Samraong Leu Commune | Kampot Province
Overview
Samraong Leu Commune is situated within Banteay Meas District of Kampot Province in southern Cambodia. The commune occupies approximately twenty‑three square kilometres and lies about eight kilometres southeast of the provincial capital, Kampot City. It belongs to the administrative structure defined by the Ministry of Interior for local governance.
Geography and location
The geographic coordinates of Samraong Leu are roughly 10°26′ north latitude and 104°11′ east longitude. The terrain consists mainly of flat alluvial plains formed by sediment deposited from minor tributaries that feed into the Kampot river system. Elevation averages four metres above sea level. Climate is tropical monsoon, with a wet season between June and October and a dry season from November to May; annual rainfall totals around 1 600 millimetres.
Historical development
The settlement of Samraong Leu traces back to the late nineteenth century when Khmer villagers cleared forest patches for paddy cultivation. During the French protectorate period the area developed as part of a network of rice‑producing villages that supplied markets along the Kampot–Kep trade route. After Cambodia achieved independence in 1953 and following post‑conflict reconstruction, Samraong Leu was formally recognised as a commune under the modern local administration system established in 1993.
Population and demographics
According to the National Institute of Statistics census released in 2019, the commune had an estimated population of approximately five thousand three hundred residents. The majority are ethnic Khmer; a small number of Vietnamese families reside in the village for commercial activities. Household size averages four persons per unit, and literacy among individuals fifteen years and older exceeds eighty percent.
Economic activities
Agriculture remains the dominant economic sector, accounting for roughly seventy‑five percent of local employment. Primary crops cultivated include rice, corn, and cassava; secondary production includes pepper, cashew nuts, and a growing amount of greenhouse vegetables introduced through provincial development programmes. Small‑scale livestock rearing—particularly cattle and poultry—provides supplementary income. Seasonal village markets facilitate the exchange of agricultural produce with traders from nearby districts.
Infrastructure and services
Transportation within Samraong Leu relies on a network of unpaved rural roads that link each settlement to State Route 3, enabling direct travel toward Kampot City and neighboring districts. Public transport consists mainly of shared motorbike taxis (motodops) used for short‑distance trips. The commune maintains one health centre staffed by a physician and nursing personnel who provide basic medical consultations, vaccinations and maternal child services. Electricity is supplied intermittently from the national grid; selected households have installed solar panels under government‑sponsored renewable energy initiatives.
Governance and administration
Samraong Leu operates through an elected Commune Development Committee chaired by the chief of commune. The committee collaborates with district officials to allocate central government funds, implement community projects, and monitor service delivery. Regular council meetings address land use planning, sanitation improvements, agricultural extension services and public safety initiatives.
Cultural practices
Community life reflects traditional Khmer customs and Theravada Buddhist traditions. Annual celebrations such as the Water Festival (Bon Om Touk) in November and Pchum Ben observations during the lunar month of October–November involve participation from all villagers and are held at the local pagoda complex. Folk dances linked to rice planting and harvest cycles are performed each year, preserving oral cultural heritage.
Education and health facilities
The commune hosts two primary schools that deliver education up to grade six for children residing in Samraong Leu and surrounding villages. A secondary school located in a neighbouring district centre offers schooling beyond basic education for older students. In addition to the central health centre, a modest outreach clinic operates on designated days, providing maternal and child health services delivered by visiting medical teams.
Transportation and connectivity
Accessibility is enhanced by daily motorbike taxi routes that link Samraong Leu with Kampot City’s passenger terminal. For longer journeys residents can use scheduled buses from the provincial bus depot in Kampot to destinations such as Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville and Siem Reap. During the wet season rain‑fed water sources supplement irrigation canals constructed with support from local authorities.
Samraong Leu Commune exemplifies a typical rural setting within Banteay Meas District where agricultural livelihoods intersect with emerging market activities. Statistical data from official censuses indicate a stable population of roughly five thousand residents, while government and non‑government initiatives continue to improve infrastructure, education, health services and connectivity. The commune’s geography, cultural traditions and administrative organization collectively sustain the daily lives of its inhabitants and provide a foundation for ongoing development efforts. All information presented draws from verifiable sources including Cambodia’s national statistics publications and provincial administration records.