Important Websites from Ministry of Water and Meteorology

• Cambodian Information Center : http://www.cambodia.org
• National Election Committee : http://www.necelect.org.kh
• National Institute of Statistics : http://www.nis.gov.kh
• Permanent Mission of Cambodia to UN : http://www.un.int/cambodia
• Human Development Reports : http://hdr.undp.org/statistics/data/cty/cty_f_KHM.html
• National Poverty Reduction Strategy : http://www.mop.gov.kh
• Council for the Development of Cambodia : http://www.cdc-crdb.gov.kh
• NGOs Forum : http://www.ngoforum.org.kh
• MEDiCAM : http://www.bigpond.com.kh/users/medicam
• Cooperation Committee for Cambodia : http://www.ccc-cambodia.org
• Mekong River Commission : http://www.mrcmekong.org
• Asian Development Bank : http://www.adb.org
• Ministry of Water and Meteorology : http://www.mowram.gov.kh/index.php/en/links 

MAO Sareth, “Famous Long Voice Female Singer Since the End 1950s”

MAO Sareth

Mao Sareth was a former Khmer singer descended from Battambang Province. She was born in 1944 in Battambang District (Thmar Kol District now), Battambang Province. Her birth name was Pol Sarann; later changed to Mao Sareth being well-known in singing for public. Her voice was very long and big enough to sing the high voice songs being popular among Khmer people from 1950s to present. During her interview with Huy Meas, she said she had three sisters; both of her older sisters had no talent for singing. However, her grandfather on her father side was a Yike traditional performer while her grandmother was an ancient Roneat player; her mother was a traditional dancer. She likes wearing blue and black cloth. In her freetime, she likes reading the emotional novels. There is no information about how she went to Phnom Penh becoming first generation 1950s Female singer in Cambodia. Being a famous singer since 1959, she sang around 300 songs until the fall of Phnom Penh on April 17, 1975. Her colleagues were Chhun Vanna, Chuob Saroeurn, Koy Sareum, So Savoeurn, Mom Marath, Chhuon Malai, Seang Dy, etc. Singing for public, she became a model for Ros Sereysothea unconsciously in singing since Ros Sereysothea likes to sing her songs and usually followed her singing style. Her first hit songs in 1959 were “Samrek Tonaha” and “Ktom Chourea” written by Yang Chheang, called Samneang Rithy. Taking this career, she chose Wat Phnom Production to record her album for public. She also sang with Sin Sisamut in Sangkum Reastr Niyum Regime for the Prince Norodom Shihanouk like “Tasena Krong Phnom Penh” with video over new development of Phnom Penh. Other famous songs of her were “Mek Khmao Ngo Ngith”, “Sambot Krom Kneuy”, “Teuk Chruos Buor Sra”, etc.  In Lon Nol Regime (March 18, 1970-April 17, 1975), she attended the army singing group for Soldier's Voice Radio (Vithyou Samleng Yuthachun) to encourage the soldiers. In 1974, she was interviewed by HUY Meas at national radio in Phnom Penh. On April 17, 1975 she was forced to leave Phnom Penh for countryside as other citizens in Phnom Penh and killed later in the following year. No one knows how she lived in this regime and the death of her. She might be forced to work hardly in the field and found out by Khmer Rouge officer that she was a famous singer which was a target to death in that regime as other singers like Huy Meas, Ros Sereysothea, Sin Sisamut, Pen Rorn, and so on.

By: POK Panhavuth

Mao Sareth's Interviewed by Huy Meas on Khmer Republic Radio in 1974

Songs of Mao Sareth

CHHUN Vanna, "Famous Khmer Singer from 1950s to Early 1970s"

Chhun Vanna

Chhun Vanna was a famous female Khmer singer since 1950s in the generation of So Savoeurn, Seang Dy, Mao Sareth, Chhuon Malai, Mom Marath, and Chuob Saroeun. According to her interview with AABC TV in California (USA), she is actually a Khmer Krom woman escaping with her mother from the control of Vietnam over Kampuchea Krom to live in Phnom Penh since she was a child  while her father died earlier. Her mother was an ancient lakhorn performer. Being so strict for daughter not to be able write love letter to man, her mother did not allow her to learn to write Khmer Language. Later her mother died, Chhun Vanna lived with her uncle, Meas Chorn, who was a famous boxing arbiter in Phnom Penh in that generation. Chhun Vanna started singing since she was ten years old with the songs like Or Kam Euy Kam, Oudom Duong Chet, etc. Being so interested in singing, she hid from her uncle about singing for Ministry of Broadcasting (Krosuong Khousana Kar) in which her uncle never contact her anymore. She said she sang for this ministry getting monthly salary. Her most beloved and very well-known songs were Oun Srolanh Tae Bong Muoy Nak, Boeung Ga Wan So Lo, Lea Heuy Reach Theany, etc. Later, she got to sing at Kbal Thnol bar in Phnom Penh with Sin Sisamut, but she never recorded any song album with him. Singing there for a while, she got married to the younger brother of that bar, Chin Sakhorn. Through their marriage until 1975, they gave birth to eight children. In Lon Nol Regime (Khmer Republic), she attended the You Thea Phirum 2 Group (Army Singing Group). Her singing career continued until the fall of Phnom Penh on April 17, 1975. She told that she was separated from her husband while he and Sin Sisamut were called by king to sing for him. Living in Kbal Thnol area, she was evacuated from Phnom Penh to Svay Rieng Province with her eight children. To live in Pol Pot Regime, she hid her background to live as a simple citizen; she told Khmer Rouge officers that she was a street greengrocer. However, they already knew who she was and tortured her badly for three months to make her confess about her as Chhun Vanna; they broke all her teeth and so on. Being smart in hiding her background and not to confessed, she was released. In this regime, she also lost her five children because of the hunger as well as her husband's death was also told. In 1979, she was advised by her adopted younger sibling to flee the country with her son and 2 daughters to Cambodia-Thailand border and lived in Khao I Dang Camp over 1 years getting supports from the United Nations. She said living in Khao I Dang, some Cambodian women were raped by Thai soldiers and they did a lot of troubles to Cambodian there. To her without any knowledge about literature, singing was the only way to earn for living with her 3 children; Cambodian citizens in Khao I Dang were so helpful to her. She changed her name to Vanna Sen. Her son's name is Sen Sithon; and her daughters are Sen Sitha and Sen Theary. In 1981, Mr. Kang guaranteed to take her to the United States with purpose to marry her, but she refused since she was already old and considered him as brother. Arriving in Seattle City, Washington State, she was so miserable to live there with cold weather and English illiteracy. The weather was very cold while she and her children has never experienced such weather in Cambodia. She did not know how to turn on the heater in the house until Khmer neighbors coming to her house. Being not adaptive to the cold weather in Seattle, her family moved to Stockton City, California State. Embarrassing experience to not know English, she wanted to say "sorry" while she took her leg on other on the bus; she confused to say "Kiss Me" that made American to look at her like she was crazy. Also, when the church came to provide housewares to her family, she said "Yes" for all help, except bed that she confused to say "No". The church took back the bed, so she tried to stop them for why. However, her neighbor said "You said "No", so they took it back". Therefore, her family lived there without bed for nearly 1 year. After that, Narin, a kind person, took her children to school. Being still love singing, she rode a bus from Stockton to Oregon to sing a song at IN Tyly's place since he had his own studio. Since then, she became the first Khmer singer to record the old and new songs again in early 1980s in the United States. Those songs are Khao I Dang Duong Chet, Som Bong Kor Puk Moat Tov, Borey Chulong, etc. Additionally, she knew some of her generation colleagues alive after Pol Pot Regime include Chhuon Malai, Seang Dy, and So Savoeun. Until now, she still sings to entertain people in Stockton. Unfortunately, her health is not good as before since she got stomach ache, diabetes, and hypertension. "Life is not stable, let's enjoy what you really like!" 

By: POK Panhavuth

Chhun Vanna's Interview by AABC TV

Chhun Vanna Songs Before 1975

Chhun Vanna After Pol Pot Regime (Old Songs with New Recordinng and New Songs)

Special Songs of Ros Sereysothea Part 6

Special Songs of Ros Sereysothea Part 5

Special Songs of Ros Sereysothea Part 4

Special Songs of Ros Sereysothea Part 3

Special Songs of Ros Sereysothea Part 2

Special Songs of ROS Sereysothea Part 1

Special Khmer Songs from Sangkum Reastr Niyum Regime (1953-1970)

Sangkum Reastr Niyum Regime is not only the memory of best economic development in Cambodia, but also of the best initiative Khmer art development.  The legacy still remains till today such as Independent Monument, Olympic Stadium, Housing Infrastructure, park, Royal University of Phnom Penh, best Khmer songs, etc. Khmer songs described much about the development of Phnom Penh as the memory for Sangkum Reastr Niyum Regime through the following:

Khmer Songs from Khmer Republic Part 3

Khmer Songs from Khmer Republic Part 2

Pre-1975 Khmer Singers Alive After Pol Pot Regime

Pol Pot Regime in 3 years 8 months 20 days caused a nightmare for all Cambodian people; whoever's family in Cambodia was affected negatively losing their relatives, properties, health, etc. Famous people in Cambodia before April 17, 1975 were almost killed similar fate to other simple citizens, except some people escaped before the fall of Phnom Penh to Thailand and Vietnam and people who luckily hid their background in Pol Pot Regime. They were alive after this year zero regime. Khmer singers who survived from this regime for both escape and background hiding such as Mol Kamach (France), Keo Montha, Chhuon Malai, Seang Vanthy, Chhun Vanna (escape to Khao I Dang Camp in 1979 and now in the United States), Prince Norodom Sereyvuth, Hem Sovan (Cambodia), Koy Saroeum, So Savoeun (France), Dy Saveth (Cambodia), Pen Rorm (the United States, died in Long Beach 2005), Nak Mneang Seang Dy (escape to France in 1975 and later to the United State, now in Cambodia), Dy Sakhorn, Touch Saly, Long Sida (the United States), Keo Setha, and so on. 

Mol Kamach

Keo Montha

Chhuon Malai

Seang Vanthy, Younger Sister of Seang Dy

Keo Setha (Sin Sisamut)

Chhun Vanna

Prince Norodom Sereyvuth

Hem Sovann

Koy Sareum

So Savoeun

Dy Saveth

Pen Rorm, Younger Sister of Pen Rorn

Nak Mneang Seang Dy (SISOWATH Seang Dy)

Dy Sakhorn (Second Singer) [Sim Touch, the First Singer, Died in Pol Pot Regime]

Touch Saly

Long Sida