Ta Mok House — Attraction in Oddar Meanchey

This is a museum worth dropping in if you happen to be in the area, but there is not much that you would go out of your way just to see it, unless you are on a country tour to visit historical landmarks related to the horror years that was 1975 to 1979.

Peeling paint, cracked floors, bare walls with little by the way of displays that would normally be found abundant in museums such as this, there is little to see despite a plethora of history behind both the house and it's infamous owner. Except for a few of the newer displays, everything is worn and dilapidated. (Best bring either a guide/translator or whip out your google translate app.)

The house of one of the leaders of a regime of genocide is a touchy issue for anyone in Cambodia, hence the state of disrepair of this museum. While the government and some of Cambodia's populace are of the opinion that this house should be maintained as both a historical site and a reminder of the horrors of the Khmer Rouge, others are of the sentiment that such preservation is an undeserved glorification of a man known as "brother number 5", "the butcher", and most importantly, the leader of the national army of Democratic Kampuchea (Khmer Rouge) responsible for the mass killing of 30,000 people in the Angkor Chey district. Also, with the location and entire province with little else to offer by way of tourism, there is little incentive to give this place even the smallest of government budget for its preservation.

While I'm of the sentiment that such a man should not be glorified, I do hope that the government does preserve this place because of its importance as a landmark as well as a remembrance of the horrors. People, both Cambodians and otherwise, should know and be able to learn about this part of history, no matter how much we would like to forget...

His house is becoming a part of genocide history as well as the witness of final fortress of Khmer Rouge military base administered by general, Ta Mok and his top leader Pol Pot. Few main materials used by communist left yet the documents are set on board to let us read and understand the Khmer communist origin from year 1940 regarding to French colonialism, Vietnam War and fall of Khmer Rouge to the Vietnamese occupation and Paris Peace Agreement. There are also written interview from any witnesses from that period so it makes us feel their state...

This is not the modern house or touristic resort, but a house that reminds the recent past of Cambodia. The house itself is surrounded by lake and there is only one gate to get in.

It's located in the town Anlong Veng district of Ordor Meancheay province. The best thing to see is the big lake and to learn some history and the...