Koh Dach (Silk Island)
A Mekong Island Where Every House Has a Loom
Koh Dach (Silk Island) — Quick Facts
- What is it?
- village — A Mekong Island Where Every House Has a Loom
- Where?
- Kandal , Cambodia
- Entry Fee
- Ferry ~$0.50/person+bike; silk workshop visit ~$1 with guide
- Opening Hours
- Daylight hours; ferries run continuously through the day
- Time Needed
- Half a day
- Best Time
- Morning to early afternoon, leaving time to catch the return ferry before dark
- Don't Miss
- Cycling flat village lanes past open-fronted houses with a working loom in nearly every one
What to See at Koh Dach
The Weaving Houses
Silk weaving is a household industry here — looms sit in the open ground floor of many homes, and women work them in full view of the lane outside. Visitors are generally welcome to stop and watch, and small workshops offer a brief guided look at the process for about $1.
Cycling the Island
At roughly 10km long and completely flat, Koh Dach is built for an easy half-day cycle. Bikes can be rented for a few dollars at the ferry drop-off point, and the island’s quiet lanes pass rice paddies, pottery workshops, and woodcarving stalls alongside the silk houses.
The Cham Community
Koh Dach’s population is predominantly Cham Muslim, a distinct ethnic and religious minority within Cambodia — mosques and a markedly different daily rhythm from the mainland are part of what makes the island feel like a genuine change of pace so close to the capital.
How to Get to Koh Dach
Koh Dach sits in the Mekong about 15km upstream from Phnom Penh.
- Ferry: Small vehicle/passenger ferries cross from a jetty north of the city (commonly reached via Sisowath Quay or the riverside near the Royal Palace) for about $0.50 per person and bike
- Organised half-day tour: Many Phnom Penh operators bundle the ferry crossing, bike rental, and a silk workshop stop
Practical Tips
- Bring small bills — ferry and workshop fees are cash-only and inexpensive
- Modest dress is appreciated given the island’s Cham Muslim community
- Buying silk directly from a weaving household supports the family you watched at work
- Time the return ferry — services thin out after dark
Nearby Attractions
- Koh Chen (Silversmith Village) — another Kandal craft village, on the mainland side of the river
- Phnom Penh riverside — the Royal Palace and National Museum, a short trip back across the river
Useful Links
Practical Info
- Entry Fee
- Ferry ~$0.50/person+bike; silk workshop visit ~$1 with guide
- Opening Hours
- Daylight hours; ferries run continuously through the day
- Time Needed
- Half a day
- Best Time
- Morning to early afternoon, leaving time to catch the return ferry before dark