Tboung Khmum[3] (Khmer: ត្បូងឃ្មុំ [tɓoːŋ kʰmum], lit. 'The Gem Pearl of Bee'), also spelled as Tbong Khmum, is a province of Cambodia located on the central lowlands of the Mekong River. It borders the provinces of Kampong Cham to the west, Kratié to the north, Prey Veng to the south and shares an international border with Vietnam to the east. Its capital and largest city is Suong. The province's name consists of two words in Khmer, tboung (gem, precious jewel) and khmum (bee), which together mean "amber or gem".
Tboung Khmum
ត្បូងឃ្មុំ | |
|---|---|
| Tboung Khmum Province ខេត្តត្បូងឃ្មុំ | |
 Entering Tboung Khmum from Kampong Cham via the bridge over the Mekong | |
 Seal | |
 Map of Cambodia highlighting Tboung Khmum | |
| Coordinates: 11°59′N 105°27′E / 11.983°N 105.450°E | |
| Country |  Cambodia |
| Founded | 1897[1] |
| Provincial status | 31 December 2013 |
| Capital | Suong |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Cheam Chan Sophorn (CPP) |
| • National Assembly | 8 / 125
|
| Area | |
• Total | 5,250 km2 (2,030 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 15th |
| Population (2019)[2] | |
• Total |  853,727 |
| • Rank | 10th |
| • Density | 148/km2 (380/sq mi) |
| • Rank | 8th |
| Time zone | UTC 7 (ICT) |
| Dialing code | 855 |
| ISO 3166 code | KH-3 |
| Website | tboungkhmum |
Tboung Khmum Province was formed when Kampong Cham Province was split in two by a royal decree signed on 31 December 2013 by King Norodom Sihamoni on the recommendation of Prime Minister Hun Sen. The request by Hun Sen's government to split the province, which was ostensibly for the purpose of improving administrative efficiency in the large province, was made after his ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) lost the province to the opposition in the July 2013 elections.[4] The CPP won only eight of the available 18 National Assembly seats in Hun Sen's home province. The 10 districts that remain in Kampong Cham overwhelmingly voted for the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, led by Sam Rainsy, while five of the six districts cut out from Kampong Cham to form the Tboung Khmum Province were won solidly by the CPP.[5] The province has the highest percentage of Muslims in the country, at 11.8%. It also has the largest percentage of Cham people among other provinces, around 15%.[2]
Administration
editThe province is subdivided into 6 districts and 1 municipality, further divided into 64 communes.[4]
| ISO code | District | Khmer |
|---|---|---|
| 25-01 | Dambae | ស្រុកតំបែរ |
| 25-02 | Krouch Chhmar | ស្រុកក្រូចឆ្មារ |
| 25-03 | Memot | ស្រុកមេមត់ |
| 25-04 | Ou Reang Ov | ស្រុកអូររាំងឪ |
| 25-05 | Ponhea Kraek | ស្រុកពញាក្រែក |
| 25-07 | Tboung Khmum | ស្រុកត្បូងឃ្មុំ |
| 25-06 | Suong Municipality | ក្រុងសួង |
Religion
editReligion in Tboung Khmum province (2019 census)[6]
The state religion is Theravada Buddhism. More than 88.1% of the people in Tboung Khmum province are Buddhists. About 11.8% population of Tboung Khmum province follow Islam followed by Chams. Christianity is followed by 0.1% in the province. It's the most Muslim province of the country.
See also
edit- Bun Rany, wife of Hun Sen (born in Krouch Chhmar District now located in Tboung Khmum province)
- Champa
- Kampong Cham province
References
edit- ^ "History of Tboung Khmum". Tboung Khmum Provincial Administration. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
- ^ a b "General Population Census of the Kingdom of Cambodia 2019 – Final Results" (PDF). National Institute of Statistics. Ministry of Planning. 26 January 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
- ^ "Tbong Khmum province". Tourism Cambodia. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
- ^ a b Phorn, Bopha; Alex Willemyns (10 January 2014). "Government Creates New CPP-Majority Province". The Cambodia Daily. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
- ^ Mom, Kunthear; Kevin Ponniah (10 January 2014). "Kampong Cham's great divide". The Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
- ^ "General Population census of the Kingdom of Cambodia 2019" (PDF). National Institute of Statistics Ministry of planning. October 2020.
