as others might walk down a street.
Life on Water
Daily life in Kampong Luong revolves around fishing. Tonlé Sap is one of the most productive freshwater fisheries in the world, providing food and livelihood to millions in Cambodia. Families cast nets at dawn, mend boats in the afternoon, and sell fresh catch at floating markets.
The village has everything needed for survival:
● Floating homes painted in bright blues and greens
● A floating school and small shops
● A Buddhist temple gently rocking with the waves
● Even floating fuel stations and basketball courts
● Water is not just scenery—it is the road, the market, and the playground.
Culture and Community
Despite the unusual setting, life here follows familiar rhythms of community and tradition. Festivals are celebrated with boat gatherings, neighbors help one another repair rafts, and children splash in the lake after school. The people of Kampong Luong have adapted ingeniously to their environment, developing a lifestyle deeply connected to the ecosystem of Tonlé Sap.
Challenges Beneath the Surface
However, life in a floating village is not without hardship. Seasonal flooding, declining fish stocks, environmental changes, and limited access to healthcare and clean water pose serious challenges. Climate change and upstream dam construction have also affected the lake’s natural flow, impacting livelihoods.
Yet resilience defines Kampong Luong. Generation after generation, families continue to live in harmony with the lake, preserving a unique way of life that has existed for centuries.
A Living Wonder
Kampong Luong is more than a tourist curiosity—it is a testament to human adaptability. In a world where most communities are anchored to land, this floating village reminds us that home is not defined by soil beneath our feet, but by the strength of community and the will to thrive wherever life takes us.
