Didn’t the name Prek Chrey spark your interest? Prek Chrey is more than just a name. It is a place with a story. It sits in Koh Thum district. This is in Kandal province, Cambodia.
Prek Chrey is also known as Preak Chreay. In Khmer, that is written as \u1796\u17d2\u179a\u17c2\u1780\u1787\u17d2\u179a\u17c3. The name has a simple origin. “Prek” means small stream. “Chrey” refers to the chrey tree or fig tree.
Notably, Prek Chrey shares a border with An Phu district. An Phu lies in An Giang province, Vietnam. Even before French rule, many Vietnamese lived here. They settled near the Vietnamese border.
Prek Chrey includes several villages. These are called “phum” in Khmer. One village is Chrouy Snao. Another is Pak Nam. There is also Khnar Tangyu. Each has its own distinct character.
Pak Nam’s name is quite descriptive. It means “large, shallow river gate.” Vietnamese speakers call it Bac Nam. This leads to other names like Cu Lao Bac Nam. You might also hear of Chua Bac Nam or Xu Bac Nam.
Khnar Tangyu also has an interesting name origin. “Khnar” means pond. “Tangyu” refers to the umbrella plant. Vietnamese people often call this village Ap Muong Vua.
Around 13,000 people live in Prek Chrey. It sits along the Bassac River. The river is also known as the Hau River. This location places it near the Vietnam border. Khmers, mixed Khmer-Vietnamese people, and Vietnamese live here. Cambodians of Vietnamese descent also call Prek Chrey home.
The area often floods. This happens for 3 to 5 months yearly. The floods occur between July and November. During this time, only a few roads stay above water.
Most Khmers live in “Inner Prek Chrey.” This area is also known as the inner Prek Chrey village. About 300 families reside here. Most Kinh people live along the Bassac River. Only about 5% are Khmer or mixed Khmer-Vietnamese.
Some tensions exist between the Khmer and Kinh communities. Some Khmers feel Kinh people are more successful in farming and business. To address this, the KDC started a program. It aimed to help Khmer villagers improve their lives.
Most Khmers in inner Prek Chrey farm. They also fish during the flood season. Few engage in trade. Even fewer work in garment factories along the Bassac River.
In outer Prek Chrey, fewer Khmer families live alongside Kinh people. Similarly, few Khmer families live with Kinh people in Khnar Tangyu.
Most Khmer children enroll in school. Sadly, only half attend regularly. Many do not finish primary school. Families often need them for housework. This is especially true when parents work in the fields. Economic hardship also plays a role. Young people lose garment jobs. Children replace them due to lower wages.
The KDC works on child rights issues. They collaborate with children’s groups. The Japanese Embassy supports them. They helped renovate a school in Prek Chrey. This improved the learning environment and boosted school attendance.
Most Kinh people in Prek Chrey fish and farm. They can be divided into three groups. About one-third have Cambodian citizenship. They have the right to vote and own land.
Another group comes from Vietnam. They hold Vietnamese citizenship. They cannot buy land. Most rent land for farming or small businesses. Their economy relies on trade with Vietnam.
The third group lacks citizenship. Past events made them unofficial refugees. Their children do not enjoy the same rights as Cambodians.
Those in the second and third groups can live in Cambodia. This is due to housing permits. These permits are issued by local Cambodian authorities.
The Kinh in Prek Chrey are often seen as wealthier than the Khmer. However, the KDC could not confirm differences in living standards. The biggest difference lies between Prek Chrey residents and prosperous Kinh people in Vietnam.
Schools in Vietnam are better than those in Prek Chrey. Few Kinh people in Prek Chrey speak Khmer. Yet, they send their children to school in Vietnam.
Children with Vietnamese citizenship attend school in Vietnam for free. Children without Vietnamese birth certificates must pay. Poor families cannot afford this. These children often lack Khmer skills too. So they cannot attend Cambodian schools. The KDC encourages Kinh people in Prek Chrey to learn Khmer.
So, next time you hear the name Prek Chrey remember its people. Remember its streams and fig trees. Remember its complex story.