Situated midway between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, Kampong Thom is a bustling commercial center (kampong means “village” or “river side” and thom means “great”). It features picturesque architecture and friendly people, and is surrounded by grasslands and rice fields—this area is pivotal for wildlife conservation. Kampong Thom province is the second largest in Cambodia. Many visitors use Kampong Thom as a base from which to explore the pre-Angkorian Chenla capital of Sambor Prei Kuk, or visit the remote temples of Preah Khan and Prasat Preah Vihear.