Travelers almost always visit the Cambodia Landmine Museum from nearby Siem Reap, often stopping off en route to the Angkor-era temple of Banteay Srei, or as a break from other Angkor temple explorations. Adult tickets are moderately priced and include an audio guide, while under-10s and Cambodian citizens go free. English-speaking staff offer guided tours on request, and all proceeds go to helping demining efforts across Cambodia. As well as thousands of landmines and other unexploded ordnance (UXO), the museum offers displays on founder Aki Ra and Cambodia’s troubled past, as well as a documentary.
The Cambodia Landmine Museum sits about 17 miles (28 kilometers) north of Siem Reap, beyond the Angkor Archeological Park. It’s on the road to Banteay Srei, a further 8-mile (13-kilometer) drive. There’s no public transport so most travelers visit on a tour or with a private driver (car, minivan, or tuk-tuk).
The Cambodia Landmine Museum is open daily from early in the morning until late afternoon. It’s rarely crowded so plan your visit around the other Angkor attractions you hope to see.
Cambodia’s troubled history includes American bombing during the Vietnam War, a lengthy civil war, and the Khmer Rouge genocide. But most of the landmines that litter the nation were laid between 1979 and 1998, as Vietnamese and Cambodian state forces did battle with Khmer Rouge and royalist forces. Only 50% of the nation’s minefields have been cleared and Cambodia has more amputees per capita than anywhere else in the world.
