Kampong Thom (Khmer: កំពង់ធំ, UNGEGN: Kâmpóng Thum [kɑmpɔŋ tʰom]; lit.

According to local legend, at a lakeside dock near the Sen River, a pair of large snakes inhabited a nearby cave.

On every Buddhist holiday, the snakes would make appearances to the people nearby who then began to refer to the area as Kampong Pous Thom.

[citation needed] Prasat Sambor Prei Kuk, dating from the Chenla era, is in Kampong Thom province.

[3] Two of the three core areas in Tonlé Sap Biosphere Reserve lie in Kampong Thom.