Banlung

This walkable provincial capital in northeastern Cambodia sits at the edge of a heavily forested region bordering Vietnam and Laos, home to twelve ethnic minority groups. Banlung became the capital of Ratanakiri Province in 1979 and has a lively market where people from surrounding villages trade goods. The Katieng Waterfalls lie a short distance west of town, where a conservation programme protects Ratanakiri's remaining elephants.

• Population17,000
• Nearest water from center 3.2 km2.0 mi
• Nearest mountain from center 17 km11 mi