Tucked away off Cambodia’s southern coast, the Koh Rong Archipelago is known for its sapphire seas, lush palms, and soft stretches of sand. But look a little closer – past the overwater villas and floating swing beds – and you’ll discover something far more rare and quietly extraordinary: a collection of native wild orchids being brought back from the brink by a self-taught botanist with a dream.
His name is Vichea Sok, and his work is transforming not just the forests of Koh Rong, but the very way travellers connect with Cambodia’s natural beauty. Based at Song Saa Private Island – a luxury resort with a deep-rooted environmental mission – Vichea works to rediscover, document, and protect his country’s native orchid species, many of which people had forgotten or assumed were foreign imports.
“There was no botany school in Cambodia,” Vichea says, recalling his early days. “I learned everything online. I studied global plant species by myself – at night, on my phone.” His unofficial education took him deep into the forests near his hometown, where a single sighting of a wild orchid changed everything. “It surprised me so much. I didn’t know we had orchids here. Most people think they only come from other countries.”
Waves of Change Herald In
Camera in hand, Vichea began to document the flora he found. Slowly, he built a personal archive of nearly 80 species – some of them never before catalogued. Word spread. Soon, international orchid enthusiasts from France, the U.S. and Germany were visiting his private garden in Siem Reap to marvel at the biodiversity hidden in plain sight.
But the path was not without resistance. His father, shaped by the struggles of the Khmer Rouge era, struggled to see the point of plants. “He threw away my collection once,” Vichea remembers. “I cried. But I promised myself I would show him the value of nature.” Before he passed, his father had become one of Vichea’s biggest supporters – proud of the son who had turned a childhood curiosity into a calling.
That calling has since grown into a key part of the Song Saa Foundation’s conservation efforts, which extend far beyond orchids. From mangrove reforestation and coral restoration to floating libraries and mobile health clinics, the Foundation, founded by Australian Designer, Melita Koulmandas, is redefining what sustainable island tourism can look like in Cambodia. It’s a reminder that luxury travel and conservation aren’t mutually exclusive – they can (and should) go hand-in-hand.
Song Saa Foundation
Vichea’s latest project focuses on documenting all the orchids and flora surrounding Song Saa and the wider archipelago. His aim is to create a field guide for travellers, guests, and locals alike – one that spotlights Cambodia’s natural heritage and the urgent need to protect it. “We want people to see that these plants belong to Cambodia,” he says. “They are part of our story.”
Travellers who visit Song Saa may come for the overwater bungalows or the reef-side yoga sessions but the transfixing part is how the resort invites you into a living laboratory. Through nature walks, cultural experiences, and access to the Foundation’s programs including the support of local school, guests get a first-hand look at how tourism can uplift both community and conservation. And with locals like Vichea leading the way, it is a truly authentic window into Cambodia’s wild heart.
So, if your next trip has you craving crystal-clear waters and barefoot luxury but also meaning, impact, and connection, then Koh Rong needs to be on your radar. One thing I can assure you is a trip here stays with you long after you return home, and an unbelievable yearning to return.
And if you cross paths with a quiet man in the jungle, binoculars slung across his shoulder and eyes fixed on the treetops, don’t be surprised if he offers you a glimpse of something rare: a wild orchid in bloom, and a country reclaiming its roots.
To support Vichea’s work or learn more about the Song Saa Foundation, visit www.songsaafoundation.org or follow along at @songsaafoundation.
More about the Song Saa Foundation
Founded by visionary entrepreneur and designer Melita Koulmandas, the Song Saa Foundation is dedicated to preserving Cambodia’s natural environment while empowering the coastal communities of the Koh Rong Archipelago. Inspired by Melita’s deep connection to the region, the foundation has become the driving force behind Cambodia’s largest island-based marine conservation initiative — the Ocean Stewardship Program (OSP).
The OSP gives participants a unique opportunity to work alongside experienced scientists and conservation professionals, collecting vital marine data that supports the protection of coral reefs and seagrass meadows across the archipelago. These efforts form part of a broader vision of regenerative development — restoring ecosystems, revitalising communities, and creating a model of tourism that gives back more than it takes.
Nestled within a carefully managed conservation area of extraordinary beauty and biodiversity, Song Saa offers a rare chance to engage in pioneering marine conservation and contribute to a lasting legacy for Cambodia’s coastal future.
