Preah Sihanouk Province
known locally as Kompong Som, is Cambodia’s premier beach resort and seaport. Tourist numbers in this tropical getaway have increased dramatically over the last 4-5 years and facilities at the resort are now first-class. Road access to the town has always been good: National Highway No.4, between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville, is one of the best roads in Cambodia. Improvements to the international airport will make it easy for overseas holidaymakers to fly straight into the |
resort. A new deep-sea port is under construction that will allow cruise ships to dock in the future. Sihanoukville looks set to become one of the premier tourist destinations in Cambodia.
Sihanoukville offers tourists a wide range of accommodation and plenty of holiday activities. The abundance of bars and restaurants means visitors can sample all manner of foreign and local cuisine day and night. The resort boasts beautiful white-sand beaches with names like Ochheuteal, Sokha, Independence and Victory. These beaches are renowned for their quiet, cozy atmosphere and their large stretches of white sand and clear water.
Sihanoukville is a popular holiday destination for Khmer families and international visitors alike, largely because it has some of the most unspoiled beaches in all of Southeast Asia. The range of holiday activities available in Sihanoukville includes swimming; snorkeling; island excursions; scuba diving; eco tours of nearby National Parks and, of course, sunbathing. Sihanoukville’s beaches are the perfect place to lay back and contemplate your experience of Cambodia.
Things to See and Do
Local Markets
Phsar Leu (Upper Market)
Located on 7 Makara near Oumi. It offers sundries, food, vegetables, fruit and flowers. Some mini-markets offer international products. The market stays open until 9pm.
Beaches and Natural Attractions
Otres Beach,
Otres Beach is about 4km from town and offers thatched bungalows, beach bars and restaurants. Various sailing and diving businesses operate from the beach so Otres can cater to most holiday needs.
Serendipity Beach / Ochheuteal Beach
These are really two beaches in one. Serendipity Beach occupies the north-western end of the strip as far as the headland. There are numerous bungalows clustered on the hillside. It is a pleasant spot, though there are small outcrops of rock in the water near the headland.
Ochheuteal Beach is Sihanoukville’s premier beach and has the widest range of accommodation, restaurants and activity centers. It occupies the south-eastern end of the strip. The beach is home to many of the town’s most popular all-night bars and the foreshore is lined with small cafes and restaurants. A recliner and sunshade cost $1 - $3 per day to hire and this charge is often waived if you eat a meal at the restaurant you hired them from.
Local hawkers roam the sand selling fresh seafood, fruit and other snacks. The seafood is excellent and the range on offer includes lobster, squid, crab and crayfish. It is also possible to get a manicure or massage while you sunbathe.
Beach activities at Ochheuteal include jet skiing [$60/hour] and riding along the seafront on a giant, 7-seater float [$3-5/trip if you haggle]. The sunsets at Ochheuteal are often spectacular and many of the beach restaurants offer candle-lit dinners on the sand after dark.
A new hotel complex and resort is about to be constructed at the south-eastern end of Ochheuteal Beach and most small businesses have already been removed from this area. There is a strong possibility that this area of the beach will eventually become private, though it is accessible at present.
Sokha Beach
Sokha Beach is dominated by the up-market Sokha Beach Resort and is largely used by the resort’s customers. Local traders have been barred from the beach and there is now a small entry charge for non-customers. Sokha has an expanse of clean, well-tended sand even at high tide.
Independence Beach
Independence Beach is north-west of Sokha Beach and is named after the Independence Hotel at its north-western end. Sadly, like Sokha Beach, a significant area of Independence Beach is already private and is only available to customers of the hotel, as is the headland on which the hotel stands. The beach attracts fewer foreign tourists than Ochheuteal but there are a handful of restaurants towards the south-eastern end.
Hawaii Beach
A massive shopping and residential development has turned Hawaii Beach into something of a building site at present. The beach has been rented from the government and though it is possible to walk along the beach and swim there, visitors are not allowed to stay for long periods of time.
Victory Beach
Victory Beach is situated on the west of the peninsula, just south of the port. It is a sandy area, making low tide the best time. Victory Beach is really two beaches divided by a rocky point and a small hill. North of the rocky point there is a park with the port at the other end. It is a great place to watch sunsets and see the big cruise and cargo ships come and go.
Ream National Park and Beach
This park is located 18km from Sihanoukville, and is a must-see while in southern Cambodia. The park has been open since 1993 and encompasses 21,000 hectares including 15,000 hectares of terrestrial habitats and 6000 hectares of marine habitats. The park offers secluded beaches, mangrove forests, tropical jungles, and has 155 different species of birds and monkeys. Officially, the park is Preah Sihanouk National Park, but has become known as “Ream” because it is in Ream Commune. The Prek Tuk Sap estuary, also located in the park, has off-shore coral reefs and two islands. Rhesus monkeys and a variety of water and jungle fowl can be seen by visitors. The park also contains rarely glimpsed species such as ‘mouse-deer’ and pangolin. From December to February the famous white, freshwater dolphin is another of the park’s natural attractions. You will gain more from a jungle walk or a boat trip if you take a park ranger with you.
Ream Beach is inside the National Park, 28km from town. There is limited accommodation available through the National Park Office at $5.00 / night.
Koh Pos
Koh Pos Beach is on a tiny island only 800m off the coast. Koh Pos offers cool shade but has rocky waters.
Kbal Chhay Waterfall
Kbal Chhay is near Khan Prey Nup, 7km from Sihanoukville. The waterfall is fed by many sources running down from a nearby mountain range. Until 1963, Kbal Chhay was Sihanoukville’s main source of fresh water but this supply was cut when the waterfall became a hiding place for Khmer Rouge cadres. In 1997, Kbal Chhay was earmarked for development.