Sisophorn Town, Banteay Meanchey Travel Package Tours, Cambodia Tour Information Hotel Guide

SISOPHORN OVERVIEW

The town of Sisophorn in Banteay Meanchey Province is today a charming, quiet place that only gives hints to its turbulent past upon closer examination. Like Siem Reap and Battambang Provinces, control of the province has changed hands many times between the Thais and the Khmers in the more distant past, ant the Khmer Rouge and central Phnom Penh government in recent decades. With the final demise of the Khmer Rouge (locals, however, firmly believe the Present national reconciliation only the Khmer Rouge trick), the province and town are striving to rebuild their culture and economy. This is a very friendly place with the locals genuinely happy to see foreign faces and the stability that it implies. Normally just a passing-through spot on the way to the border, or between Battambang and Siem Reap, the area has a few sights that warrant a visit, such the Banteay Chhmar temple ruins, the only other Khmer temple ruins besides the Bayon (Angkor) and Preah Khan ( Preah Vihear Province ) that features the famous four-faced monuments.

History
In past time, Sisophon was changwat Province of Thailand. In 1906 it was ceded to French Indochina and is now part of Cambodia and known as Banteay Meanchey. During the 16th Century and beyond, Sisophon was known as Srey Saophoan meaning in Khmer "Beautiful Lady" and it was a small district, belonging in Battambang Province. Onward to the 17th century, the Siamese later known to the world as Thai, took over Battambang Province, Siem Reap Province in a successful military campaign. Battambang Province and Siem Reap province was renamed as Phra Dambang and Siam Nakorn respectfully. Therefore, Srey Saophoan was renamed as Srisophon in the Siamese/Thai language. When the French imperialists came in the 1900s, the Siamese were forced to cede Battambang Province and Siem Reap Province back to Cambodia. Therefore, the name of these province were changed back to their Khmer names. Srisophon was changed officialy back to Serey Saophoan meaning in Khmer "Beautiful Freedom" as implying freedom from the Siamese control for a long time of nearly 200 years. After the Khmer Rouge reign, Battambang Province was broken up into two provinces. Those provinces are the remaining Battambang Province and Banteay Meanchey Province.