Armed with a mobile phone and a passion for photography, Ly Raksmey has transformed himself into a respected safe camping trainer and tourism promoter, bringing Cambodia's hidden gems to life through social media.

“When I was young, my father liked to take me for a ride because my house was near Mount Chisoe,” Raksmey told The Post.

“At that time, he rented a car. The first sea I knew was at Kep. I was very happy. I remember that my father had a camera and I loved taking pictures of him. I started camping in 2014 and 2015. I can say that at that time it was not like now. Camping was not popular and our people were not yet accustomed to camping. They only went on family trips to established tourist destinations,” he added.

His passion for travel led him to a role as a translator for foreign journalists in 2017. This role exposed the 34-year-old to a wealth of tourist destinations, both well-known and hidden, at a time when tourism promotion relied heavily on press and television.

Whenever he visited a natural beauty spot, he would use his phone to capture the scenery, sharing these stunning views, along with descriptions and location details, on Facebook.

Raksmey is an adventurer and promoter of local tourism promoter. PuSmey

Raksmey recalled that while he has travelled extensively, it was the Chi Phat area of Koh Kong province that truly changed his life.

“Chi Phat in Koh Kong changed me,” he explained. “I went there in 2020 and saw how beautiful the area was. There were many places to go, but it was still limited in terms of promotion and development. It was a new form of tourism, eco-tourism. At that time, I started filming my first video. I filmed the promotion and there were many of us who were interested because there are many beautiful waterfalls there. The landscape of Koh Kong has convinced many Cambodian tourists to embrace adventure.”

 “During Covid-19, I had to stop working,” he continued. “We had a crisis. It was stressful. I decided to come back to work and make tourism videos in 2021. At that time, I followed my heart. If we talk about money, there was none. All I had was a small sponsor with the budget for the tour operators. They opened resorts, opened walking places, they helped pay for gas and accommodation. This is what made it possible.”

In the early days of promoting local tourism, Raksmey lacked modern equipment. He relied on his mobile phone for photos and videos, editing and posting them on social media. He travelled by motorbike and camped in tents.

His videos quickly gained popularity, providing valuable experience and a sense of fulfilment. However, his newfound passion was challenged when he was diagnosed with diabetes in 2022.

“I’d been promoting tourism for a year. In 2022, I was diagnosed with diabetes. I couldn’t walk for a month. It affected my leg muscles. They were stiff. Even though I couldn’t travel, I had a lot of videos in stock. So I kept working on editing them. We had pictures posted all the time. Then a wonderful thing happened,” he said.

He loves the experience of camping atop a mountain, watching the sunset. PuSmey

“The same promoter – named ‘Ponekhor’ – posted that I was sick. Many people helped us. We had no savings, but got money to help us. That's when I realised that I had fans. It took a month to recover, but then I went right back to making videos,” he added.

To date, Raksmey has produced nearly 400 videos – horizontal, vertical, cinematic, and feature-length – along with tens of thousands of images. He shares his work on his Facebook page, PuSmeyPuSmey, which has almost 60,000 followers.

The positive response to his work has been overwhelming. His videos have even been featured by national institutions and even the prime minister’s official page, a testament to their quality and impact.

Raksmey has also received various opportunities related to camping and tourism promotion. He has twice shared his safe camping expertise through “Camping School” workshops and has served as a speaker, sharing his content production knowledge with members of the Koh Kong Provincial Tourism Committee.

A bird’s-eye view of Koh Kong province, shot by drone. PuSmey

“The happiest time is when we meet with fellow adventurers. No matter where we are, we have time to share good experiences together,” he reflected.

“When we choose to be nomads, we all have difficulties. We earn money today, spend today, and try to earn more tomorrow. Travelling on the road, my motorbike and someone else’s are the same. If we run out of food and water, we do it together,” he continued.

Raksmey has created a substantial body of work and shared his experiences with countless tourism enthusiasts. He also produces motivational videos for aspiring filmmakers, adventure lovers and those keen to promote tourist locations. 

He believes his promotional work makes a valuable social contribution, and he has been recognised and appreciated by tourism industry leaders, even receiving a letter of commendation for “Environmental Peace” from the Ministry of Environment.