Koh Rong Sankranta was scheduled for three days, April 11–13, 2026, at ឡងសឹត Beach in Koh Rong sangkat, Koh Rong municipality, Preah Sihanouk province. Provincial Governor Mang Sineth and his wife opened the festivities on the afternoon of April 11.
Mang Sineth said the event aimed to promote Koh Rong to domestic and international visitors and encourage more visits during Khmer New Year, other national holidays and other breaks. It also sought to deepen appreciation of the Khmer people’s fine traditions and customs handed down since ancient times, and of Koh Rong’s diverse potential.
Describing the tradition, the governor said Khmer New Year was one of the Khmer people’s major festivals, celebrated annually beginning on April 13 or 14 and during the following holiday period around April 15–16. People mark the beginning of a new year and wish one another health, auspiciousness, success and happiness. He described the three traditional days as Maha Sankranta (មហាសង្ក្រាន្ត), Virak Vanabat (វារៈវ័នបត) and Loeng Sak (ឡើងស័ក).
He described customs including preparing offerings to welcome the New Year deity, offering food to monks, inviting monks to chant and dedicate merit to ancestors, and gathering with family and descendants. People give clothes, cakes and money to parents, grandparents and benefactors, enjoy artistic performances, the Trot dance and social dancing, and play traditional games including សេ្តចចង់, ចោលឈូង, ចាប់កូនខ្លែង, លោតអន្ទាក់, លាក់កន្សែង, បោះអង្គុញ, ទាញព្រ័ត្រ (tug of war), រាវបង្កង, បាយខុំ and ចត្រង្គ (Khmer chess). In his view, these games benefit body and mind, exercise the eyes, legs and hands, build strength and help develop alert thinking, intelligence and courage. He described them as part of ancient Khmer civilisation, saying Cambodia, as a country with a long history in Southeast Asia, had created many traditional games.
The governor added that Koh Rong was a community of people of different nationalities, developing rapidly across sectors, particularly tourism, which he described as an important engine for the local economy and people’s livelihoods. He highlighted its biodiversity, attractive environment and nature, and its ecological, socioeconomic, cultural and traditional value. He listed blue seas, marine animals, seagrass, coral, sea fish, creeks, mangroves, plains, plateaus, mountains, slopes, waterfalls and other biodiversity as potential and foundations for socioeconomic development. He described Koh Rong as a popular coastal and island destination and said millions of domestic and international tourists visited for recreation each year.
He hoped residents and visitors would experience affection, smiles, safety and warmth, with unforgettable memories. He encouraged patriotism, self-reliance, personal effort and a stronger sense of ownership in jointly protecting and building the country and homeland.
Koh Rong Mayor រាជ សុវណ្ណ said Koh Rong Sankranta and the celebration at ព្រែកស្វាយ pagoda would run from their opening through the end of the New Year festivities. Activities included jicama-eating games, pot breaking, sack races, wrapping ansam rice cakes and making bamboo sticky rice. He invited domestic and international tourists to attend, saying rooms on the island had already been fully booked and describing security and safety on the island as good.
Text: Pai Sokhim.
Photos: Teav Vichat.
