Serei Saophoan (city)

Serei Saophoan
សិរីសោភ័ណ
Sisophon
Roundabout in the centre of Serei Saophoan (September 2022)
Roundabout in the centre of Serei Saophoan (September 2022)
Serei Saophoan is located in Cambodia
Serei Saophoan
Serei Saophoan
Location of Serei Saophoan, Cambodia
Coordinates: 13°35′N 102°59′E
Country Cambodia
Province Banteay Meanchey
Municipality Serei Saophoan
Government
 • Mayor Hil Raya
Elevation
15 m (49 ft)
Population
 (2019)
 • Total 99,019
 • Rank 4th
Time zone UTC+07:00 (ICT)

Serei Saophoan (Khmer: សិរីសោភ័ណ [serəj saopʰɔən]) is the capital and largest city of the Banteay Meanchey Province and the fourth most populous city in Cambodia. The city separates Cambodia's National Highway 5 and National Highway 6. Its administrative name is "Serei Sophon" as used by the government. The more commonly used name Sisophon is derived from the Thai pronunciation Si Sophon when it was under the Thai rule. Another nickname "Svay" is used mainly by truck drivers, train drivers and workers transporting goods. The origin of the word "Svay" is unknown. Its population is 61,482 in the 1998 census, changing little to 61,631 in the 2008 census having been overtaken by Poipet in size.

About forty minutes from Sisophon there is a Khmer temple ruin called Banteay Chmar.

Sisophon railway station with Phnom Bak hill in the background, Dec. 2011

See also