Kep

Originally known as Kep-sur-Mer, this town was once the premier luxury destination for the French elite and the Cambodian upper class during the 1950s and 1960s. The town was designed as a modern coastal retreat, featuring elegant villas and seaside mansions that reflected the optimism of post-independence Cambodia. It became a playground for high-society gatherings before the onset of conflict in the 1970s. The rise of the Khmer Rouge led to a period of decline, during which many of the town's grand structures were destroyed or abandoned. Today, the ruins of these villas stand as silent, eerie testaments to the town's former glory. Over the last decade, Kep has seen a modest revival, balancing its dark history with a growing reputation as a peaceful getaway that highlights local culinary traditions like the famous Kep crab.