Digital Nomad Anlong Veng Travel Guide
OK, so there is no Digital Nomad Anlong Veng scene and you should only move here if you know a bit of Cambodian and are really interested in Khmer Rouge history.
If you can navigate these points though, there are few places in Cambodia more interesting than Anlong Veng.
Table of Contents
What the Anlong Veng?
Anlong Veng is a small border town in northern Cambodia near the Thai border, with a population of roughly 35,000–40,000 people in the town and surrounding district. It is most famous as one of the last strongholds of the Khmer Rouge, only fully reintegrated into Cambodia in 1999 after the final collapse of the movement.
The area was once controlled by Ta Mok and other senior Khmer Rouge figures, and many of the leadership were buried here. Today it is a quiet, remote frontier town with a heavy historical legacy and very little development beyond basic services and trade.
Click to read about the Xi’an nomad scene.
Cost of living in Anlong Veng
Anlong Veng is still cheap, but not in the “backpacker fantasy” sense people sometimes imagine unless you are living very simply. It is more basic rural Cambodia than expat hub.
Rent:
Basic room / guesthouse: $80–$150 per month
Standard furnished apartment: $150–$300 per month
Better house (limited availability): $300–$600 per month
Internet:
Home fibre: $20–$50 per month
Mobile data backup: $5–$15 per month
Food:
Local Khmer meal: $2–$4
Western meal: $5–$10 (limited availability)
Weekly groceries: $25–$60
Going out:
Light social life: $30–$100 per month
Heavy lifestyle: $100–$250 per month (very limited options)
Total monthly cost:
Budget: $300–$600
Comfortable: $600–$1,000
High-end expat living: $1,000–$1,500+
The Digital Nomad Anlong Veng scene
There is not only no Digital Nomad Anlong Veng scene, but almost no cafés nor expats, save a few NGO and Khmer Rouge historical work. There is though decent internet in most of town and extremely cheap living.
The Anlong Veng Nightlife and food scene
You do not come to Anlong Veng for nightlife! This is rural, quiet Khmer living. There are a couple of small local bars, as well as massage places, but aside from street food stalls and basic restaurants there is not much else going on.
There is at least one basic Western-style restaurant, as well as strong local street food, particularly Khmer beef BBQ and grilled meats.
What is there to see and do in Anlong Veng guide?
Since the closure of the casino and indeed the border everything to see and do is based around the Khmer Rouge past, with Anlong Veng being the capital of the last Khmer Rouge state.
Ta Mok’s House
The former lakeside home of Ta Mok, better known as “The Butcher”, was one of the main command centres of the final Khmer Rouge administration. The house has largely been preserved and still contains a number of original features, making it one of the most important Khmer Rouge sites in Cambodia.
Pol Pot’s Cremation Site
Perhaps the best known attraction in Anlong Veng, this simple cremation site marks where Pol Pot was cremated after his death in 1998. It remains a surprisingly modest place considering the importance of the man in Cambodian history.
Ta Mok’s Grave
Located not far from his former house, Ta Mok’s grave is another key stop for those interested in Khmer Rouge history. Unlike Pol Pot’s cremation site, this is an actual burial site and is regularly visited by history enthusiasts.
Son Sen’s Grave
The grave of senior Khmer Rouge leader Son Sen, who was executed on Pol Pot’s orders shortly before the movement collapsed. It is a lesser visited site but forms part of the story of the Khmer Rouge’s final internal power struggle.
Anlong Veng Peace Centre
Run by DC-Cam, the Peace Centre provides excellent background on the history of the Khmer Rouge in Anlong Veng and the area’s transition from insurgent capital to peaceful provincial town. It is easily the best place to understand what you are actually looking at.
Khmer Rouge Headquarters Area
Scattered around the hills outside town are the remains of the final Khmer Rouge headquarters, including defensive positions, command areas and various ruins from the movement’s last years.
Pol Pot’s House Site
The remains of Pol Pot’s final residence sit in the Dangrek Mountains overlooking the Cambodian plains. Although little survives of the building itself, the location gives a real feel for why this area was chosen as the Khmer Rouge’s final stronghold.
Ta Mok’s Mountain Bunker
Hidden in the Dangrek Mountains are bunkers used by Ta Mok during the final years of the insurgency. Some remain in surprisingly good condition and can still be explored.
Pol Pot’s Bunker
Located close to the Thai border, this bunker formed part of the defensive network protecting the Khmer Rouge leadership. Much of it has been reclaimed by nature but remains an important historical stop.
The Dangrek Escarpment Viewpoints
The escarpment overlooking Thailand was strategically vital during the Khmer Rouge years, allowing supplies and personnel to move across the frontier. Today it offers some of the best views in northern Cambodia.
O Smach Border
Although technically outside Anlong Veng town, many visitors combine the trip with nearby O Smach. The border crossing remains an important trading point and gives an idea of how close the Khmer Rouge leadership remained to Thailand during their final years.
Former Khmer Rouge Zone
Simply driving around Anlong Veng reveals former military positions, abandoned camps, old checkpoints and villages that once formed the last de facto Khmer Rouge state. While many are unmarked, they help complete the picture of one of the most unusual places in modern Cambodian history.
Can you work in Anlong Veng?
As I state in the next section getting a work permit and visa in Cambodia is very easy, but this is not the same as getting a job. Jobs in Anlong Veng for foreigners are few and far between being mostly linked to NGO’s and DC-CAM, with some teaching ones potentially available.
Getting a visa and opening a company in Cambodia Guide
I will not go into crazy detail about these two points as I have largely covered them in other articles, bit basically as things stand you can simply buy a work visa in Cambodia. This allows you not just to live in the country without hassle, but also open a bank account and thus be able to use ABA Pay. This is a big deal.
Alas opening a company is not nearly as traughtfzoward as getting a work permit in Cambodia. Technically it can be done online, but in reality it is a few grand to set up and probably $500 a month to maintain, with the associated tax implications!
Click to read about the Thai digital nomad visa vs a Cambodian work visa!
Getting in and out of Anlong Veng Guide
There is no airport or railway station in Anlong Veng, so you have little choice but to travel by road. Fortunately the highways are now in decent condition and buses, shared taxis and private cars all serve the town. The nearest airports are in Siem Reap and, on the Thai side, Surin and Buriram, although most international visitors arrive via Phnom Penh or Siem Reap.
Typical travel:
- Phnom Penh to Anlong Veng by bus: 8–10 hours ($15–$25)
- Phnom Penh to Anlong Veng by shared taxi: 7–8 hours ($20–$35)
- Phnom Penh to Anlong Veng by private taxi: 6–7 hours ($120–$180)
- Siem Reap to Anlong Veng by bus: 3.5–5 hours ($8–$12)
- Siem Reap to Anlong Veng by shared taxi: 3–4 hours ($10–$15)
- Siem Reap to Anlong Veng by private taxi: 2.5–3.5 hours ($50–$70)
- Sisophon to Anlong Veng by bus/minibus: 3–4 hours ($6–$10)
- Sisophon to Anlong Veng by taxi: 2.5–3 hours ($35–$50)
- O Smach Border to Anlong Veng by taxi: 30–45 minutes ($10–$15)
- O Smach Border to Anlong Veng by moto or tuk tuk: 45–60 minutes ($5–$10)
Regional routes:
- Anlong Veng to Siem Reap: 3.5–5 hours ($8–$12)
- Anlong Veng to Phnom Penh: 8–10 hours ($15–$25)
- Anlong Veng to Bangkok via O Smach Border: 7–9 hours depending on the border crossing ($20–$40)
- Anlong Veng to Surin (Thailand): 3–4 hours via O Smach ($10–$20)
- Anlong Veng to Banteay Chhmar: 3–4 hours by road ($10–$20)
Click to read about the worst cities in Vietnam.
The Digital Nomad Anlong Score
So as stated I personally love Anlong Veng and have spent a lot of time here. But, two things can be true at once and this is no digital nomad destination unless you are truly hardcore.It is though touristically one of the best places you can travel to in Cambodia.
Digital Nomad Kampot score – 3/10 – Only for mentalists, but well worth a visit.
Click to check my Cambodia Tours with YPT.