Sihanoukville has a more than ample supply of accommodations, including a 5-star resort complex on Sokha Beach, several mid-range places downtown and at the beaches, a few 'upscale' three-star hotels, and dozens of budget
guesthouses, especially on Weather Station Hill (Victory Hill). Considering the moderate number of visitors to Sihanoukville, the town offers a surprising number and variety of restaurants and bars. Fresh seafood, especially crab, prawns and ocean fish, has always been one of the town's biggest draws, but there is also a wide variety of places offering foreign cuisines - Australian, French, Indian, German, Sri Lankan, British, Italian, pizza places and even a couple of western-style bakeries. And these days Sihanoukville offers a pretty good night life as well with a wide variety of bars staying open well into the wee hours, especially on Weather Station Hill, in the downtown area, and the beach bars on Ochheuteal, ‘Serendipity’ and Victory Beaches.
Sihanoukville's white sand beaches and warm Gulf of Thailand waters combine with a laid back, beachy atmosphere to provide a great little tropical getaway. Sihanoukville is a place to unwind by the beach, enjoy the fresh from-the-ocean seafood, take in a snorkeling or island trip or some scuba diving... generally slow-down, lay back and chill-out.
Sihanoukville has a different look and feel than most Cambodian towns. Constructed as a port city in the late 1950s, the town is much newer, more urban and cosmopolitan than most Cambodian provincial cities. Nowadays, Sihanoukville is as much a beach town as it is a port town, catering to beach-going weekenders from Phnom Penh as well as a steadily increasing number of foreign visitors. Still, the pace of life in Sihanoukville is very relaxed. Cows occasionally wander the main road, outside town foreign faces draw smiles and curious stares, and most of the beaches offer only beach umbrellas, thatched roofed eateries, and a growing number of restaurants, bungalows and hotels.
Sihanoukville has a more than ample supply of accommodations, including a 5-star resort complex on Sokha Beach, several mid-range places downtown and at the beaches, a few 'upscale' three-star hotels, and dozens of budget guesthouses, especially on Weather Station Hill (Victory Hill). Considering the moderate number of visitors to Sihanoukville, the town offers a surprising number and variety of restaurants and bars. Fresh seafood, especially crab, prawns and ocean fish, has always been one of the town's biggest draws, but there is also a wide variety of places offering foreign cuisines - Australian, French, Indian, German, Sri Lankan, British, Italian, pizza places and even a couple of western-style bakeries. And these days Sihanoukville offers a pretty good night life as well with a wide variety of bars staying open well into the wee hours, especially on Weather Station Hill, in the downtown area, and the beach bars on Ochheuteal, ‘Serendipity’ and Victory Beaches.Now that most of the major roads are in good condition, regularly scheduled air-con buses crisscross southern Cambodia, making travel easy from Phnom Penh and connecting Sihanoukville with the other coastal cities of Koh Kong, Kampot, Kep, each offering its own unique character. And with the recent opening of the Prek Chak crossing with Vietnam and the completion of the final bridges on the road to Koh Kong earlier this year, the coastal traveler's trail from the Koh Kong crossing with Thailand, though the beach towns of Cambodia and on to southern Vietnam and Phu Quoc Island, is now open.
Seaside
Seaside. Beach. Ocean. Island.
You'll hear these words many times on your trip to SihanoukVille. All the resorts have their own beaches. Some of the beaches are very rocky, some are deserted, some are filled with beach stands, tourists and locals on weekends and holidays.
The resorts have private beaches for their guests. These are maintained by the resorts and are very quiet and clean.
Outside of the resorts, you can find the following beaches. These are all mostly 5 minutes from downtown:
Otres
Otres is located at the far end of Ocheteaul. This beach is about 15 minutes outside of downtown, and you can walk here from Ocheteaul Beach in 15 minutes. This is the only beach without electricity, and is very peaceful. There are several grass beach shacks here. Sparsely filled with pine trees, and no other signs of civilization, this is one of the quietest beaches. You can also rent canoes, kayaks, and sailboats here.
Ocheteaul
Ocheteaul is the main tourist beach in town. Filled with beach stands, and just across the street from a plethora of hotels.
Serendipity
Serendipity is at the near end of Ocheteaul. This is the most Western public beach in town. A handful of bungalows on the beach and hillside, with plenty of dining options.
Hawaii
Hawaii Beach is isolated from the other beaches. Filled with pine trees, this is a popular starting point for boat trips to Snake Island, just offshore.
Victory
Victory Beach is a popular destination for residents of Victory Hill. There is a pier here for boat trips, a Russian plane on the beach doubling as disco, and some quiet beach stands near the seafood restaurants and casino. Also has yacht and power boat rentals.
Independence
Independence Hotel maintains part of Independence Beach for their guests. Part of the beach is on a rocky hillside with beautiful views, part is white sandy beach.
Ream
Ream beach is about 40 minutes out of town in Ream National Park. Not the best beach for swimming, but popular for the seafood stands on the shore, park tours, and island tours.
Sokha
Sokha Beach is a well maintained and very quiet beach reserved for the guests of Sokha Resort
