Sihanoukville tourist guide

Located in the sunny south of Cambodia, the seaside town of Sihanoukville contains the most popular beaches in the country. People travel from all over the world to explore this tropical paradise, which features pure white powdery sand fringed with palm trees and clear blues water lapping the shore.

Formerly known as Kompong Som, Sihanoukville takes its name from Cambodia’s beloved Prince Sihanouk. Many people travel here via the Koh Kong/Hat Lek border crossing that connects with Thailand, while buses travel to Sihanoukville from major destinations such as Phnom Penh.

Sihanoukville’s main attraction is its multitude of beautiful beaches. There are six picturesque stretches of sand to choose from here, namely Victory Beach, Independence Beach, Sokha Beach, Ochheuteal Beach, Serendipity Beach and Otres Beach. The cheapest accommodation can be found around Victory Beach, while Otres Beach is the least crowded and the Ochheuteal Beach is the most vibrant as it offers a large collection of bars and restaurants.

Sihanoukville is a great place for diving, as there are a number of nearby islands where you can take a boat trip and dive deep into the clear blue waters. Snorkelling is also popular here and the waters around Koh Russei – also known as Bamboo Island – are a particularly good place to spot shoals of colourful fish. Koh Russei is celebrated for its natural beauty and many visitors are tempted to spend the night here in the tranquil surroundings where the only noise is the song of birds and the wind in the trees.

Many of the small tour agencies along the beachfront offer a number of day trips, with the most popular being Ream National Park. A great way to explore is by hiring a motorcycle and simply driving wherever the mood takes you. Drive two kilometres north to the Kampong Pier Nup Lok for pretty island views and discover the temples of Wat Leu and Wat Krom.

Food lovers will find plenty of interest in Sihanoukville. Fresh fish barbeques make an appearance at dusk, enticing diners with their mouth-watering aromas. Although there are a good number of restaurants serving tasty international dishes, this is also a good place to try traditional Khmer cuisine such as creamy coconut curry. 

Attractions
From beautiful beaches to unspoilt tropical islands, visitors will find a large number of attractions in Sihanoukville. Those who can bear to tear themselves away from the beach will discover enchanting temples such and tiny tropical islands… more

Activities
Diving and snorkelling are popular activities here and a large number of companies in Sihanoukville take visitors on tours of nearby islands such as Koh Russei and Koh Rung. Off course, just soaking up the sun is an popular activity in itself… more

Hotels
Accommodation comes in all shapes as sizes in Sihanoukville, ranging from low cost beachside huts to deluxe resorts. Most of the leading hotels in Sihanoukville offer luxurious spas, ideal for those who are looking for a little pampering, as well as restaurants, private pools and other amenities… more

Restaurants
Ranging from casual beachside shacks offering traditional Khmer cuisine as reasonable rates to stylish restaurants in resorts, finding something tasty to sink your teeth into in Sihanoukville is never a problem… more

Bars
Sihanoukville boasts a vibrant nightlife scene, with Serendipity Beach offering a large number of bars to relax and unwind in at the end of the day. Many offer special drink deals and host beach parties and BBQs… more