| Koh Poulo Wai | |
| Local Name: | Koh Wai |
| Map: | Cambodia |
| Location: | Cambodia - South East Asia |
| Coordinates: | 9.9167°N 156°W |
| Area Km2: | 3.9 |
| Length Km: | 5.4 |
| Width Min Km: | 1.6 |
| Width Max Km: | 0.3 |
| Coastline Km: | 14 |
| Country: |  Cambodia |
| Country Admin Divisions Title: | Province |
| Country Admin Divisions: | Kampot |
| Country Admin Divisions Title 1: | District |
| Languages: | Khmer |
| Ethnic Groups: | Khmer |
Koh Wai, (Central Khmer: កោះពូលូវៃ), also known as Poulo Wai or the Wai Islands,[1] is a group of two small wooded and uninhabited islands in the Gulf of Siam. The islands are located far away from the shore, 95km (59miles) to the southwest of the coast of Preah Sihanouk Province, Cambodia. Administratively Koh Wai falls under Kampot Province. The Khmer word Koh (កោះ), means 'island' translated into English. Poulo Wai is of Malayan origin.[2]
Both islands are roughly 5 km long with a maximum width of about 1.51NaN1. They are located 1.41NaN1 from each other, separated by a channel of ¾ mile (0.751NaN1) wide. The depth of the channel is about 401NaN1. The west island is about 100m (300feet) at its south-western end. The eastern island is around 200order=flipNaNorder=flip and rock fringed.[3]
These islands were part of the basis of overlapping territorial claims between Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam; the three nations used differing methods of measuring the extent of their territorial waters from the islands.[4]
In May 1975, the area around these islands and nearby Koh Tang was the site of the Mayaguez incident, the last combat action of the Vietnam War, which involved the rescue of the SS Mayaguez.[5] One month later, Vietnam People's Army forces seized the islands and there was a battle between Khmer Rouge and Vietnamese troops over the control of the islands. Finally, the Vietnamese evacuated Koh Wai in August.[6]
The Koh Wai islands were for a long time off-limits to tourists, but now they can be visited in organized excursions. Since the trip is too long to go and come back in the same day, visitors usually stay overnight on one of the islands.[7]