Image by f9photos / Getty Images

Sihanoukville

Sure, Sihanoukville (ក្រុងព្រះសីហនុ) would never win first prize in a pretty-town competition, and much of it is now dominated by casinos and tacky commercial centres. But despite the rapid and mostly unwanted development, it has remained the jumping-off point for the best of Cambodia's white-sand beaches and castaway-cool southern islands. The Serendipity Beach area is a decompression chamber for backpackers, who flock here to rest up between travels and party through the night.

Away from the hustle south of town is relaxed Otres Beach, where cheap bungalow joints and bohemian-flavoured guesthouses are now neighbours with rather swish boutique resorts. Although much of the beachfront will likely be cleared for large-scale development in the future, for now the mellow scene still allows for lazy days of sunbathing and whirlwind nights of bar-hopping.

Explore Sihanoukville

0

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Sihanoukville.

  • Beach

    Sokha Beach

    Midway between Independence and Serendipity Beaches lies Sihanoukville’s prettiest stretch of sand, 1.5km-long Sokha Beach. Its fine, silicon-like sand…

  • Beach

    Otres Beach

    Past the southern end of Ochheuteal Beach, beyond the Phnom Som Nak Sdach (Hill of the King’s Palace) headland, lies stunning Otres Beach, a seemingly…

  • Waterfall

    Kbal Chhay Cascades

    Thanks to their appearance in Pous Keng Kong (The Giant Snake; 2000), one of the most successful Cambodian films of the post-civil-war era, these cascades…

  • Beach

    Lamherkay Beach

    About 1.5km southwest of Victory Beach, next to a shady grove, is Lamherkay Beach, also known as Hawaii Beach. Koh Pos (Snake Island), the island 800m…

  • Beach

    Ochheuteal Beach

    This 4km-long beach qualifies as Sihanoukville’s main beach, but it's no place to swim these days as the rapid development of high-rise casinos along its…

  • Beach

    Otres 1 Beach

    Otres 1 is the first stretch of sand along Otres Beach. It's changing fast as Chinese companies take over from predominantly Western-owned businesses and…

  • Beach

    Independence Beach

    Northwest of Sokha Beach, much of Independence Beach (also known as 7-Chann Beach) has been taken over by a gargantuan new property development, but a…

  • Buddhist Temple

    Wat Leu

    Spectacular views of almost every casino (finished and unfinished) in Sihanoukville and gorgeous sunset panoramas await at Wat Leu, situated on a peaceful…

  • Beach

    Otres 2 Beach

    The most southern section of Otres Beach, known as Otres 2, is mainly the domain of Chinese developers these days, with a few Western-oriented holdouts.

  • Beach

    Victory Beach

    Not the best beach in town due to the looming backdrop of the Sihanoukville Port development, which has closed off part of Victory Beach. But the part…

  • Landmark

    Golden Lions Roundabout

    The highly garish and impossible-to-miss Golden Lions Roundabout sits at the top of the hill where Serendipity Beach Rd heads down to the sea.

  • Monument

    Independence Monument

    The Independence Monument stands at the intersection that separates Sihanoukville city centre from Victory Hill.

Top experiences

Whether it’s a guided tour of a historic landmark, private tasting of local delicacies, or an off-road adventure — explore the best experiences in Sihanoukville.

  • Activities