Sihanoukville is located on the cost of Cambodia, half way between Thailand and Vietnam, on the bay of Thailand. It is both a town for foreign tourists and local people from all over Cambodia.

There is a lot of sight seeing because three sides of the town are bordered by tropical beaches, seafood, restaurants, bars, Buddhists temples, casinos which makes it a good place for foreign tourists.

Things to see and do in Sihanoukville

There a lot of activities to see and do which include,
Boating and fishing, due to the availability of many types of boats to rent, personal watercrafts, charter and group fishing and sailing boats, yachts and party boats, has made Sihanoukville a major place to visit in Cambodia to see and do all water sports.

Under water, due to a number of several foreign owned scuba and snorkeling companies found here, has made it the number one spot in Cambodia for all under water activity lovers and followers.

The availability of motor cycles and bicycles for rent everywhere, makes it east to go sight seeing anywhere in Sihanoukville as it is the best way to see the mountains, beaches, down town, bar hopping and you can get all the favorite destinations from “stray dog adventures”.

The place has so much to see and do, I will just outline the other major things to do and see, take a day to visit the waterfalls, visit the many homeless children’s camps or volunteer for a day to work in the camps, play miniature golf, visit ping pong shows, i- balling, take a walk at one of the many beautiful beaches or spend a day at the beach with white sand and blue water or even take a boat trip with family or friends.

With little in the way of shopping havens and very little history to be observed there are two main reasons for coming to Sihanoukville and this is of course the beaches and the Ream National Park. The beaches are nowhere near as crowded as nearby Thailand although there are local visitors at the weekend from Phnom Penn, however, during the week it is still possible to enjoy beach seclusion and island paradises.

Here is a list of a few you will enjoy.

Just a little to the south of the busy port with plenty of accommodation for the budget conscious is Victory Beach.

Known as ‘7-chann beach’ after the Independence Hotel lies the white sands of Independence Beach.

Sokha Beach Resort takes up most of Sokha Beach for it’s resident’s, however a small part is non residential.

By far the most popular beach is Ocheuteal because of it’s restaurants, bars and food stalls. The northern portion is known as Serendipity Beach with cheap guesthouses right on the sands.

If peace and quiet is your main priority travel southwards to Oters Beach which is pretty much untouched by development.

Bamboo Island can be reached for as little as $5 and offers beach hut accommodation in atotally unspoilt island getaway but take plenty of money as prices are higher than in Sihanoukville and there are no banks here.

The other attraction is Ream National Park just 30 minutes drive from Sihanoukville offering a chance to see all manner of beautiful birdlife.

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Siem Reap is comparatively a small town and the main local cuisine is the Khmer food which can be found at the restaurants across town, but the European and other Asian cuisines are also well presented including Italian, Thai, Germany, Vietnamese, Indian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese and of course French, given Cambodia’s long relationship with France’s gastronomical traditions and it is no surprise that some of the town’s most finest venues offer French cuisine.

In the most recent years, some of Siem Reap’s finest restaurants offer Khmer fusion and contemporary cuisines, which are diverse and unique to Cambodia.

And for economical food prices, there are many restaurants scattered across town and none is more than 5 minute tuk-tuk ride away or you can just go to the old market area, there, there are many reasonably priced eating areas which all offer Khmer cuisine and other western or Asian foods, especially around “pub street”, listings in dark blue, offer a bar / night life venue in addition to being a restaurant and listings in maroon also offer traditional performance.

The most recommended places are, Abacus, Aha, Alliance Café, Baca Villa, Blue Pumpkin, Bopha Angkor Hotel and Restaurant, Butterflies Garden to name a few.
There is also a free pocket magazine which is available in all hotels, guest houses and other places of accommodation, it gives you all the information you need about the times, menus, locations and offers.

Sihanoukville offers many budget accommodations for the weary traveler in all shapes and sizes some beach side, others downtown starting at a very reasonable $5 per night. The types available will be very familiar to the Asian traveler with the usual pitfalls. Bed bugs can be a problem as this is the tropics, however, if you ask to see the place first there’s a good chance that things will be O.K. Ask politely to see the room if the proprietor does not comply or seems ‘cagey’ walk away and save yourself the inconvenience. A cat is also a good sign as they keep down the rats which transport these delightful parasites.

It is also a good idea to take care of belongings yourself and have your passport and money with you at all times, smaller hotels do not have safes so if you find it a hassle carrying documentation or you are going swimming, ask the proprietor to look after it and to give you a receipt. This can save you a lot of time and frustration as passports and bank cards and are valuable and distressing to replace.

Though Cambodians are by nature very honest street crime in Sihanoukville is small and crimes towards the tourist hardly ever seem to happen do you really want to prove to be the exception to this rule?

Many of the cheaper places are cold water only which at first may sound a little primitive, however, you might find they become more refreshing as the cold water closes the pores and stops excessive sweating.

Despite its small size Sihanoukville offers a good range of restaurants and the prices are unbeatable.

Almost all cuisines are on offer from Indian to Mexican and there is unsurprisingly excellent quality seafood here served in fantastic beachside locations.
There is of course Cambodian food not as spicy as some Asian cooking, similar to neighboring Laos in some ways but without the French influence.

Here is a short list of some of the best.

Grand Restaurant Kampuchea is next to Angelo’s just over the road from the Beach Club on Tola Street. Why not try The Chicken Amok Curry, which is served in a coconut for only three dollars.

Happa is very easy to find on Serendipity Beach Rd. It’s a very nice Japanese teppanyaki (hot plate) restaurant.

Ku Kai on Serendipity Beach Rd is another Japanese restaurant with sashimi (raw fish) and mouth watering ribs.

La Paillote is one of the finest restaurants in Cambodia and booking is recommended. Lovely location on Victory Beach they serve the finest French-Khmer cuisine imaginable.

Maharajah is a lovely Indian restaurant on Victory Hill.

The Mexican on Serendipity Beach Road serves sizzling fajitas, tacos, jalapeno poppers, quesadillas as well as Western and Khmer foods.

Mick and Craig’s restaurant is just near the Golden Lions. A Sihanoukville favourite. Mick and Craigs has a “tex mex” menu and the best Sunday roast this side of Yorkshire. They also serve enormous pork spare ribs. Yum!

Monkey Republic is just a stone’s throw from the Golden Lions they have Kebabs, Barracuda (fish) and Chips, Chicken Amok and Some fine gourmet rolls.

Cambodia’s capital city can be challenging for even the seasoned traveler having a very harsh climate and a higher level of crime than other Asian destinations.
That said there is much to see and do here and excellent places to browse amongst its French Colonial streets and ancient temples.

The Royal Temple and Silver Pagoda are a must see as is The Museum of Cambodia containing much Cambodian art, history and culture. Getting around is probably best by bus, car taxi or foot, but as many victims will testify motor cycles can be treacherous in the city’s dangerous traffic.

The temples are nice and include:
Wat Phom which is situated on a hill in a tiny park near Sisowath Quay on St. 94. Although more important nowadays as an historical rather than visual experience the situation in pleasant greenery is lovely and you can always watch the monkeys or take an elephant ride.

Wat Botum is near the Royal Palace and understandably has royal favor. During the 1930’s it was home to Pol Pot then described as a ‘lovely child’.

Not for the faint of heart, but of historical significance, are The Killing Fields. In what was once a Chinese cemetery The Kymer Rouge executed thousands of intellectuals. A documentary film of the carnage is screened daily and you can observe the remains, skulls and mass graves. To get there you can take tuk-tuk which will wait for you whilst you visit this somber and emotional place.

Phnom Penh would be nobody’s first choice for a family holiday. Unfortunately even adults have to have their wits about them with treacherous traffic, robberies and bag snatching higher than in other Asian destinations. The climate and general health standards could be harsh for even the seasoned traveler and much of the sightseeing is related to recent warfare. Notably there are no toyshops in the capital and kid friendly or exclusive activities are hard if not impossible to find.

However, for the adaptable family who find themselves here there are always things to do and see and places to go. The absolute must sees are The Royal Palace and The Silver Pagoda which for the less fidgety child would provide hours of supervised entertainment.

The National Museum with its French colonial style may also be of interest to some families and contains many fine examples of Cambodian art and culture. With a little forward planning games can be played ‘spotting the exhibit’ or things that begin with….certain letters of the alphabet can provide amusement and enlightenment for the youngster.

The internet is now freely available in Phnom Penh and although sometimes a little slower than your kids may be used to can be a valuable resource in what can be a trying and challenging travel experience.

Raffles Hotel Le Royal has a kid friendly pool and other child friendly entertainments.

The local paper is The Phnom Penh Post which has an excellent listings section for local films, festivals and other entertainments.

Phnom Penh is the capital city of Cambodia and visitors will find getting g here and around much easier than in much of the nation. There are more services and facilities available in Phnom Penh than in the rest of the country and this is a good place to start any journey.

There is a good range of hotels and guesthouses available in the city to suit every budget and most of these places offer guests a wide range of other services such as laundry, internet, food and tours.

The riel is the main currency of Cambodia and is accepted in all businesses throughout the city. However, US Dollars are also widely accepted in major hotels and restaurants and carrying a supply of Dollars saves having to deal with moneychangers.

When it comes to changing money, the main banks for foreigners to use are the ANZ Royal Bank, Canadia Bank and Foreign Trade Bank. There are also ATMs located all over the city and most travel agencies chance traveller’s cheques for a small fee.

Getting around Phnom Penh is simple as the city is quite small and most of the attractions can be covered on foot. There are no public buses available and visitors who wish to cover larger distances can either hire a bicycle for the day or travel by taxi.

Visitors should choose carefully when to visit Phnom Penh as the climate is tropical and has two distinctly different seasons: one wet and the other dry. The best time to visit is from November to January, when the weather is generally at its coolest and driest and humidity is also relatively low.

Here are some phone numbers that might be useful:

Ambulance: 117

Local Police: 012-942484 to connect to the Tourist Police.

Hospitals:
American Medical Center: 023-991863, 012-891613
Calmette Hospital: 023-426948
International SOS Medical and Dental Clinic: 023-216911, 012-816911
Naga Clinic: 011-811175
Tropical and Travellers Medical Clinic: 023-366802, 012-898981
International SOS Medical and Dental Clinic: 023-216911
Blood Transfusion Center: 023 251949

Pharmacies:
Naga Pharmacy; 023-212324
Pharmacie De La Gare: 023-430205
U-Care: 023-222399

Inquiries:
1202
Directory Assistance: 1203
Operator Assisted Calls: 1205

The major tourist attractions in Phnom Penh are based in a fairly compact area, so it is possible to cover some ground on foot or by bike, if you can cope with the heat. Aside from that, taxis and motorcycle taxis are the most common methods of transport as there is no local bus service.

Bus: there is not public bus service to within Phnom Penh and most people tend to use motorbike taxis or taxis to get around.

Motorcycle taxis: there are plenty of motorcycle taxis which can be hired anywhere around town and are pretty cheap for short trips around. You may have to bargain hard, especially in the most popular tourist areas. This method of transport is not for everyone, as they can nip and weave around the streets at adventurous speeds.

Taxis: there are dozens of taxis around the city, often waiting outside hotels or popular tourist destinations. They can also be easily arranged through your hotel. Be sure to agree a fare before your journey. If you are planning a trip outside the city centre, such as to the Killing Fields, then it is a good idea to arrange the hire of a taxi and driving for a morning or a whole day.

Bicycle: it is possible to hire bicycles from many of the guesthouses, and this can be a pleasant way to get around, although in the summer you might find it a little too hot and uncomfortable. Phnom Penh is arranged in a grid system, so is relatively easy to get about and a good number of the major tourist attractions are accessible on foot as well

Sihaoukville is one of the most visited places in Cambodia and Sihanoukville is easily accessible by road, bus or boat. Most visitors travel to Sihanoukville from the capital city of Phnom Pehn. However, there are also services from other major destinations.

By bus
There is a regular bus service from the Central Market in Phnom Pehn to the centre of Sihanoukville and this journey takes about four hours. There are also minibus services, but they can often be too crowded and although they are cheaper are less comfortable.

By taxi
There are a number of shared taxi services that travel to and from nearby towns and cities. The journey takes approximately three hours and is much more comfortable than the bus. They can take up to eight passengers and the more people there are on board, the cheaper the fare is.

By motorbike
It is possible to hire a motorbike to travel to Sihanoukville. Many people bike down from Phnom Penh as the route is well maintained and is the cheapest and often most exhilarating way to travel. The journey is about 230kms and takes about four hours. If you decide to hire a bike, it is vital that you always stay alert to oncoming traffic and be careful of speeding traffic as driving laws are not as strict as they are in Europe.

By car
Private cars can be hired from all major towns and cities with petrol stations being found en route. Travelling by car is somewhat safer than travelling by motorbike and can also be cost effective if you have a car full of people.