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BUN THON'S DIARY
BETWEEN MEKONG AND EXILE
One man. One country in chaos.
A promise.
Tap Bun Thon
Cambodia, 1975. Forest ranger Bun Thon has achieved everything: a happy family, respect, a life of dignity. But with the invasion of the Khmer Rouge, his identity becomes his death sentence.
This is the visually stunning journey of a man who had to sacrifice everything to preserve what mattered most. From the rigorous training in Prek Leap to the idyllic family life in Svay Sisophon, and finally to the dramatic escape through the jungle.
Bun Thon's Diary tells the true story of a family that was torn apart – and reunited through the willpower of one father.
1962–1981:
From ranger to survivor
A hero's journey
How much strength does a person need to go through hell and still remain a father?
This story begins long before the war. It tells of the gilded cage of youth, the break with tradition, and the rise to becoming a proud Ranger who drove an Alfa Romeo and loved life. But when the world ended in April 1975, possessions no longer mattered.
To protect his family, Bun Thon made the hardest decision of his life: he had to leave them behind. This is the chronicle of a struggle for survival by seven comrades against an invisible army and the daring return of a man who never forgot his promise: "I will come back."
You had to leave us to protect us. You came back to save us. Thank you for never giving up.
Chettra
The legacy
My father was a man who spoke little, but whose deeds filled volumes. For a long time, I only knew fragments of his past.
This project is an attempt to piece together the puzzle of his life. We have lost brothers and sisters. We have lost our homeland. But we have never lost each other.
This is the story of how Bun Thon walked through the darkness to lead us into the light. A tribute to a quiet hero.
— Chettra Tap
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