When Easia starts a new signature project, it begins with a simple ambition: to offer something truly different. And when we cannot find it, we create it.
We spoke with Louise, Project Manager at Easia Cambodia. She has been driving a new signature project on Tonlé Sap Lake with care and passion.
Kampong Kleang is about one hour from Siem Reap, which has helped the village remain relatively preserved and develop a welcoming relationship with visitors. It also remains captivating year-round, even in the low-water season, thanks to its stilt-house landscape.
Because Easia has been operating here for several years, we already had trusted relationships with the community. That made it possible to start a renovation project from a wooden stilt house abandoned since the Covid period, that supports genuine immersion, with locals and through locals, rather than in a tourist-oriented setting.
Water flow. During the green season, the lake expands, and the village becomes surrounded by water. Renovation work had to adapt constantly to the lake’s rhythm, making logistics more complex for local teams.
Preserving the house’s identity. The goal was to enhance a traditional Cambodian wooden stilt house while keeping its authentic character and ensuring it still belongs naturally within the village.
Waking up early to watch the sunrise from a boat on Tonle Sap. The crossing was lively with a few noisy boats, but once we reached the open lake, it felt surprisingly calm. We were the only visitors out there, surrounded by everyday life beginning on the water. The light changed in minutes and everything felt almost magical. I got emotional. In that moment, everything felt obvious. This is exactly why we are doing this.
Most visits are short, simply because comfortable accommodation in the village has traditionally not been available. This house changes that by giving guests a refined and comfortable base in Kampong Kleang. It allows them to stay longer, experience the lake from within, and better understand daily routines, the fishing culture, and how the seasons shape life on the water.
It reflects a simple idea: creating a unique experience that stays rooted in local realities. We renovated an existing house rather than building anew, reused original materials where possible, added solar panels, reduced single-use plastic, and chose second-hand local furniture. The experience is also shaped by local knowledge, with smooth logistics that make immersion comfortable.
A sense of discovery and a feeling of connection to daily village life. Life here is shaped by the lake, and that reality becomes part of the experience.
