Sihanoukville Cambodia
Sihanoukville, also known as Kampong Som, or Kampong Saom, is a port
city in southern Cambodia on the Gulf of Thailand. The city was founded in 1964
to be the only deep water port in Cambodia and its beaches are rapidly making it
popular as a tourist destination. The city is named after King Norodom Sihanouk.
For administrative purposes Sihanoukville is a municipality, holding the same
status as a province. It is subdivided into 3 districts.
1801 Mittakpheap
1802 Prey Nob
1803 Stueng hav
GEOGRAPHY
Sihanoukville is surrounded by palm-fringed sandy beaches and pristine tropical
islands off its south and west coast. Beaches here lies on the west contour of
the city, from north to south, namely Victory Beach, Lamherkay Beach, Koh Pos
Beach, Independence Beach, Sokha beach, Serendipity Beach and Occheuteal Beach.
The most popular beaches are Occheuteal, Sokha, Independence and Victory.
Tourist are allowed island hopping, diving, snorkeling and game fishing at the
islands nearby.
Occheteal Beach is the all-rounder with long and narrow strip of beach lined
with Casuarina trees, grass umbrellas, rental chairs and little drink huts. The
sandy beach that stretches southwards is worth trekking down if any trippers
want some privacy. Many of these huts were recently bulldozed by the government
to make way for a supposed new resort. At the northern end is Serendipity Beach
, which is a cool place for travelers to hang out. Serendipity beach also offers
small guesthouse rooms right on the beach with occasional full-moon parties.
However, the beach is filled with boulders that make it unfriendly for swimming.
SOKHA BEACH
Sokha Beach is located just west of Serendipity Beach . This beach is privately
owned and is the first luxury beach hotel in Cambodia. It provides many
facilities with a wide white sandy beach; if you are not staying at the hotel
the guards may or may not stop you from going on to the beach.
INDEPENDENCE BEACH
Independence Beach is located next to Sokha Beach on its west. The beach was
named after the old Independence Hotel. This beach offers a good stretch of
clean sand. Situated at the northern end of the beach is Independence Hotel and
Koh Pos Beach, the nice tiny island only 800m off the coast. Koh Pos offers cool
shades but rocky waters.
VICTORY BEACH
Victory beach is situated at the furthest north of the peninsula of
Sihanoukville . It was the original backpacker beach and still popular with
budget travelers. At the northern end of the beach is located the deep sea port.
Thus, apart from white sand and blue sea, this beach offers a good spot to enjoy
the scenes of sunset. At the further south of Victory Beach is another small
strand of sand called Lamherkey Beach where the Hawaii Seaview Restaurant is
located. It is the place where a French/ Cambodian construction team laid
groundwork for the construction of the new Port of Kampong Som during 1950s. At
this beach, you can hire a boat to nearby islands.
ISLANDS
There are more than a dozen islands off the coast of Sihanoukville for tourists
to hop around. Most of them are yet to be developed for an overnight stay with
the exception of Bamboo Island, which is also called Koh Russei. Many
guesthouses, restaurants and cafes on Ochteal Teal Serendipity beach offer trips
and packages to these islands.
Soon Nail Island (also called Magic Island because it looks like a mushroom)
will have a hotel run by the folks from the snake house. They already have a
pier and most of the hotel and restaurant are finished.
KOH RONG
Koh Rong is situated west of the Sihanoukville coast. It offers the fantastic
strand of beach on its southwest, stretching about 5 km. It has fresh water
resources on the island and a bustling fishing community on the southeast with
basic supplies including fresh water, fish and crab.
KOH RONG SAMLON
Koh Rong Samlon is a bit smaller than Koh Rong and situated on its south.
Beautiful beaches are on the east coast, where a large heart-shaped bay with
some shellfish cultivation is located, and on the north shoreline facing Koh
Rong.
KOH TANG
Koh Tang is located quite far from the main shoreline of Sihanoukville. Going
there needs trippers to stay overnight on board. It offers interesting diving
spots most of which are not frequently explored. The island is home to a
military outpost and travelers should expect to be boarded by military personnel
when out at the island.
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