His honest, relaxed takes on village life and snacks have earned him a major online following. Supplied
You’ve probably heard the phrase “Penh Leng Heoy Team Yerng!” (Time to Play, Our Team!) floating around social media — even VannDa dropped it on stage once.
But where did it all start? Meet Chhom Chheut, a 36-year-old palm tree climber from Pursat province’s Thnaot Chum commune in Krakor district, who accidentally turned his everyday life into viral gold.
Known as the founder of the phrase “Team Yerng” (“Our Team”), Chheut blew up online by filming the perfectly common and often hilarious process of making sour palm wine — a traditional Khmer alcoholic beverage.
With nearly 400k followers on Facebook, and over 5 million likes on TikTok, he’s become an unexpected cultural ambassador, all while just doing what he loves.
His Khmer language videos have tugged at the heartstrings of nostalgic Khmer city dwellers and those abroad.
When asked about his fame, Chheut laughs it off.
“It's because I climb palm trees and make palm juice,” he chuckles.
At first, it was just for fun. He’d film himself scaling trees, crafting the wine and cooking up local bites to pair with it.
He never imagined his videos would rack up millions of views. But people couldn’t get enough — not just of the content, but the vibe.
And then, the surreal happened — fans from Australia and the US literally showed up at his doorstep.
“I was shocked,” he laughs. “They just came to see the guy making palm juice.”
Chhom Chheut first went viral for documenting himself making traditional palm wine. Supplied
From struggling migrant worker to online sensation
It hasn’t always been good vibes and sweet juice. Before going viral, Chheut lived a tough life as an undocumented migrant worker in Thailand.
“I didn’t have a clear plan,” he tells The Post. “So, I followed a broker and crossed the border illegally.”
“Travelling illegally across the border was a difficult experience that I will never forget. We were packed — 30 people in an SUV — sitting two or three on top of each other,” he continues.
He spent three years doing construction and factory work, even paying 1.2 million riel ($300) to a broker for a job that never came through.
Eventually, he made it back to Cambodia for Khmer New Year in 2023, and that’s when everything changed.
He ditched the migrant life and returned to palm tree climbing — but this time, with a phone camera in hand.
Going viral, Khmer style
One video that sent his fame skyrocketing? A chaotic, hilarious clip where he and his team grill rat meat while prepping sour palm juice.
Chheut casually starts the video.
“Hello everyone, let’s make sour palm juice. Our ingredients are ready,” he says, mock-serious.
Cue his friend falling off a chair in the background — pure internet gold.
“In Cambodia, I’m the only one making content about sour palm juice. Some Cambodians in the US even told me it brought back memories of their childhood,” he explains.
The phrase “Penh Leng Heoy Team Yerng” started as a joke with his crew.
“I’d say it casually, like ‘Let’s have fun today, our food’s lit.’ People started repeating it, and now it’s a whole thing,” he adds.
His content is super local — village vibes, seasonal activities, raw authenticity. And it hits especially hard with Cambodians living abroad, who crave that slice of home.
He and his crew popularised the phrase ‘Penh Leng Heoy Team Yerng!’ (Time to Play, Our Team!), with even rap star Vannda dropping the expression in concert. Supplied
Not just content — It’s community
These days, Chheut’s so busy hosting fans and chilling with “the team” that he doesn’t have time to make the juice himself.
Instead, he sources it from three palm climbers in his village. But don’t get it twisted — the quality has to pass his taste test. No additives, just sweet-and-sour goodness straight from nature.
He’s even created a mini-economy: buying taro leaves from kids, sourcing ducks and helping locals earn money from frogs and farm produce. It’s low-key turning into a grassroots movement.
Dealing with the haters
Of course, not everyone’s a fan. Some folks online have accused him of promoting alcohol. But Chheut stands firm.
“This is our heritage. There’s no shortage of alcohol in Cambodia — but I’m the only one promoting natural sour palm juice. I’m not doing this for fame. If the market grows, the villagers earn. Kids get school money from catching frogs. It’s all connected,” he explains.
