The Banteay Chhmar CBT Homestay Program
The homestay program is an important part of the activities in Banteay Chhmar. The homestays allow for our visitors to have a more authentic Khmer experience as compared to staying in a generic guesthouse. The homestays help provide additional income for the families as well as improve their standing in the community.
The homestay owners meet regularly to discuss ideas for improvements that they can make to their homes in order to make them more welcoming and pleasant for visitors. Please understand that you are in rural Cambodia and life is a little more rustic and filled with lots of local color and noises. While not ‘western-style’ homestays, we think that you will find the rooms, beds and facilities comfortable and enjoy the local hospitality.
All the homestay owners say that being part of the CBT has increased their social circle and provides much-needed income. The owners are all excited by the prospect of speaking better English, learning housekeeping and the increased business opportunities that the CBT is helping to create in Banteay Chhmar.
The CBT members will help you with settling into your homestay. Guests sleep upstairs and the families sleep downstairs. Please ask us if you need anything to make your stay more comfortable.
Please see homestay details and prices below. Please see our Prices & Tours page for more information.
Meet the Homestay Owners
“At first we were nervous because we thought our home was too simple to be considered”
Savit Sarin: Homestay owner (A)
Sarin was born in 1952, also here in Cheng Village. He is a teacher at the Banteay Chhmar Primary School, and in his free time he works in the rice fields. In late 1975, he married Chheng Mom during one of the Pol Pot regime’s ‘arranged marriages’ with 50 other couples at the same time. They have raised six children – three boys and three girls. He would like to create other village cooperatives such as credit and forestry communities etc. He is thinking about projects where villagers can build something good from their own ideas.
Homestay details: Along Road #56A in Cheng Village, north of the temple about 600m from the temple moat near a rice field.
- 4 bedrooms with double beds upstairs in an updated traditional house with mattress, mosquito net, cotton sheets, blankets, pillows… (can arrange an extra bed outside a bedroom, if needed)
- Western-style toilet and shower (share bathroom)
- $7 per room (2025: $8)
- 1 bedroom available on the first floor with a private bathroom – single bed – $10 per room
- Electricity 24/7
- Provides drinking water, candles, mosquito coils and shampoo
- Hammocks to relax in; table and chairs
- Parking: car, motorcycle, minibus/van
Chhoeuy Chhorn: Homestay owner (B)
Chhorn was born in 1976 in Battambang Province. He married his wife, Lin Soben, in 1999. They have three sons and one daughter. His oldest son is just finishing high school and plans to go to university next year. His daughter, the youngest, is only three years old. Like many villagers, he has several jobs and is always busy. He is a farmer with cassava and rice fields, and he also works as a wedding photographer.
Homestay details: Along Road #56A in Srah Chrey Village, south of Banteay Chhmar Temple about 600m from the temple moat and 1500 meters from the temple entrance.
- 2 bedroom with double beds upstairs in a modern Khmer house with mattress, mosquito net, cotton sheets, blankets, pillows…
- Air-conditioning and private bathrooms
- $16 with air-conditioning / $13 with fan only
- Western-style toilet and shower
- Electricity 24/7
- Provides drinking water, candles, mosquito coils and shampoo.
- Hammocks, balcony and chairs for relaxing
- Parking: car, motorcycle, minibus/van
Sril Som: Homestay owner (C)
Sril Som was born in 1975 here in Banteay Chhmar. She is married to Khut Savuon, also from the village. They have two children. Their daughter, Australie, is studying at university in Phnom Penh. Their son, Nary, goes to the local high school. Sril Som works at the Soieries du Mekong Silk Center, and her husband is a teacher at the high school. They want both of their children to complete university and find good jobs. Sril Som’s mother also lives with them.
Homestay details: Along a village road in North Village, about 200m from the temple moat
- 2 bedrooms with double beds upstairs in a traditional and modern house with mattress, mosquito net, cotton sheets, blankets, pillows… (can arrange two extra beds, if needed)
- $7 per room (2025: $8 per room)
- Western-style toilet and shower (share bathroom)
- Electricity 24/7
- Provides drinking water, candles, mosquito coils and shampoo
- Hammocks to relax in; table and chairs
Siev Sem & Nil Loeun: Homestay owner (D)
Born in 1948, Nil Loeun arrived in Banteay Chhmar in 1975 as part of the Pol Pot regime’s project of relocating people from their village of birth, in the view that this would make them less distracted and more productive workers. Loeun had originally been told she would be making mosquito nets and scarves for the local population. But, within two years, like so many at the time she was working in the rice fields to produce food for an increasingly hunger-stricken population. By the late 1990s she had married Siev Sem and they have three boys. They also had a daughter, who unfortunately has passed away. She says “When we first learned that GHF would be restoring the temple we were worried that villagers would be made to leave, like in the past.” And, she added, “Now we are very happy that GHF is protecting the temple as well as the people of Banteay Chhmar.”
Homestay details: In Tbong Village, south of Banteay Chhmar Temple about 500m from the temple moat and 100m from the local market
- 2 bedrooms with double beds upstairs in a traditional house with mattress, mosquito net, cotton sheets, blankets, pillows… (can arrange two extra beds outside a bedroom, if needed)
- $7 per room (2025: $8 per room)
- Western-style toilet and shower (share bathroom)
- Electricity 24/7
- Provides drinking water, candles, mosquito coils and shampoo
- Hammocks for relaxing; table and chairs
- Parking: car, motorcycle, minibus/van and bus
Khoeun Sreymom: Homestay owner (E)
Khoeun Sreymom was born in 1990 in Banteay Chhmar’s Tbong Village. She has two brothers who are both studying at university in Phnom Penh. From her childhood, Sreymom regularly attended school and became one of the commune’s brighter students. In 2010, she passed all the high school exams and went on to attend Banteay Meanchey University. However, after studying for only five months her mother called her back home. Her mother stopped her from studying because the family did not have enough money and needed Sreymom’s help at home. Most Khmer families in the countryside prefer their sons study at higher levels; their daughters only normally study to read and write. In 2011, she stayed at home to help her family and became interested in the CBT. She studied some English during the Heritage Watch training. At the end of 2011, she became a tour guide, thanks to the support of Brija Robertson who helped fund training for female tour guides. However, at the time, she spoke only a little English. So, she needed some more help from the CBT members who have more experience. One guide, Mr. Sopheng, fell in love with her and she with him. They decided to get married and had a wonderful wedding in March 2012. After the ceremony, she moved into a house with her husband. This house was built in 1994 and was given to her by her parents. Sreymom and Sopheng remodeled the house and applied to become homestay members. They now have two lovely children. Sreymom still wants to work as a tour guide as her English improves and she can find the time.
Homestay Details: Along a village road, in Tbong Village in a small group of homes and about 400m from the temple moat and market
- 3 bedrooms with double beds upstairs in a traditional house with mattress, mosquito net, cotton sheets, blankets, pillows…
- $7 per room (2025: $8 per room)
- 1 bedroom with twin beds – $16 per room
- Western-style toilet and shower (share bathroom)
- Electricity 24/7
- Provides drinking water, candles, mosquito coils and shampoo
- Hammocks to relax in; table and chairs
- Parking: car, van, motorcycle
Yang Savy: Homestay owner (F)
Savy was born here in Banteay Chhmar in 1986. She was married in 2011, and gave birth to her first child, a daughter, in 2014. Her parents are also from Banteay Chhmar and were married in 1984. The family has a lot of jobs. They are rice and cassava farmers, and they own a small store. Savy is also a CBT cook. Her younger sister, Savean, has two children and owns a shop in the market, and her husband is a policeman. Savy’s younger brother works in the village and plays a lot of football.
Homestay Details: Along a small road in Tbong Village in a small group of homes and about 450m from the temple moat and market.
- 4 bedrooms with double beds upstairs in a traditional house with mattress, mosquito net, cotton sheets, blankets, pillows
- $7 per room (2025: $8 per room)
- Western-style toilet and shower (for guests only)
- Electricity 24/7
- WiFi
- Provides drinking water, candles, mosquito coils and shampoo
- Hammocks and thatch-covered gazebo with flowers for relaxing
- Parking: car, van, motorcycle