Stay in the embrace of nature at Ratanakiri, Cambodia
Situated in the northeastern corner of Cambodia, where the
Indochina Triangle (Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia) is, Ratanakiri
is home of the country natural heritage and cultural diversity
of multi-ethnicity population. The natural and ecological
features of the province remain largely untouched, and the old
style living of the indigenous people has changed little over
the past time even development is starting to take place with
the increasing in-migration of the lowland Cambodians.
Of the population of 77,000; about 80 per cent is non-Khmer
Cambodians. They are Lao, Tampuan, Kreung, Jorai, Kachok, Preuw,
Kavet, Chinese, Vietnamese, and some others. People of Tampuan,
Jorai, Kreung, Preuw, Kavet, and Kachok ethnic groups
(hilltribes belonging to Mon-Khmer group) have their own
languages, and still practise slash and burn agriculture. These
Upper Khmer (Khmer Leu as called by lowland Khmers) are animist
and still have strong belief in spiritual influence. The
province also offers the breath-taking and stunning natural
features, such as the Yaklom volcanic lake, countless number of
water falls (some believed to be waiting for you to discover and
name them!), beautiful hilly landscape, and a variety of flora
and fauna in the tropical rain forest. This makes the province
ideal place for ecotourism and those nature lovers. Places to
visit and things to see: Ratanakiri is a large province and
almost all of the areas is covered by forest, and uninhabited.
This reveals that natural resources and ecological systems are
largely remaining undiscovered and undisturbed by man. Something
that many are worried that if no timely and appropriate measures
are enforced, the similar thing may take place as those in
Cambodia neighbors the over-exploitation and subsequent
degradation (or even extinction) of natural resources and
ecological systems. In order to help Cambodia to be able to keep
this cradle of ecosystem, we therefore urge all visitors,
including our guests, to keep in mind of this fragile resources,
and hence apply the ecotourism approach when visiting the
province. The following are some of the places that should be
visited. Of course, there are many things in many places of
Ratanakiri that awaits your discovery.