Thanks to its geographic region, the province is amongst the nine provinces forming the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve. It has a road network which links Phnom Penh to Siem Reap on National Route # 6, and separates to Preah Vihear Province via National Route # 64. Historically, Kompong Thom was a very powerful capital in Southeast Asia during the Funan period. Amongst a number of significant pre-Angkorian and Angkorian sites in the province, Sambor Prei Kuk Temple and Andet Temple are two of the main pre-Angkorian temples representing pre-Angkorian architectural styles: Sambo and Kampong Preah. Later on, during the French rule, the province was home to a large group named the Stieng, but they have long been assimilated into the Khmer society.