Banlung Explained

Banlung
Native Name:Central Khmer: បានលុង
Pushpin Map:Cambodia
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1:Ratanakiri
Subdivision Type2:Municipality
Subdivision Name2:Banlung
Population As Of:2019
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population Total:30399
Timezone:ICT
Utc Offset:+7
Coordinates:13.7467°N 107.0044°W

Banlung (Central Khmer: បានលុង, in Central Khmer pronounced as /ɓaːnluŋ/) is the capital of Ratanakiri Province in northeastern Cambodia, and is 636 kilometres from the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh. Ratanakiri Province borders Vietnam and Laos.[2] Banlung had been previously known as Banlung district before it officially gained town status. The town has a population of around 17,000 and the surrounding district has a population of 23,888.

The town became the capital of Ratanakiri Province in 1979, following the fall of the Khmer Rouge. The capital was moved from Veun Sai to Banlung in order to facilitate trade with Vietnam (prior to Veun Sai, the capital was Lumphat).[3] Prior to 1979, Banlung was known as Labansiek.[2]

It is a relatively lively commercial centre; people from surrounding villages often come to the town market to sell their goods.[2]

Three kilometres west of Banlung are the Katieng Waterfalls, where Ratnakiri's last elephants are covered by a conservation programme operated by the Airavata Elephant Foundation.

Transportation

The most convenient way to reach Banlung is by road. It is well connected with its neighbouring cities such as Stung Treng, Kratie and Phnom Penh. One can fly into Phnom Penh International Airport and travel by road from there.[4]

Administration

Banlung city is divided into 4 sangkats (communes) which together contain 20 villages.

Sangkat Khmer Villages[5] [6] Population (2019)
Kachanh កាចាញ Phum Muoy, Phum Pir, Phum Bei, Phum Buon 6,453
Labansiek ឡាបានសៀក Phum Muoy, Phum Pir, Phum Bei, Phum Buon, Phum Pram, Phum Prammuoy, Phum Prampir (Village 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) 12,319
យក្ខឡោម Lon, Phnum, Sil, La Pou, Chri 3,755
Boeng Kansaeng បឹងកន្សែង Tes Anlung, Ou Konsaeng, Phnom Svay, Ou Kontil 7,872

Infrastructure

Electricity in Banlung is produced by the nearby O Chum 2 Hydropower Dam, but in the region only around 13% of homes have access to electricity.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: General Population Census of the Kingdom of Cambodia 2019 – Final Results. Ministry of Planning. National Institute of Statistics. 26 January 2021. 4 February 2021.
  2. Ray, Nick. Cambodia. Lonely Planet (2002), p315. .
  3. http://www.roughguides.com/travel/asia/cambodia/the-northeast/rattanakiri-province/banlung.aspx The Rough Guide to Cambodia
  4. Web site: Transport in Banlung. Tripcrafters. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190906063339/https://www.tripcrafters.com/travel/how-to-reach-ban-lung . 2019-09-06 .
  5. http://www.cambodia.gov.kh/unisql1/egov/english/province/ratanakiri.html "Ratanak Kiri Province"
  6. http://www.stats.nis.gov.kh/CENSUSES/villagegaz/p16.pdf "Final Population Totals, Rotanak Kiri Province, 1998"