Where it sits
Svay Rieng juts into Vietnamese territory in the shape sometimes called the Parrot’s Beak, bordered by Vietnam to the north, east and south. It is small, flat and agricultural, and its significance is largely as a crossing point.
What to see
Bavet, on the border, is the main overland gateway between Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City and is dominated by casinos and border trade. It is a functional place rather than a destination.
The provincial capital is a quiet market town on the Vaico river. Chi Phu and the surrounding countryside give a good picture of Mekong delta-edge agriculture — rice, fish ponds and sugar palms.
Travellers generally see the province through a bus window. If you are stopping, the appeal is entirely rural and unhurried.
Practicalities
Buses between Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City run all day and cross at Bavet. Cambodian visas are issued on arrival at the border.