Sihanoukville - A tropical beach paradise in Cambodia.

On Cambodia‘s southern coast, Sihanoukville hosts Cambodia‘s only sea port for container ships from the thai gulf. Sihanoukville was founded in 1964, cut from the jungle by a combined french and cambodia team following Cambodia’s independence from the french. Sihanoukville is now very popular with tourists who loved the tropical beaches and warm weather.

Named after Cambodia’s retired king, Norodom Sihanouk, Sihanoukville has developed as a premier attraction for tourists visiting cambodia, as well as residents looking for a holiday. This was stifled in 1994 when three western backpackers were kidnapped by the Khmer Rouge, and later murdered. Sihanoukville has since recovered and now entertains almost 1,000,000 tourists every year.

There is also an International Airport in Sihanoukville, but following a crash in 2007, the safety and integrity of the sihanoukville airport has been questioned. The original purpose for this airport was to lure visitors from cambodia’s other major attractions, such as the Angkor Wat temples in Siem Reap, and the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, to the relaxing coastal beaches. While Sihanoukville’s airport remains ready to accept flights, none are scheduled at the time of writing.

The commercial deep water sea port is located on Sihanoukville’s northern peninsula, with a number of tropical islands and beaches to the west and south. The other beaches lie on the western and southern edges of the peninsula.

Occheuteal beach is the most popular beach in Sihanoukville. Many casuarina trees line the beach, beneath which there are many basic huts offering comfortable seating, refreshments and snacks. On the northern end of Occheuteal beach is serendipity beach. While actually just one long stretch of beach, serendipity beach received its own name because of the many backpacker hotels, and mid-price accommodations.

The Southern end of Occheuteal beach is mainly deserted, awaiting the development of a large resort, the progress of which has been very slow following the failed attempt to build a golf course on this land. Around the headland on the Southern end of Occheuteal beach is a similar and primarily deserted Otres beach - While formerly devoid of visitors, Otres beach is now home to some backpacker accommodations and is being touted as a location for adventure sports including sailing and paragliding.

The nicest beach in Sihanoukville is Sokha beach, privately owned and maintained by the massive and luxurious Sokha Hotel. White sand was dumped on Sokha beach, and cleaners walk the beach daily picking up rubbish. Unfortunately visitors can’t just walk around the headland onto Sokha beach as they may be ushered away by the hotels guards, however it is possible to park in the hotels main car-park, and wonder down to the beach posing as a guest.

Independence beach is a pebbly beach to the west of Sokha Beach and to the south of Victory Beach - Many open air alfresco restaurants line this beach which is very popular with khmer locals. Just north of Independence beach is the small and rocky Koh Pos beach with Koh Pos island only 800m off the coast. The northern most beach in Sihanoukville is Victory Beach which is directly south of the port of Sihanoukville. Another small beach called Lemherkey Beach is located on the Southern end of Victory Beach. This is where construction began in the 1950’s on the new port of Kompong Som. You can hire boats from here to nearby islands.

Its also possible to visit the islands off Sihanoukvilles coast, of which there are many. The majority of these islands do now have any buildings, however accommodation can be found on Bamboo Island, which is also known as Koh Russei.

Sihanoukville has also been known as Kompong Som and Krong Preah Selhanu, and is often nicknamed Snookyville or even just Snooky to expatriate residents.

Independence Hotel was built in the 1960’s and apparently played host to Jaqueline Kennedy in 1967 as she toured cambodia, however in 1970 the Khmer Rouge overthrew the government in a coup, and renamed sihanoukviile, Kompong Som. This name is still used regularly by Khmers and Westerns alike. The interesting thing about the Independence hotel is that it was used as target practice during the khmer rouge regime. Another gruesome fact is that the hotels swimming pool was utilized as a mass graving during these bloody years. Also in the early years of Sihanoukvilles history, the countries national beer, Angkor Beer, set up its first factory in Sihanoukville. Following the unfortunate mistake hijacking of an american container ship, sihanoukville was turned into target practice for american bombers and sustained much damage.

Despite Pol Pot’s downfall, the highway from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh remained in a shocking condition and was well known for banditry. This has changed drastically in the past 10 years with the roads from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville being improved, and all hostilities eradicated.

The New York Times has called Sihanoukville “Asia’s Next Trendsetting Beach” and this is definitely warranted as new hotels, guesthouses, bungalows, restaurants and bars are established on a weekly basis. Many foreigners have expatriated to Sihanoukville and now wonder around at leisure enjoying the sun, the water and the beaches.

The famous independence hotel which was used as target practice for the khmer rouge and whose swimming pool was used as a mass grave, has since been restored as one of Sihanoukville’s luxury hotels, however a new swimming pool has been dug, and the old one filled in.

Sihanoukville is definitely worth a visit if you plan to travel to, or through cambodia. The beaches are relaxing for all, and there is always something to do if you are so inclined.