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Where it's at
Bordered by the popular destinations of Vietnam and Thailand,
Cambodia is now the place for the more intrepid traveller.
Sihanoukville is Cambodia's premier beach town and
its second city. Situated 150 miles southeast of Phnom
Penh, along the US restructured Highway 4, sits
the once sleepy fishing village Sihanoukville or Kampong
Som as it is known to the locals. Seven miles of uncrowded,
white sand beaches, warm blue waters of the Gulf of Thailand
and a plethora of pristine islands are waiting to welcome
any visitor in search of rest and relaxation. These unspoilt
beaches and relaxed atmosphere are a traveller's paradise.
Getting there
Getting to Sihanoukville from Phnom Penh is quite easy. The
journey will take around three and a half hours by car or
a bit more in one the many air-conditioned buses that leave
from the city until 1.30pm towards the coast everyday, although
be prepared for an uncomfortable jam-packed ride and some
reckless driving with this option.
Where to stay
In the town, cows mingle with buses on the streets, and the
beaches are largely undeveloped, offering only sand and surf,
although the city has many restaurants and hotels for international
tastes. The new Serendipity Beach at the far end of
Ochheuteal is a new popular resort amongst tourists
and weekend visitor from the capital Phnom Penh. There are
plenty of places to stay, both along the beach and in town,
and many fresh seafood restaurants to keep you satiated while
enjoying the seaside life.
Diver's paradise
For the more adventurous, the numerous islands and miles of
coral reef create excellent scuba diving sites. There
is enough untouched wildlife beneath the waters, such as giant
clams, leopard sharks and soccer ball sized
jellyfish to make a marine biologist ecstatic as well
as a few shipwrecks and a downed US helicopter to
swim through. The Diving Outfitters in town segment the islands
into three groups: Kampong Song, Ream Group and
Royal Group. Which group to choose will depend on the
amount of time you have, your level of diving experience and
the type of marine life you would like to see. There are even
island excursions for those who just wish to find an empty
tropical beach and some small areas for snorkelling.
Other things to do
Victory Beach, also known as Hawaii Beach, is
a great place to watch the ships coming in and going out.
It's also the scene for watching the best golden kissed sunsets
in the region.
What our for...
Crime is very prevalent on the beach, so don't leave anything
unguarded, even for a minute.
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