Though Kampong Cham is a large city, most travelers spend their time around the two square kilometers near the bridge.
Ko Paen Bamboo Bridge is the longest bamboo bridge in the world. It is rebuilt every year after wet season when the Mekong washes it away. Though the bridge is built completely with bamboo poles, it is strong enough to support pedestrians, horse carts, and even trucks who need to cross over to Koh Pen.
Koh Pen is an island located in the bend of the Mekong River where you can view traditional stilted homes and get a glimpse of village life, not to mention relax at the beach of the Mekong.
Just a kilometer outside Kampong Cham is Wat Nokor, which dates back to the times of the King Jayavarman VII. The temple was built with sandstone and laterite and features Buddhist scenes. Within the temple is a modern pagoda, which features beautiful tiles and pillars.
About twenty-two kilometers north of Kampong Cham is Wat Han Chey, another temple. Note that the road on the north side of the hill is the safer way ascend. On the top of the hill is a monastery with several pagodas, a statue garden and Angkor ruins more than 1,500 years old.
A bit further from Wat Nokor is Phnom Srey (women's hill) and Phnom Pros (men's hill), two hills which face each other with pagodas on top. Phnom Srey is taller with 308 steps to ascend and temple ruins on top. Phnom Pros has the more beautiful pagodas and is more commonly frequented by locals because of its easy access. It is also overrun with monkeys who are not shy with visitors so beware if you're carrying fruit. If your Khmer language skills are decent and you fancy your fortune told, this is the place to visit a fortune teller.
There is also a library, a new temple and a Chinese cemetery between the two hills, not to mention it is the location of one of the many killing fields where bodies were dumped.
On the other side of the Mekong River is the French watchtower, which was used as a means to look out for threats such as bandits to the rubber plantations. Those with a fear of heights may be wary to climb the steep ladder-like steps up to the top of the tower but the view from the top will be worth facing your fear.
Wat Maha Leap is one of the few wooden pagodas left in Cambodia and is worth visiting, about 20 km on the other side of the Mekong, which would be difficult to find without a local guide or driver.
Cheung Kok invites visitors with their community ecotourism project. Amica, a French non-profit helped collaborate to create another means of income to sustain the small village. Visit the village to see artisans craft with silk, palm sugar, palm leaves and kramas. Hour-long tours are available as well as home stays for those who want to integrate into the village culture with an up-close experience.