Kratie province
Say Kratie to any Khmer and they'll reply dolphins -- in particular Mekong Irrawaddy Dolphins. Around 20km north of Kratie, at the village of Kampi, the swirling waters of the Mekong are considered to be the best place in the world to see the critically endangered Mekong Irrawaddy Dolphin.
As few as 80 dolphins remain in the waters, and while there are ongoing and comprehensive conservation projects underway, dolphin mortality remains high.
Dolphins aside, Kratie province is known for its pleasing riverside scenery and verdant villages and paddie. Nearly all who choose to stay here do so in the same-named provincial capital of Kratie -- an almost charming town with enough colonial architecture to warrant getting the camera out, a bunch of welcoming guesthouses and hotels and even a bar -- quite a novelty in these parts.
