On September 21st, Cambodian officials took 78 journalists from 39 local and international media outlets on a tour of the Mong Cai Commercial Center in Prey Veng Province, near the Vietnam border. Known among the Chinese community as "Zone 8," this was the first time the authorities opened up the now-closed site, once a hub for online scams, for an inside look.
Officials shared some eye-opening details. The site spans 120 hectares and started construction in 2023. By 2024, around 7,000 foreign workers were operating there, and by 2025, the number had swelled to nearly 20,000, mostly from China, Pakistan, India, and Nepal. From above, it looked like a small border town.
Zone 8 was often talked about, with people passing by on motorbikes catching glimpses of its bright lights and the constant buzz of night shifts and fast food. Now, with its gates closed, the once-bustling area is a ghost town of empty buildings. Over iced coffee at local street stalls, folks are buzzing about what the future holds for this place after the officials' big reveal.
