- The name literally means "loss of stick" referring to a legend of Preah Bat Dambang Kranhoung (Kranhoung Stick King). The urban area population is nearly 1 million. It is an riverside town, home to some of the best-preserved colonial architecture in the country. Until recently Battambang was off the map for road travellers, but facilities have recently been improved and it makes a great base for visiting the nearby temples such as Phnom Banon and Wat Ek Phnom as well as villages.

- Battambang ferryI is a secondary hub on the overland route between Thailand and Vietnam, and if the National Highway 6 from Poipet to Siem Reap is ever upgraded it'll become an even smaller hub. The network of charming old French shop houses clustered along the riverbank is the real highlight here, and there are a number of wats scattered around the town. The small museum has a collection of Angkorian-era artifacts, and beyond the town there's a number of hilltop temples, yet more wats and a large lake. One of the more famous hills is Phnom Sampeau (Ship Hill) with the notorious killing caves. Battambang is now a smooth, sealed 293km (181mi) bus or share-taxi ride from the capital. A railway also connects Battambang to Phnom Penh, but passenger service is only once a week.