Senmonorom ( km, សែនមនោរម្យ; ) is the capital of the province of Mondulkiri,

Cambodia Cambodia (; also Kampuchea ; km, កម្ពុជា, UNGEGN: ), officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochinese Peninsula in Southeast Asia, spanning an area of , bordered by Thailand t ...

. It is the only major town in the province. The town has over 10,000 inhabitants, and is often compared to frontier towns in the

old American west The American frontier, also known as the Old West or the Wild West, encompasses the geography, history, folklore, and culture associated with the forward wave of American expansion in mainland North America that began with European colonial ...

. Senmonorom (and the Mondulkiri province in general) is inhabited by the indigenous

Bunong people The Bunong (alternatively Phnong, Punong, or Pnong)Smith, P. (2010). ''The Bunong Culture of Silence: Exploring Bunong perspectives on participation at the interface between Bunong culture and development organisations.'' are an indigenous Cam ...

. Bunong tribesmen and tribeswomen are often seen walking along major highways. The town is popular with NGO workers, loggers, and tourists both from outside Cambodia and from Cambodia's capital

Phnom Penh Phnom Penh (; km, ភ្នំពេញ, ) is the capital and most populous city of Cambodia. It has been the national capital since the French protectorate of Cambodia and has grown to become the nation's primate city and its economic, indus ...

. According to reports from

Global Witness Global Witness is an international NGO established in 1993 that works to break the links between natural resource exploitation, conflict, poverty, corruption, and human rights abuses worldwide. The organisation has offices in London and Washingt ...

, the Mondulkiri province is facing a significant threat from illegal loggers attempting to exploit the area's virgin forests. Protected areas close to Sen Monorom include

Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary ( Khmer: ដែនជម្រកសត្វព្រៃកែវសីមា) is a protected area of mixed seasonal tropical forest in eastern Cambodia, located in Mondulkiri and Kratié provinces. The area was f ...

Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary ( km, ដែនជម្រកសត្វព្រៃភ្នំព្រេច) is a large protected area in eastern Cambodia that was established in 1993. It is part of maybe the largest protected area complex i ...

, and Srepok Wildlife Sanctuary. Due to rapid development, as well as mania caused by real estate speculation, land prices in Sen Monorom have boomed. Lots that cost $150 in 2008 went for three or four times as much two years later in 2010. Doh Kromum Mountain (translated as "Virtuous Woman's Breast Mountain") is a breast-shaped hill located close to Senmonorom. Members of the Bunong ethnic group ascribe divine powers to the hill and every year hold festivals in the location.Vicheka Lay, ''An introduction to Cambodia''s hidden resorts''
The Free Library.

References

External links

* {{coord, 12, 27, N, 107, 12, E, display=title, region:KH_type:city_source:GNS-enwiki Provincial capitals in Cambodia Towns in Cambodia Populated places in Mondulkiri province