Kampong Bay Fountain, Kampot's Dancing Water Show

What you will see

High-pressure water jets are timed to music and lit by LED lights. Once the sun goes down, the colours show up properly and the riverbank turns into a small light show.

The soundtrack mixes traditional Khmer songs with modern international pop, so the show can change character from one song to the next. The lit water also makes for good night photos, especially with the river behind it.

When to go and how to get there

Aim for after 6:00 PM, when the lights are fully visible. Earlier in the day the fountain is much less striking.

It is within walking distance of most hotels in the centre of town, and it sits close to the Seahorse and Durian landmarks. If you are staying downtown, you will not need a tuk-tuk.

• Best time: after 6:00 PM
• Getting there: on foot from most central hotels
• Nearby: the Seahorse and Durian landmarks

A local evening habit

The fountain draws a mixed crowd: families, students and older residents come to watch and to enjoy the breeze off the river. It is as much a neighbourhood gathering spot as a tourist attraction, and the atmosphere is relaxed rather than staged.

Vendors selling local snacks work the area nearby, so you can buy something to eat while you watch.

Why the city built it

Kampot is already known for its colonial-era architecture and its pepper. City authorities added the fountain to give the town a modern evening attraction, in the hope that visitors from other provinces and abroad would stay longer and spend more at local hotels, restaurants and shops.

The source material mentions possible future additions, such as a mobile app to change the light colours or pick tracks at certain hours. These are only ideas, so do not count on them being in place.