Tourism of Sihanoukville
Sihanoukville is a coastal city located in south-west Cambodia on the Gulf of Thailand. It is known for its vast coastline home to a series of magnificent beaches, restaurants serving delicious seafood cuisines and an occurring nightlife making it a popular destination for a beach holiday in the country for the visitors. It is the capital of Sihanoukville province and is usually one of the most modernized towns in Cambodia. Visitors check out Sihanoukville to enjoy watersports, online games, and boat outings in the surrounding islands.
History of Sihanoukville
Sihanoukville was setup as a port town in 1964 after Cambodia’s independence, and the city got its name from the country’s King Norodom Sihanouk. Relatively a new town, it developed into a beach destination with grand resorts, bars, and rich coastline until the Khmer Rouge put an end to the golden era.
The city was almost shut down after thousands of civilians were killed and the buildings destroyed. One of the famous hotels was the Independence hotel, which became abandoned. In 1993, peace returned to Sihanoukville, and from the late 1990s, the town turned into a backpacker’s paradise, with plenty of cheap guesthouses, bars, cafes and restaurants lining up the clean white sand beaches.
From being Cambodia’s famous beach town, it has now turned into a concrete jungle with construction sites. The city houses more expats compared to the locals at this point, most of them Chinese, who’ve set up a huge selection of large casinos across all of the beaches. This sizeable Chinese expenditure is unfortunately negatively changing the town, impacting the lives of the locals. The Chinese people have increased right here dramatically using its continued settlement.
Things you can do
Beaches and Watersport:- A number of white-colored sand beaches along the coastline in the town may be the main pull for tourists exactly who go to the town. A tropical scenery dotted with mangrove forests, bordered by coastal marshlands along the Ream Nationwide Park, the lengthy stretch out of River Ou Trojak working from Otres Pagoda to the ocean abundant with marine lifestyle and all drinking water adventures beckon travellers to the town. Sihanoukville is a superb spot to relax by the seaside, consider up scuba, kayaking, snorkelling, operate paddleboarding and swimming.
Seafood in Sihanoukville
The townhouses many restaurants in various budgets serving exceptional seafood which includes crabs, prawns, and different seafood cuisines. Sihanoukville also appears newer and includes an exclusive Cosmopolitan style in comparison to other metropolitan areas that remain traditional within their outlook. It really is partly due to a lot of upscale, high-class beachside resorts, malls, casinos and entertainment centres. Specifically, the elements Station Hill or Triumph Hill is home to many 5-celebrity accommodations.
Nightlife in Sihanoukville
The city offers a pretty good nightlife in Ochheuteal, Serendipity and Triumph Beaches with all beach sidebars and also those downtowns that serve fresh brews, have musical and dance floors open until the early hours of the morning. If you want to have a simple holiday in a quieter place, Otres beach is the place that has cheap and minimalistic guest houses overlooking the sea.
3. Day time Itinerary
Day 1: Check out Wat Leu Temple in the morning. Then head to Koh Thmei and Koh Pos beaches for watersports or calming. Shop at night in Otres market and enjoy seafood dinner at any of the beachside restaurants.
Day 2: Head to Bamboo Island or Koh Russei during the day. Come back in the evening for buying at the local Phsar Leu Market. Enjoy seafood for dinner in the bars along with some drinks.
Day 3: Check out Ream National Park to explore all the attractions. In the evening head to Serendipity and Ochheuteal beaches for unwinding and taking pleasure in the sunset.
What is the best time to visit Sihanoukville?
The best time to visit Sihanoukville is between October and January. The weather is ideal during these weeks with less humidity and is a great time to enjoy the beaches. From late February, summer units in slowly with March to May being the hottest weeks. Monsoon begins in late July and lasts until September, with the majority of regions witnessing landslides and floods.
Local transport in Sihanoukville
You will get around Sihanoukville by hiring a Tuk-Tuk or renting a motorbike daily. Cabs are available too if you want to commute more comfortably. You can also hire bikes to explore short distances.
Tips When Arriving at Sihanoukville
Sihanoukville’s beaches of late have been unsafe in general, with the increase in crime. It is recommended to not venture out in unpopulated areas after 9 PM.
Check the current situation from the hotel staff before you head out. Most of the casinos in the town are forbidden for tourists as well as locals, admitting only the Chinese. It is best to check before entering to avoid any conflicts.
Although there are plenty of shopping options along the beaches in Sihanoukville, the prices are higher compared to other cities. So avoid shopping if you plan to visit other towns in your itinerary.
There are many ATMs available in the city, and it is not necessary to carry a large amount of money. Also, it is discouraged because of crimes.