The city lies only 10 kilometres from the Thai border. Koh Kong has long had a reputation as a "wild west" frontier town. In this relative isolation, illegal logging , wild animal smuggling, banditry, gambling, prostitution, and a soaring rate of HIV AIDS infection [4] have given Koh Kong its frontier town reputation.
However, with the building of the Thai-Cambodian bridge across the river and the upgrading of the road to the national highway, industry and investment have increased and the town is becoming a modest tourist destination.
Koh Kong town is accessible by land, sea, and air. From the border it is 10 kilometres to the town. The road crosses four large rivers where bridges have recently been built.
Until the end of the s, Koh Kong was one of the least secure parts of the country. Elements of the Khmer Rouge based in the lower Cardamoms still posed a serious threat to locals and travellers.
The area was the scene of intermittent fighting between the government and Democratic Kampuchea forces until They claimed via Khmer Rouge Radio to have killed 1, Vietnamese troops and injured more during the battle.
