Sihanoukville is Cambodia's premier beach resort, and has miles of sandy beaches, picturesque islands, and warm tropical waters. It started as a port town 50 years ago, and was known as Kampong Som, and many Cambodians still refer to it by that name . It is still a port, but now it is much more of a beach town and a tourist destination. There are many weekend visitors from Phnom Penh, and also an increasing number of foreign visitors as well as expats. The town itself is located on a hill on a peninsula in the Gulf of Thailand. The pace of life here is relaxed and unhurried. In addition to beach umbrellas, most the beaches have thatched roofed food places, bars and bungalows. There are also a growing number of restaurants, pubs, and a range of hotels near the beaches. Even though Sihanoukville is growing fast, it still has a relaxed, beach
town atmosphere, and is a good place to relax on the beach, enjoy fresh seafood, party at the bars, take an island trip, or enjoy the many water sports available such as scuba diving.
What To See & Do
In addition to the beaches of Sihanoukville, and the many fine hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants, there are also places of interest to visit, such as Ream National Park, Theouk Cha, Boat trips to offshore islands, including Bamboo Island. Sihanoukville is also famous for the many water sports activities available there. These include: SCUBA diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, and sailing, just to mention a few. You can also take a Khmer cooking class to learn how to prepare famous Khmer dishes. And of course, don't forget about the nightlife of Sihanoukville. (see Bars & Clubs below)
Where to eat & Drink
Sihanoukville has some of the best international and local restaurants in Cambodia. The use of quality ingredients, authentic preparation methods, and home-style cooking are what makes for Sihanoukville's distinctive cuisine. Of course, the emphasis here is on fresh seafood. The fresh crabs, prawns, fish and squid here are excellent, and is served at the many beach side restaurants. Many Chinese and Khmer restaurants display live seafood out front for you to choose from. Restaurants are located all over town, with many places in the downtown area, and a growing number of restaurants along 23 Tola St. near Ochheuteal Beach.
Bars & Clubs
There is quite a nightlife scene in Sihanoukville, and there is no shortage of bars and nightspots. There are a number of bars and clubs in the downtown area, but perhaps the epicenter of the late night action is at the top of Victory Hill, also known as Weather Station Hill. There are hostess bars, restaurants, sports bars, and other drinking establishments. Many of the bars are open into
the wee hours of the morning. Other hot spots include the Airport Club discotheque on Victory Beach, open until 3am. On the other side of town, the Golden Lions area has many watering holes, including the Golden Lion Plaza with an aggregation of beer bars. There are also several places on Serendipity Beach Road, and there is usually some kind of beach party most nights at one or more of the beach side bars on Ochheuteal Beach. This is especially true on the weekends and, of course, during a full moon.
Credit Cards
Of course all business establishments large and small accept cash, Riel or U.S. Dollars, but now most all hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, and bars also accept credit cards. There are now ATMs in most parts of Sihanoukville, so there is no problem withdrawing cash.
Safety First
Cambodia is a very safe country, and Sihanoukville is no exception. But as with traveling anywhere, you need to be aware of your surroundings. Pick pocketing in crowds is not unheard of, and there have been reports of items being snatched. When checking in to your hotel, it is advisable to deposit important items and valuables (air tickets, Passport, traveler's cheques, etc.) in the room safe, or with the hotel safe. Common sense will also tell you not walk around with large amounts of money, or valuables such as jewelry.
Cambodia
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