Entanou Bridge, Kampot's Rainbow Bridge

Three names, one bridge

Depending on who you ask, this is the Entanou Bridge, the Rainbow Bridge or the Old Bridge. All three names refer to the same structure. Maps, guesthouse staff and tuk-tuk drivers may use any of them, so it helps to know the alternatives.

The word "old" is there for a reason: the bridge dates from the French colonial period, which makes it one of the town's older pieces of infrastructure. Kampot has a newer crossing as well, the Kampong Bay Bridge, often called the New Bridge. Locals use the old and new labels to tell the two apart.

What you will see

The bridge crosses the Preaek Tuek Chhu river, the same waterway that runs through the centre of Kampot. Its distinctive shape and its colours are the reason it shows up so often in photographs of the town, and the Rainbow nickname comes from that look.

Walking across takes only a few minutes. The appeal is in going slowly: green banks on either side, open views along the water, and the ordinary sounds of the river and the town nearby. It is a calm spot rather than a lively one.

Photography tips

• Take a wide shot from the bank to get the full shape of the bridge, then go up on the deck for views along the water.
• Early morning and late afternoon usually give softer light than midday, when the sun is harsh and the colours can look flat.
• Keep to the edge when shooting on the bridge and watch for passing traffic and pedestrians.

Finding it and fitting it into your day

Use the Google Maps link on this page to pin the exact spot. The bridge is easy to combine with a riverside walk, and it makes a natural pairing with a look at the newer Kampong Bay Bridge for comparison.

There is nothing to book and no entry fee mentioned for the bridge. Plan on 15 to 30 minutes, longer if you are photographing it or just sitting by the water.