Banteay Meanchey is a Cambodian province in the northwest of the country, and its capital is named Sisophon. This town had passed through much chaos in the past to become a quite place like nowadays. Like Siem Reap and Battambang Provinces, this small capital had witnessed many power struggles to control the land between the Thais and the Khmers in the more distant past, and the Khmer Rouge and central Phnom Penh government in recent decades. With the final collapse of the Khmer Rouge, the province and towns are striving for their cultural and economic reconstruction.
This is a friendly place with hospitality and kindness of the locals.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 and Preah Khan that features the well-knowntetragonal monuments.
This area was an extension part of the Khmer Empire. Its most prominent remains is the Banteay Chhmar temple (built in 12th and 13th century) in the north of the province. In the 17th century the Siam took control over Cambodia, and made the area of the modern province part of Sisophon Province. In the year 1907 the Siam had to cede control to the French, and the area was then included into Battambang Province. In 1988 the province Banteay Meanchey was separated from Battambang
