By PressXpress Editorial Team | Phnom Penh – July 2025
A Province Reconnected
Once considered one of Cambodia’s most remote and underdeveloped provinces, Preah Vihear is undergoing a quiet transformation – thanks to a historic push in road infrastructure that’s stitching the northern plateau back into the nation’s economic and political grid.
With more than 400 kilometers of highway under active development and three national routes upgraded, Preah Vihear is no longer a backwater. It is becoming a strategic gateway between Phnom Penh, Kampong Thom, and Thailand’s Sisaket Province.
Road Infrastructure Snapshot
– NR6 (Phnom Penh to Skun): 125 km, 100% complete
– NR62 (Kampong Thom to Preah Vihear): 150 km, 95% complete
– NR64 (Pursat to Preah Vihear): 185 km, 60% complete
According to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT), the NR62 upgrade alone will cut travel time by 1.5 hours and reduce transportation costs by over 22% for agricultural goods moving southward.
Economic Ripple Effects
– Cargo Flow: New routes can support 1,200+ trucks/week (est. 2025), up from just 300/week in 2019.
– Cross-Border Trade: Faster movement toward Choam Khsant border gate opens opportunities for legal timber, cassava, and tourism goods.
– Agriculture Access: Roads have connected 28,000+ farming households to larger markets and seasonal supply chains.
“For years, Preah Vihear’s development was stalled by its isolation. That is no longer the case. Road connectivity is our new foundation,” – H.E. Kim Rithy, Governor of Preah Vihear Province
Urbanization & Social Services
Health:
– Improved ambulance response times (down by 40%)
– Access to central hospitals now available to over 92% of the population within 90 minutes
Education:
– 61 rural schools now accessible year-round (up from 37 in 2020)
– Increased enrollment in secondary schools by 18% since 2022
A Digital Roadmap
– 4G infrastructure has extended along NR62 and NR6 corridors
– 9 new telecom towers approved in 2025 to support schools, e-health, and border security
“These roads are not just for vehicles; they carry fiber, education, and opportunity,” – Sok Ratha, Infrastructure Analyst, Open Development Cambodia
The Road to Tourism
– +45% tourist increase expected in 2025
– New proposals include a cable car, skywalk, and temple tourism circuit
Economic Outcome & Benefits to People
– Job Creation:
– Over 10,000 construction jobs generated since 2022
– New roles in logistics, retail, food service, and tourism
– Incomes Rising:
– Household income in road-adjacent communes has risen by 12% on average
– Farmers report 30% higher farm-gate prices due to easier transport to markets
– Local SMEs Booming:
– Rise in roadside businesses: 700+ new food stalls, guesthouses, and mechanic shops opened
– Village cooperatives engaging in agro-processing and handicraft sales for tourists
– Migration Reversal:
– Young adults returning to open businesses instead of migrating to cities or Thailand
– Community cohesion improving as development comes to the doorstep
What’s Next?
– Completion of NR64 by Q2 2026
– Feasibility study for an airport or airstrip
– Proposal to designate Preah Vihear as a special tourism and trade zone
Conclusion: A Province on the Move
The story of Preah Vihear’s roads is not just about asphalt. It is about agency – the province’s growing ability to participate in Cambodia’s future, not from its edges, but from a newly paved center.
The roads ahead are literal and symbolic. And for Preah Vihear, they are the first steps on a much longer journey – toward prosperity, integration, and pride.
