Sihanoukville

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Sihanoukville is Cambodia's premier beach location, a peninsula ringed by pretty white-sand beaches. Debate rages however over whether its beaches will ever seriously rival those that lure the hordes to neighbouring Thailand. Given international tourism's insatiable appetite for new places, we think they will ... eventually ... one day ... maybe.

Cambodia's youngest city, Sihanoukville town sprang to life in 1955 when a construction team arrived at what was then known as Kompong Som to begin work on Cambodia's first (and only) deep water port. When the port was finished in 1960 the area was renamed Sihanoukville (in honour of then King Sihanouk) but many Cambodians continue to refer to it as Kompong Som.

The Khmer Rouge kept Sihanoukville largely off-limits to all but the most intrepid travellers for years. But today, with a good road from Phnom Penh and an on-again, off-again airport where regular flights may one day become a reality, Sihanoukville is drawing a steady stream of backpackers along with expatriates down from Phnom Penh for lazy weekends.

The first time we visited Sihanoukville we loved it, the second time less so; each time after that less so again, as its seediness kinda started to outshine the prettiness. Yet we still find ourselves returning and keep hoping it will realise its full potential. Despite its newfound popularity, it has a somewhat abandoned feel to it, amplified by the number of half-built or deserted plots of land marked out by high and imposing fences -- plots often "owned" by businesspeople with sometimes dubious land titles and an eye for a fast buck.

Ochheuteal Beach, Sihanoukville's most popular, has a bit of a caravan-park feel to it and the motodops here are among the most dodgy in Cambodia. Over the last few years, Thailand has slowly tightened its visa regulations and it seems there's been a commensurate influx to Sihanoukville of crusty, sex-tourist types who have certainly contributed to the rising number of dodgy bars and bar-beers. Sihanoukville also has a long-running problem with foreign and local paedophiles.

 

It isn't all bad news though. Sihanoukville's beaches are sprawling and pretty, though perhaps not as postcard-perfect as many of Thailand's beaches are. The sand is generally grainier and more yellow-grey in colour and many are lined with ramshackle food vendors. On weekends, Khmer and barang hordes converge particularly on Ochheuteal, and accommodation prices tend to rise a little. It's a fun place, and the unusual mix of Khmers and barang relaxing side-by-side is something you don't see in Thailand, nor in fact in the rest of Cambodia, that often.

Beaches aside, numerous islands lie offshore reachable on day trips, with limited accommodation starting to spring up on some of them. The province is also home to Ream National Park, which is well worth a visit.

If you're arriving in Sihanoukville by bus or share-taxi from Phnom Penh, you'll arrive in Sihanoukville town, from where Ochheuteal Beach, Independence Beach, Victory Hill & Beach and Sokha Beach and much more are but a motodop ride away.

For the lowdown on some of Sihanoukville's lesser known coastal spots, check out this Cambodian island guide on Matador.

Text and/or map last updated on 21st August, 2009.

More information

Other spots near here
 » Independence Beach
 » Ko Pos Beach
 » Ko Russei
 » Ochheuteal Beach
 » Otres Beach
 » Ream National Park
 » Sihanoukville Town
 » Sokha Beach
 » Victory Beach

Further reading
 » Sihanoukville's beach lifestyle lure expatriates
 » Malaria in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam
 » How do I get from Ko Chang to Phu Quoc Island?
 » Five special hotels in Cambodia

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Mick and Craigs
Serendipity Beach Road
From: US$3.50 with HostelWorld


Sunday Guest House Sihanouk Ville
No 16 Street Sereypheap, Sangkat 4, Khan Mittaphea
From: US$4.00 with HostelWorld


Mick and craigs guest house
Ochheuteal beach Neat the Golden Lions monument, Sihanoukville
From: US$5.00 with Hostelbookers


Kangaroo Kitchen GuestHouse Restaurant And Bar
Street 109 SihanoukVille
From: US$6.00 with HostelWorld


Rega Guesthouse Kompongsom
Sangkat 2, Khan Mittapheap, Sihanoukville Serendipity beach, Ocheateal beach, Sihanoukville
From: US$6.00 with HostelWorld


Garden Hill
Modul3, Sangkat 3, Khan Mittapheap, Sihanoukville
From: US$9.30 with Hostelbookers


Seabreeze Guesthouse
, Sihanoukville
From: US$12.00 with Hostelbookers


The Small Hotel
Sihanoukville - downtown
From: US$13.00 with WHL


Coasters
Sihanoukville - Serendipity Beach
From: US$15.00 with WHL


Queens Hill Resort
Sihanoukville - Queens Hill
From: US$15.00 with WHL


Seaside Hotel
Sihanoukville - Ochheuteal Beach
From: US$25.00 with WHL


Crystal Hotel
Sihanoukville - Ochheuteal Beach
From: US$30.00 with WHL


New Beach Hotel
Sihanoukville - Victory Beach
From: US$35.00 with WHL


Coolabah Resort
14 Mithona Street, Ochheuteal Beach Road
From: US$44.00 with Agoda

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Fresh off our Asia travel forum

Here are some discussions off the Travelfish forum, perhaps related to Sihanoukville. You can find the full forum here.

Topic	Replies	Views
Ko Chang to Sihanoukville?  In Thailand: by akhut, last reply by sayadian	4	1377
Ko Chang, Sihanoukville or Phu Quoc?  In Indochina and Thailand: by westmountgeo, last reply by somtam2000	1	140
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Ho chi minh to sihanoukville  In Vietnam: by louisey405, last reply by jasonkim8486	1	253
Otres beach Sihanoukville  In Cambodia: by ebroguy, last reply by sayadian	3	713
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HOOHA HOTEL SIHANOUKVILLE CAMBODIA  In Cambodia additions: by danhooha	0	295
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Ko Kong to Sihanoukville by boat?  In Cambodia: by krisim, last reply by Aenimal	2	1535
Place to Stay in Sihanoukville  In Cambodia: by tembigirl, last reply by tembigirl	4	1058
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Sihanoukville to Vietnam Ferry?  In Cambodia: by jclarkson, last reply by somtam2000	2	718
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Sihanoukville or Kampot/Kep  In Cambodia: by gillerz960, last reply by Saphir	1	734

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