Kep province – Kep-sur-Mer, the seaside resort founded in 1908
Kep developed into Cambodia's most prestigious beach town after it was established as a resort in 1908 under the name Kep-sur-Mer. Until the early 1970s it was a thriving seaside retreat for the French and Cambodian elite, with villas overlooking the Gulf of Thailand.
Between 1953 and 1970, architects such as Vann Molyvann and Lu Ban Hap designed modernist villas here, blending international modern architecture with traditional Khmer elements in what became known as New Khmer Architecture. Kep became a province by royal decree and is today Cambodia's smallest, with around 42,000 residents, known for its crab market and coastal charm. Share your Kep stories with the community!