Oudong Me Chey

Oudong Me Chey (sometimes Oudong Mae Chey) (Khmer: ឧដុង្គម៉ែជ័យ,,) a city located in Kampong Speu province, Cambodia. The city was officially established by sub‑decree on 22 December 2022 as part of a nationwide administrative reorganization that created three new municipalities, alongside Arey Ksat and Sompov Poun. Oudong Me Chey was formed by reorganizing part of the former Oudong District into a municipal administration, comprising five communes with its administrative center in Veal Pong.

History

Oudong in the Post-Angkorian Period

Oudong (sometimes Romanized as Udong) served as the royal capital of Cambodia for much of the 17th to 19th centuries, following the decline of Longvek and preceding the relocation of the capital to Phnom Penh. The site is historically significant for its royal stupas and monuments, including the Oudong Mountain stupas, which contain the remains of several Cambodian kings and are a major cultural and religious landmark.

During the Khmer Rouge Regime Between 1975 and 1979, the Khmer Rouge regime caused significant disruption in the area that now forms Oudong Me Chey. Many of the royal stupas and monuments in Oudong were damaged or neglected, and the local population was forcibly relocated as part of nationwide collectivization policies.

Modern Administration

In the late 20th century, the area around Oudong (Odongk) remained a largely rural district within Kampong Speu province. On 23 December 2022, the Royal Government of Cambodia issued a sub‑decree establishing Oudong Me Chey City as part of a nationwide administrative reorganization that created three new municipalities, alongside Sompov Poun and Arey Ksat. Oudong Me Chey was formed by reorganizing part of the former Oudong District into a municipal administration to enhance local governance and support urban and administrative development in the region.

Geography Oudong Me Chey City is located in the northern part of Kampong Speu Province, Cambodia, approximately 40 km northwest of Phnom Penh. The municipality is bordered by the remaining area of Oudong District to the south and east, Samaki Monichey District to the west, Kandal Province to the northeast, and Kampong Chhnang Province to the north. The terrain is generally flat to gently undulating, with some low hills in the northern part of the city.

The city lies within the Mekong River basin and features a tropical wet and dry climate. Waterways and small tributaries in the area support local agriculture and small-scale fishing activities. Vegetation is dominated by rice paddies, secondary forest patches, and plantation crops.

Demographic

As of the 2019 Cambodian general population census, the total population of the communes that now form Oudong Me Chey City was approximately 53,586.

The population of each commune is as follows: +Population of each division in Oudong Me CheyCommuneRomanizationPopulation (2019)សង្កាត់វាំងចាស់Sangkat Vaing Chas 6,812សង្កាត់ត្រាចទង់Sangkat Trach Tong9,149សង្កាត់ព្រះស្រែSangkat Preah Sre10,998សង្កាត់ក្សេមក្សាន្តSangkat Ksem Ksan11,413សង្កាត់វាលពង់Sangkat Veal Pong15,214

Administration Oudong Me Chey City consists of five communes (sangkats): សង្កាត់វាំងចាស់ (Vaing Chas) សង្កាត់ត្រាចទង (Trach Tong) សង្កាត់ព្រះស្រែ (Preah Sre) សង្កាត់ក្សេមក្សាន (Ksem Ksan) សង្កាត់វាលពង់ (Veal Pong)

Transportation Oudong Me Chey City is served by major national highways that connect it to other parts of Cambodia. The municipality has access to National Road 5, which links Phnom Penh with Kampong Chhnang, Pursat and Battambang, forming part of the Asian Highway Network. National Road 51 also passes through the area, providing a direct connection between National Road 4 and National Road 5 and facilitating travel to Kandal and Kampong Speu provinces. South of its junction with National Road 4, the route continues as National Road 41, providing onward connections toward southern provinces.

Tourism Oudong Me Chey City is known for its historical and religious sites associated with the former royal capital of Oudong. The city contains several royal stupas and Buddhist monasteries, which are important centers of religious activity and cultural heritage.

Annual religious ceremonies are held at these sites, drawing both local pilgrims and domestic visitors. The hilltop complexes also offer panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, making them a significant attraction for those interested in Cambodia's history and religious traditions.

Gallery

Oudong Me Chey

Bron en licentie