The journey to create Secret Lake House has been a labor of pure love, intuition, and resilience. We began without a rigid blueprint, guided instead by a vision that evolved with every sunrise. Over the years, our plans shifted and grew—shaped by new insights, fresh ideas, and the passionate advice of those who shared our dream. What started as a simple idea for a restaurant and a few rooms has blossomed into something far more profound.
Our story began with a humble prefab tiny house for Kimlay, allowing him to live on-site and breathe life into the land. But the soul of our retreat was found 40 kilometers away, in a small village where we discovered several abandoned wooden stilt houses. Though they had stood for over a century, their spirits remained. We carefully reclaimed the ancient timber and pillars to craft a single, magnificent traditional Khmer house.
Today, this heritage home stands as a masterpiece, featuring three elegant bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, a fully-equipped kitchen, and a vast open-air living space. It is a bridge between worlds—preserving 100 years of history while offering modern luxuries like air conditioning and refreshing rainfall showers.
Following the house, our open-air restaurant rose from the ground, designed in a traditional style to embrace the lake breeze. The crowning jewel, however, is our infinity pool. With a dedicated children’s area and a panoramic view where the water meets the rolling hills, it is the ultimate place for reflection. We even added three bamboo huts perched directly over the water, creating an intimate connection with the lake’s rhythm.
The Sacred Ceremony
As we approached our soft opening on February 5th, 2026, we knew we had to honor Cambodian tradition. To bless our home and ensure prosperity, we invited eight monks from the Neang Khmao Pagoda to Secret Lake.
In a beautiful twist of fate, a group of German travelers with Cambodian Travel Partner arrived just in time to witness this sacred ritual. For over an hour, the air was filled with the rhythmic chanting of prayers. We stood together, humbled, as the monks sprinkled us with holy water—a symbolic cleansing and a powerful wish for success and happiness.
Family, Flavor, and Paradise
After the ceremony, we had the honor of serving a traditional meal to the monks. As they explored the grounds afterward, even they whispered that it felt like a “true paradise.” We then celebrated with our first guests, serving a grand feast “family-style.” The long table was filled with vibrant platters of sweet and sour chicken, aromatic soups, crispy spring rolls, tender beef lok lak, and golden fried rice. Sharing these flavors in the center of the table brought everyone together, turning strangers into friends.
As the afternoon sun mellowed, it was time to simply be. Our guests drifted into the infinity pool or found peace in a swaying hammock. The energy was unmistakable: Secret Lake House had become a sanctuary for relaxation, fine food, and deep connection.
Secret Lake House is now officially blessed and open to the world. When may we have the honor of welcoming you to our little piece of paradise?
