Cambodia’s incredible water-based society – floating houseboats, schools, police stations...

Reporter Chen Ziying / Comprehensive Report

When thinking about traveling to Cambodia, one might first think of Angkor Wat, but on the shores of Tonlé Sap Lake near Siem Reap, there exists a unique “water-based society” featuring things like floating houseboats, floating schools, floating sports fields, floating factories, and even a floating police station – almost forming a distinctive world of its own. It’s an absolute must-see when visiting Cambodia!
 
Located about 20 kilometers from Angkor Wat, Tonlé Sap Lake sees villagers living their lives entirely adapted to the water. Virtually every imaginable social activity takes place on the lake, in a relaxed and carefree manner, resembling a “floating village.”


▲ The unique “water-based society” on Tonlé Sap Lake in Siem Reap, Cambodia. (Image and information source /Hongyi Travel Agency)

The Tonlé Sap Lake where the villagers reside is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, with its surface area expanding to tens of thousands of square kilometers during the rainy season. Around 2,500 people live along the shores of Tonlé Sap Lake. Most residents here live in houseboats. Before building their own floating homes, they must clear aquatic weeds from the water. They also have to relocate according to the rise and fall of the lake’s water level, sometimes moving as many as ten times a year. Some live in small stilt houses that can be easily dismantled and carried away when needed. This not only makes relocation convenient but also helps prevent snake attacks. When the water rises, they move to shallower areas; when the water recedes, they use the moist land to grow rice. They are truly a people living on the water. The adaptability and ability of these “water-based families” to coexist with nature is truly remarkable!


▲ Most residents here live in houseboats, while some live in stilt houses. (Image and information source /Hongyi Travel Agency)