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Serei Saophoan (city)

geography Maturity 5-7 Next article →

Serei Saophoan is a very important city in Cambodia. It is the capital of the Banteay Meanchey Province. This city is also the fourth largest city in the whole country. Two major roads meet right here in the city. These are known as National Highway 5 and National Highway 6.

Because these roads meet, the city is a busy place. It helps people travel across the region.

Many people use different names for this city. The government uses the name Serei Saophoan. However, most people call it Sisophon instead. This name comes from the Thai word Si Sophon. In the old Sanskrit language, it meant beautiful or bright.

Some workers also use a shorter nickname. Truck drivers and train drivers often call it Svay. No one knows exactly where the name Svay came from.

This place has a very long history. Long ago, it was just a small village. The village was called Phum Svay. This name meant the village of mango trees. It was also called Phum Ta Svay. This meant the village of Grandfather Svay.

You can still see these old names today. A nearby hill is called Phnom Svay. People also use the name Svay-Sisophon locally.

There are many interesting facts about the city's size. In 1998, there were 61,482 people living there. By the year 2008, the number was 61,631.

The population did not change much in those years. A city called Poipet is now larger than Serei Saophoan. The city is also close to ancient history. About forty minutes away, you can find temple ruins. These ruins are called Banteay Chmar.

These old temples are very special to visit. They were built during the reign of Jayavarman VII. This happened in the late 12th or early 13th century.

Visiting these ruins helps people learn about the past. Serei Saophoan stays connected to these ancient times. It is a place where modern roads meet old history. It is a key part of the Banteay Meanchey Province.

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