 Situated about 292km from Phnom Penh, Battambang is Cambodia’s second largest city an elegant riverside town, with a population of perhaps 80,000. Quiet and serene, it was founded on the bank of the Stung Sangker river in the 11th century
This province has changed hands between Thailand and Cambodia on several occasions in the past few centuries. It was only returned to Cambodian control in 1907 and as recently as WWII the Thais cut a deal with the Japanses to take control again for several years. Before Cambodia's civil war Battambang was the largest and richest province in Cambodia, but ceded a large chunk of its territory to Banteay Meanchey for the creation of the new province.
It sheares a long border with Thailand and a short border with the Tonle Sap lake and is the fifth-largest province in the country.
 Battembang was untouched for much of the early 1970s, as fighting raged elsewhere around the country. For this reason the whole area was viewed with much suspicion by Khmer Rouge leaders and was the victim of successive central purges. Life was little better after the war, as the ongoing guerrilla war and the proliferation of thousands of land mines devastated the agricultural industry that had built the economy.
However, the province is slowly recovering as demining groups free up land for agriculture and the many refugees who returned here during the 1990s are permanently settled.
 Tourism has a lot of potential, as not only is the provincial capital a popular stop, but there are extensive examples of Angkorian heritage in the surrounding countryside. Travel around the province has traditionally been slow due to disastrous roads, but both NH5, passing through the heart of the province, and NH57 tp Pailin are undergoing comprehensive renovations.
It is home to interesting historical sited like Wat Ek Phnom, a temple built by Suryarvanam I (1002-1050) in the 11th Century, Wat Toul Baset which dates back to 7th century and Wat Poveal Museums which displays Khmer arts.
 And also home of the best-preserved colonial architecture in the country and some of the most hospitable Khmers you expect to meet. Due to its position near the Thai border the town has profited from large-scale black market trading. Fishing is secondary. There are three flights a week from Phnom Penh. You can ride the train from Phnom Penh to Battambang and some time even further up to Sisophon. If the track is blown up, the train runs only as far as Pursat. It can get pretty hot in summer. The train leaves from Phnom Penh at 6.30 every few days and arrives at Battambang at sunset.
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| Barseat temple | Wat Ek temple | Ba Nan temple | | Prasat Snung | Phnom Sam Peau resort | Boeng Kam Pinh Puoy resort | | Sek Sak resort |
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| | Baseat Temple | Was built during the reign of King, Soriyak Varman I (1002-1050) and located on a hill at Ba Set village, Ta Pun commune in 15-kilometer distance from the provincial town. Ba Set temple adapts the architecture of 11th century and built in 1036 and 1042. Next to the temple, there is a pond having 20-meter length 12-meter width and 10-meter depth. The pond is never dried, though in the dry season. In rainy season, the water level is higher than usual. |
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| | Wat Ek Temple |  Adapts the architecture of 11th century and built in 1027 during the reign of king, Sorayak Varman I (1002-1050).
It is located at Piem Ek commune in 14-kilometer distance from the provincial town. |
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| | Ba Nan Temple | Adapts the architecture of mid 11th century and the end of 12th century the temple was first built by king, Ut Tak Yea Tit Tya Varman II (1050-1066) and then was finally built by the king, Jarvarman VII (1181-1219). The temple is located on the top of approximate 400-meter heighten mountain at Kon Tey 2 commune, Ba Nan District in 25-kilometer distance from the provincial town by the provincial Road No 155 parallel to Sang Ke River. At the mountain’s valley, there are Ku Teuk and two main natural wells, namely: Bit Meas and Chhung or Chhung Achey |
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| | Prasat Snung | Characterizes as three separated stupas made of brick, located on a hill having 30-meter length and 20-meter width, in Snung pagoda’s area, Snung commune, Ba Nan District in 22-kilometer distance from the provincail town. According to the style at the gate, the temple is similar to other temples in 12th century. Behind the temple, there is another new constructing temple. |
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| | Phnom Sam Peau Resort | Is the natural resort located along the National Road No 57 (the former National Road No 10) at Sam Puoy commune (the high land having more than 100-meter height) in 12-kilometer distance from the provincial town of Batambang. On the top of Sam Puoy mountain, there are temple and three natural wells, namely: Pkar Slar, Lo Khuon and Ak So Pheak. Next to Sam Puoy Mountain, there are some main mountains, the natural sites like Phnom Trung Moan, Phnom Trung Tea and Phnom Neang Rum Say Sork. These mountains related to the Cambodia folk legend of Reach Kol Neang Run Say Sork. |
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| | Boeng Kam Pinh Resort | | Locates between two mountains, named Phnom Kul or Phnom Ta Nget and Phnom Kam Pinh Puoy, at Ta Nget village, Ta Kriem Commune in 35-kilometer distance from the provincial town. Boeng Kam Pinh Puoy has 1,900-meter width, 19-kilometer length and can load 110,000,000-cubic meter water. |
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| | Sek Sak Resort | Is the natural resort, which has been popular since before the civil war time. Sek Sak Stretches along the river bank full of plant, trees and bamboo-green nature in 500-meter length. As long as visiting Sek Sak, tourists can also visit other attractive sites like Po Pus Pich Chen Da Dong Tong and Sa Ang speak, the pre-history site in five-kilometer to six-kilometer distance from each other. Sek Sak located Treng commune, Rotanak Mondul District in 50-kilometer distance from the provincial town of Batambang along the National Road No 57, the former National Road No 10. |
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