Sihanoukville
Cambodia's only deep-water port and gateway to its islands; with Sihanoukville city still under construction, head straight for the white-sand beaches and bioluminescent plankton of Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem.
Sihanoukville (often called Kampong Som) sits on Cambodia's south-west coast and is the country's only deep-water port and the gateway to its Gulf of Thailand islands. Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem lie about 25–35 km offshore to the west and are administered by Koh Rong municipality. The climate is tropical monsoon: the dry season from November to April brings calm seas and good visibility – the best time to visit the islands – while the rainy season from May to October often brings rough seas, with some speedboats cancelled or running less often and some island businesses closing.
The area divides into three parts: Sihanoukville city and its nearby beaches (Independence Beach, Victory Beach, Ochheuteal–Serendipity Beach and Otres Beach); the mangroves of Ream National Park to the east; and the islands – Long Set Beach and Koh Touch village pier on Koh Rong, and Saracen Bay on Koh Rong Sanloem. The islands are the real highlight: soft white sand, clear water, and at night, bioluminescent plankton that glows when you paddle through the dark sea.
Getting there: the Phnom Penh–Sihanoukville Expressway, opened in 2022, takes about 2.5–3 hours from Phnom Penh; Sihanoukville International Airport has domestic and a few international flights; there is also a tourist train from Phnom Penh. Speedboats to both islands leave from several piers in the city, taking about 45 minutes to 1 hour one way and costing around US$20–30 return; in high season, book a day ahead. Allow 3–5 days, with at least 2 nights on the islands.
Safety: in recent years Sihanoukville city has had a complicated security situation due to large numbers of abandoned construction projects, online gambling and telecom-scam compounds. The Chinese Embassy in Cambodia has repeatedly warned travellers about scams such as "high-paying job offers" and "free guides", and about the risk of unlawful detention. Use the city only as a transit point, decline car hires or job offers arranged by strangers, and avoid walking alone in quiet parts of the city at night. For passports, visas (visa on arrival or e-visa) and entry rules, refer to the latest information from the Cambodian authorities and China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Top sights
- Koh Rong Long Beach (Sok San Beach) – A roughly 7 km stretch of white sand on the northwest side of Koh Rong, with fine, flour-like sand, few crowds and clear water, is the isla…
- Saracen Bay, Koh Rong Sanloem – A crescent-shaped white-sand bay about 3 km long on the east coast of Koh Rong Sanloem, with shallow, calm water. It is the most family- an…
- Koh Touch Village & Koh Rong East Beaches – The backpacker village at the main pier of Koh Rong, home to guesthouses, restaurants, bars, dive centers, and island-hopping tours, and th…
- Otres Beach – A long sandy beach about 5 to 8 km southeast of Sihanoukville town, quieter than the town beaches, with views of small islands offshore.
- Independence Beach – A beach on the northwest side of Sihanoukville town, named after the Independence Hotel built in the 1960s, with an open beach and waterfro…
- Ream National Park – A coastal national park east of Sihanoukville with mangroves, estuaries, pristine beaches, and offshore islands, where you can explore the…
- Golden Lions Roundabout – A city landmark in Sihanoukville, where a pair of golden lion statues stands at the center of a roundabout and is the most common image of…
- Serendipity & Ochheuteal Beach – The busiest beach in Sihanoukville and the departure point for speedboats to the islands, a hub before and after island trips.
- Lazy Beach, Koh Rong Sanloem – A quiet white-sand bay on the west coast of Koh Rong Samloem, facing the sunset with few visitors, and the island's top spot for watching t…
- M'Pai Bay, Koh Rong Sanloem – A Khmer fishing village and backpacker bay at the north tip of Koh Rong Samloem, where you can see glowing bioluminescent plankton when you…
- Police Beach, Koh Rong – A party beach next to Koh Touch village, famous for beach electronic music parties and full moon parties, and the center of Koh Rong's nigh…
- Lonely Beach, Koh Rong – A remote bay at the north tip of Koh Rong, surrounded by jungle with eco wooden bungalows and pristine white sand, a good place to escape t…
- Wat Krom – A Buddhist temple on a hillside in Sihanoukville, home to a shrine to Ya Mao, the city's guardian spirit, with views over the harbor and ba…
- Sokha Beach – The whitest, most beautifully crescent-shaped beach in Sihanoukville, mostly managed by the Sokha Beach Resort, with a clean and peaceful e…
- Kbal Chhay Waterfall – A multi-tiered waterfall northeast of Sihanoukville that also serves as the city's water source, filled with water in the rainy season and…
- Koh Ta Kiev – A jungle island off the coast of Ream National Park with only a few simple eco-lodges, ideal for those who want to experience an untouched…
- Phsar Leu Market – Sihanoukville's main local market, packed with dried seafood, tropical fruit and Khmer snacks, offering a glimpse of everyday Cambodian lif…
Where to eat
- Sandan Restaurant – A training restaurant run by the nonprofit M'Lop Tapang, serving traditional and creative Cambodian dishes made with fr…
- Khin's Beach Shack – A family-run eatery on Occheuteal Beach, known for Cambodian seafood and charcoal-grilled scallops at affordable prices.
- Chhne Meas Seafood Restaurant – A waterside seafood restaurant on Port Road with typical Sino-Cambodian flavors, and a convenient lunch stop before the…
Itineraries
- Angkor to the Coast: Cambodia Grand Loop – Travel from north to south covering Angkor, Battambang, Phnom Penh, Kampot, Kep, and Koh Rong.
- Kep, Kampot & Koh Rong Sanloem Southern Coast – Head south from Phnom Penh to feast on Kep crabs, visit Kampot pepper farms, and relax on Koh Rong Sanloem.