Just two hours from Phnom Penh lies Kampong Chhnang province, home to some of Cambodia's most beautiful traditional wooden architecture. These stilted houses, many over a century old, represent a vanishing way of life that combines practical adaptation to seasonal flooding with intricate craftsmanship.

This guide introduces the emerging homestay network in Kampong Chhnang, where travelers can experience authentic rural Cambodian life by staying with families in their traditional wooden homes. From learning local cooking techniques to participating in seasonal agricultural activities, these immersive experiences offer insights into Cambodian culture that most tourists never encounter.

The Chey Oudom family homestay offers guests a spacious room in their 120-year-old wooden house, complete with traditional furnishings and sweeping views of rice fields from the elevated veranda. Mrs. Chey, a talented cook, specializes in local river fish dishes and teaches guests how to prepare prahok, Cambodia's distinctive fermented fish paste.

During your stay, you can join family members as they tend to vegetable gardens, fish in nearby streams, or create traditional handicrafts. Evening activities often include informal Khmer language lessons and traditional music played by village elders who gather on the family's expansive porch.

Traditional Khmer wooden houses feature distinctive architectural elements designed for Cambodia's tropical climate and seasonal flooding. The elevated main floor typically sits 2-3 meters above ground level, allowing flood waters to pass underneath while providing a cooler living space above.

These houses are constructed without nails, using intricate joinery techniques passed down through generations. Interior spaces are divided by function, with the eastern side typically reserved for ancestor shrines and receiving guests. Most houses feature wide verandas that serve as social spaces during cooler evening hours and provide protection from heavy seasonal rains.