Gem Mining in Ratanakiri
Ratana and Kiri. Ratana in Khmer means gem and Kiri, mountain. These are the two features for which this province of Cambodia, Ratanakiri, is best known.
As you might have figured out from all the gem dealers in town, Banlung and the Ratanakiri province is a significant gem mining area. Miners work in the Bokeo mines about 36km from the town extracting the gems which sometimes end up for sale in Banlung's market.