Khmer New Year in Siem Reap isn’t just about water splashes, traditional games, and temple visits — sometimes, it’s where unexpected love stories begin. In the heart of the celebration, a girl from Phnom Penh meets a charming village boy, and their connection blossoms through a joyful dance called Kantrem Akkes.
This is more than a holiday trip — it’s a memory wrapped in music, rhythm, and a hope to return.
Sangkran Choub Sne Lyrics
[Verse 1]
សង្ក្រាន្តឆ្នាំថ្មី មកលេងទឹកដីសៀមរាបម្តង
បានជួបកំលោះបង អ្នកភូមិព្រះដាក់
សាច់ដុំធំៗ សមជាកូនខ្មែរណាប្រុសវរលក្ខណ៍
ចេះទទួលរាក់ទាក់ សមជាបុរសក្នុងក្តីស្រមៃ
[Hook]
លង់ស្នេហ៍បងហេីយ ស្នេហ៍បងហេីយ
ដកចិត្តមិនរួចទេ
កំលោះសៀមរាបក៏សង្ហាម្ល៉េះទេ
ចេះស្មោះ អត់ប្រាប់អូនបានទេ
[Verse 2]
ល្បីភូមិនេះអាកោរឆ្ងាញ់ដាច់គេ
អូនអ្នកភ្នំពេញ ភ្ជាប់និស្ស័យបានទេ?
ភ្ជាប់និស្ស័យបានទេ…
ភ្ជាប់និស្ស័យបានទេ…
[Chorus]
ឆ្នាំនេះ ចួបត្រឹមម្តង
ឆ្នាំក្រោយមិនឱ្យប្រហែស
កាន់ដៃថ្លៃ រាំកន្ទ្រឹមអកកេស
រាំបទអូន Style កន្ទ្រឹមអកកេស
Style កន្ទ្រឹមអកកេស…
តោះរាំកន្ទ្រឹមអកកេស!
[Bridge]
សង្ឃឹមសៀមរាប ចាំស្នេហ៍
ចាំអូនវិលមកវិញណាមាសមេ
ឡកកន្ទ្រឹម រាំសប្បាយបានទេ
ឆ្នាំហ្នឹងសុំ រាំសប្បាយនឹងមាសមេ
[Final Chorus]
សង្ក្រាន្តសៀមរាប… ចួបប្រុសមាសមេ
សង្ក្រាន្តសៀមរាប… រាំសប្បាយម្ល៉េះទេ!
Love begins with a journey…
This Khmer New Year, I left the bustling streets of Phnom Penh and headed north to Siem Reap – a land of ancient temples, golden sunlight, and warm-hearted smiles. Amidst the festive colors and traditional games, I met him – a strong, kind-hearted local from Preah Dak village, whose gentle charm was impossible to ignore.
“Khmer New Year, I came to visit Siem Reap,
Met a charming guy from Preah Dak village,
Muscles strong, a true Khmer man,
So welcoming and sweet — just like the man in my dreams.”
Maybe it was his smile, or maybe the magic of Sangkran, but I fell for him quickly. As they say, “Love comes when you least expect it.”
Dancing our way into each other’s hearts
Festivals in Cambodia are full of joy, and the dance floor is where hearts connect. Together, we joined the joyful rhythm of “Kantrem Akkes” – a traditional-meets-modern dance full of life and color. With every spin and clap, I felt myself drawn deeper into this connection.
“This year, we met just once,
Next year, I won’t miss the chance,
Hold my hand, let’s dance Kantrem Akkeas,
Let’s dance my style – Kantrem Akkeas!”
Hoping to return…
As the music faded and the journey ended, I left Siem Reap with memories that still echo in my heart. His smile. The music. The feeling of belonging to a place I had just met – and a person I could never forget.
“Siem Reap, please remember our love,
Wait for me, I’ll return someday,
Sangkran in Siem Reap… where I met my golden boy,
Sangkran in Siem Reap… what a joyful dance!”
Watch the original video here:
Style Kantrem Akkeas – YouTube
If you’ve ever had a fleeting festival romance — you know how magical it feels. Sangkran isn’t just a New Year celebration. It’s a time when hearts meet, smiles linger, and dance becomes the language of love.