Experience Sunset Hunting at Koh Rong Samloem

Koh Rong Samloem has long been a familiar destination for Vietnamese youth, known for its pristine beauty and friendly locals.

Koh Rong Samloem has long been a familiar destination for Vietnamese youth, known for its pristine beauty and friendly locals. However, this beautiful island offers more than just blue seas, white sands, and high blue skies. It provides other unforgettable experiences that you should definitely try at least once in your life. Koh Rong Samloem is an island off the coast of Sihanoukville, Cambodia. Before deciding on Koh Rong Samloem for my summer vacation, I was quite indecisive because Cambodia, though nearby, still seemed unfamiliar to many travelers, including myself.

Cambodia is globally renowned for its ancient Khmer culture, historic and culturally rich temples like Angkor, Ta Prohm, and more. When it comes to island beach tourism, people often think of beaches in Bali, Phuket, or Palawan, overlooking the fact that Cambodia's beautiful islands are equally fantastic and shouldn't be missed.

After exploring various regions, I started noticing the name Koh Rong Samloem in your country. As a lover of tranquility and pristine blue beaches, I decided to visit Kon Rong Samloem on a sunny day. Leaving this beautiful island, the unforgettable sunset scene in photos remains etched in my memory. More than the breathtaking scenery, what I remember most is the warm smiles of the locals here.

To reach Koh Rong Samloem, you can choose various travel methods, either by air or by road, depending on each person's economic conditions. With plenty of time on our hands, my travel companion and I opted for the overland route. In the evening, we traveled from Ho Chi Minh City to the Hà Tiên bus station by coach. After crossing the Xa Xia international border gate, both of us continued the journey to the Sihanoukville harbor in Cambodia. Finally, after a 45-minute speedboat ride, we couldn't contain our joy when setting foot on this beautiful island for the first time. Forget all the fatigue after over 14 hours of travel, take a quick breath of the sea air, let the sea breeze weave through our hair – I knew this would undoubtedly be an unforgettable journey.

If you're in an excited mood for a getaway, be mentally prepared for the journey to Koh Rong Samloem, which is truly... not as easy as you think. Due to economic challenges in the Vietnam-Cambodia border region, the stretch from the Xa Xia border gate to Sihanoukville is an extremely difficult road for both drivers and tourists alike, with winding paths and often slow-moving traffic. For this reason, although it's only about 143 km, you will spend about 5 hours getting to Sihanoukville.

From the center of Sihanoukville, we took a tuk-tuk to the pier for about 5 USD/person. If you pre-book your boat tickets in Vietnam, there will be a shuttle to take you there without any additional cost, and the boat journey takes about 45 minutes to reach Koh Rong Samloem. The most important thing during the journey to Koh Rong Samloem is not to expect a smooth, easy road. Never give up on the way because once you arrive, Koh Rong Samloem will surely not disappoint you. Looking back, during the time on Koh Rong Samloem, I only wished to return to that period, lying reading a book on the beach, gazing at the sky and forgetting all the usual life fatigue.

In addition to the smooth white sandy beaches and long stretches of coastline, Koh Rong Samloem is adorned with resorts and wooden houses (bungalows) along the shore. We chose Sara Resort with a promotional price of around 50 USD/night for two people.

In general, I quite like the resorts in Koh Rong Saloem for their environmental friendliness and the service style of the staff. Despite being a coastal sandy land, most resorts are surrounded by lush greenery. Inside the rooms, you'll find air conditioning, hot water, hairdryer, TV, and strong Wi-Fi. Additionally, you'll be welcomed with a complimentary transfer from the pier to the resort, along with two refreshing tropical drinks to energize you after a long journey. In the morning, the resort serves a complimentary and delicious breakfast with a diverse menu, accompanied by fresh fruit juices.

Koh Rong Samloem is an ideal place for relaxation; therefore, there are not many activities on the island. Activities to try when visiting this island include: snorkeling, fishing, and observing glowing plankton at night. Additionally, try trekking to two other beaches on the opposite side of the island, Lazy Beach and Sunset Beach, to enjoy the sunset. If you can't find your way, you can ask the resort directly and request a map.

For these two beaches, personally, Lazy Beach is relatively easier to reach, requiring about a 30-minute trek through the forest. The beach here is relatively quiet, less crowded, with white sandy beaches, but the water is not as clear as in Saracen Bay. This is also a place you should visit when coming to Koh Rong Samloem.

In contrast to Lazy Beach, Sunset Beach – renowned as the most beautiful sunset spot in Koh Rong Samloem, is a rather challenging route for many. The path, sometimes uphill, sometimes downhill, resembles the saying, 'up and down like a roller coaster,' with many mosquitoes in the forest, and several sections require rope climbing on the rock. If unlucky during the rainy season, the forest can be quite damp. If you decide to admire the sunset at Sunset Beach, it's advisable to return early, before dark. In exchange for the 'painful' journey is a tranquil beach. Watching the sunset here with your loved one is undeniably romantic.

Tips for trekking: Remember to bring water, light snacks, and insect repellent spray. It's advisable to wear proper hiking shoes instead of sandals.

Koh Rong Samloem doesn't have much distinctive cuisine, offering mainly Western dishes like hamburgers, beefsteaks, and fries. Note that the island only accepts USD for payment, and menu prices are also in USD. If you crave Vietnamese food, you can visit Onederz Hotel to enjoy dishes quite similar to Vietnamese cuisine on the island. In the evening, you can indulge in seafood along the coastline, accompanied by affordable and delicious food and drinks.

One of the things that left a strong impression on me is that the people on Koh Rong Samloem are very gentle and friendly. The success of my trip is partly thanks to the enthusiastic help of the locals. What I remember most when returning is the gentle smiles of the people in this remote island area.

In general, Koh Rong Samloem is a suitable destination for couples seeking a resort getaway, returning to a quiet atmosphere after the hustle and bustle of life. While many find the sea in Koh Rong beautiful, for me, the sea here is probably as beautiful as the central region of Vietnam. With affordable costs, suitable for many people, if you have a limited budget and want to go to the beach and travel abroad, Koh Rong Samloem is the best choice for you.

Big thanks to you, Cao Tường Vy, for the incredibly helpful travel review. Hope you have many more exciting journeys in the near future.

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