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Cambodia, the land of temples, is an immensely appealing destination for avid travelers. Beyond the renowned Angkor Wat complex, Cambodia is celebrated for its captivating landscapes and unique culture, offering countless enchanting destinations waiting to be explored. One standout gem known to many travelers is Sihanoukville - a breathtaking coastal city boasting pristine nature, beautiful islands, long stretches of white sandy beaches, and alluring turquoise waters. Getting to Sihanoukville is also convenient; we traveled directly from Ho Chi Minh City to Sihanoukville by Virak Buntham bus, crossing the Moc Bai border.
Sihanoukville, the southern port city of Cambodia, always attracts a large number of tourists due to its beautiful islands.
Sihanoukville boasts numerous beaches that attract tourists and is also home to Cambodia's only deep-water port.
Sihanoukville is a port city in southern Cambodia, located 232km from the capital Phnom Penh. It has a population that consists of approximately 80% Khmer people, with the remainder being Chams, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Thai. Sihanoukville serves as the hub of Cambodia's coastal region, encompassing four provinces: Preah Sihanouk (commonly referred to as Sihanoukville province), Kampot, Kep, and Koh Kong. The city boasts numerous fine white sandy beaches that attract tourists, and it is also home to Cambodia's only deep-water port.
Travelers visiting Sihanoukville are eager to explore its famous islands.
In Vietnamese phonetics, Sihanoukville is pronounced as Xi Ha Nuc Vin or alternatively known as Kampong Som, Kampong Saom. Situated at the foothills of a gentle peninsula within the Gulf of Thailand, Sihanoukville has an elevation of approximately 15 meters above sea level in the northwest and gradually descends towards coastal plains, marshes, and beaches in the south and southeast. The unique depth of the Gulf of Thailand and the local climate create very pleasant weather conditions here, contrasting with the climates of the East Sea to the east and the Indian Ocean to the west, both of which experience frequent tropical storms and extreme monsoon winds annually.
With an area of approximately 886km2 and nearly 20 islands under the city's jurisdiction, along with six islands belonging to Ream National Park, Sihanoukville boasts diverse landscapes such as tropical forests, coastal mangroves, coral reefs, beaches, islands, and river mouths, as well as a variety of crops including coconut palms, pepper, durian, oil palms, and sugar palms.
A charming street corner in Sihanoukville exudes tranquility and beauty.
One standout feature of Sihanoukville is Preah Sihanouk Park, also known as Ream, spanning 21,000 hectares including Koh Thmei and Koh She islands. It remains a pristine natural reserve established by Cambodia's former king in 1993.
Ream National Park, officially known as Preah Sihanouk Ream National Park, is home to a wide array of rare and wild flora and fauna. Beyond hills and mountains, the park encompasses diverse habitats and ecosystems including mangrove forests, freshwater marshes, grasslands, evergreen forests, beaches, islands, coral reefs, and river mouths. Local residents advise visitors to observe rare animal behaviors during the early mornings or late afternoons.
To maintain a stable ecosystem for wildlife, authorities have implemented policies to limit human settlement near the park. The vast, serene, and pristine environment of Ream National Park is highly appealing to tourists. Those wishing to explore the reserve over several days can find basic living conditions provided to meet their needs.
The most prominent strength of the tourist city Sihanoukville lies in its stunning seaside scenery and well-equipped boats ready to welcome visitors.
The island beaches in Sihanoukville mostly retain their pristine beauty, largely untouched by human intervention.
When visiting the seaside city of Sihanoukville, you should definitely not miss exploring the beaches on the mainland and the islands here. On the mainland, Sihanoukville boasts renowned white sandy beaches such as:
Ochheuteal Beach, Serendipity Beach, Sokha Beach, Victory Beach, Hawaii Beach, Hun Sen Beach, Otres Beach, Independence Beach.
Most of the beaches in Sihanoukville retain much of their pristine beauty and have not been heavily impacted by human intervention. Due to limited time, we visited 2 beaches, Otres and Independence.
Otres Beach
Otres Beach is named after the Ou Trojak Jet River. The beach stretches for about 5km and is separated from Ochheuteal Beach by a small peninsula called Queen Hill.
Otres Beach, stretching approximately 5km, is a favorite relaxation spot for tourists and locals alike.
Otres Beach is adorned with many Casuarina trees, also known as she-oaks, and Tamarisk trees, also called Taray or Tamarix. Otres Beach remains untouched and is chosen as a stay by many Western tourists.
The serene scenery of Otres Beach.
Otres Beach also features many small fishing villages along the coast, offering a rare peaceful atmosphere. Here, tourists can explore the local way of life. With its smooth crescent-shaped white sand stretching up to 3km and clear blue water, Otres is quieter than Ochheuteal. The villages and temples in the Otres area are about 1km from the beach. Additionally, the beach offers services for renting sailboats, kayaks, and surfboards.
Independence Beach
Adjacent to Sokha Beach, Independence Beach in Sihanoukville is quite renowned, named after a former hotel located to the north of this beach.
The entrance gate to Independence Beach.
Independence Beach features romantic beachfront bungalows. It is one of the quietest and cleanest beaches, perfect for tourists to relax under the sunshine.
Independence is one of the quietest and cleanest beaches, ideal for tourists to unwind under the sun.
The dusk's deep purple on Independence Beach is incredibly captivating.
I gaze with delight at the beauty of nature unfolding before me, much like a painting come to life. The crystal-clear azure waters and endless glistening sands under the sun, with gentle waves lapping peacefully.
Independence Beach features fine white sand and playful children.
In addition to the stunning and enchanting beaches, Sihanoukville boasts around 23 islands including those directly under the city and the Ream National Park, some of which are renowned for their beauty, vast expanses, and rich biodiversity such as Koh Rong spanning 78km2, Koh Rong Sanloem covering 25km2, Koh Ta Kiev stretching over 6.7km2, as well as the larger islands within the Ream National Park like Koh Thmei (40.3km2) and Koh Seh (7.7km2), not to mention numerous smaller yet equally impressive islets.
Most outstanding and attracting many visitors is the duo of Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem islands.
Koh Rong Samloem
Koh Rong Samloem stands out as the most beautiful island in Sihanoukville, just a 2-hour boat ride away. The sea here is pleasantly warm and perfect for snorkeling amidst stunning marine scenery.
The most striking feature of Koh Rong Samloem is its pristine landscape and crystal-clear turquoise waters.
Here lies a small fishing village with stunning white sandy beaches and mesmerizing turquoise waters. The most striking feature of Koh Rong Samloem is its pristine landscape. Visitors can stroll along the beach, frolic in the water, or explore the coral reefs together.
Setting foot on the island, travelers will be immediately awestruck by the vibrant green hues of the forests and sea.
The white sandy beaches of Koh Rong Samloem stretch endlessly...
It gets even more enticing if you visit during the full moon. You'll get to experience the highly anticipated Full Moon Party. The event is lively with vibrant dance performances and festive bonfires. Immersing yourself in the lively and youthful atmosphere on the beach under the moonlight is truly an unforgettable experience for travelers.
Koh Rong Samloem exudes a raw and tranquil natural beauty.
With its serene and unspoiled natural beauty, Koh Rong Samloem is perfect for relaxing vacations or those seeking tranquility and privacy. Indulging in delicious meals right on the beach will surely captivate you.
Koh Rong
In contrast to Koh Rong Samloem, Koh Rong island is ideal for adventurous travelers craving exploration and vibrant activities, immersing themselves in the local life.
Koh Rong island boasts an impressive stretch of coastline, dubbed as a paradise island.
The white sandy beaches on Koh Rong island stretch out beautifully along the emerald-green waters.
Koh Rong is a renowned large island of Cambodia. Situated in the Gulf of Thailand and just over 20km from Sihanoukville, Koh Rong features an impressive coastline, stretching up to 43km. The picturesque white sandy beaches and the emerald-green waters extend magnificently. The sea is always pleasantly warm, soothing the souls of travelers. It's easy to understand why Koh Rong is hailed as a paradise island.
Koh Rong island offers numerous exploration activities and exciting water sports.
The pristine white sandy beach along with the shimmering turquoise waters like gemstones...
Koh Rong island is extremely ideal for you to unleash your exploration, trekking adventure on fascinating and untouched coastal routes. After conquering the challenges of diving or mountain climbing as you please, you can paddle a kayak, a popular activity chosen by travelers. There are also charming little fishing villages here for you to learn more about the life of the local residents.
The scenery on the beach is truly serene and peaceful...
The expenses for accommodation and dining on Koh Rong are quite comfortable with many hotels, guesthouses with various price ranges for you to choose from. On Koh Rong island, there is a rich variety of entertaining activities that will immediately captivate you.
Koh Rong island offers a wide range of entertaining activities for tourists.
Koh Rong island is quite bustling and offers a full range of services, with prices being very reasonable. The food here is delicious and fresh, and we thoroughly enjoyed indulging in seafood right on the beach while admiring the scenery and listening to the waves lapping.
Indulge in delicious seafood dishes prepared right on the beach...
We bid farewell to the island paradise of Sihanoukville with hearts full of nostalgia for the unforgettable experiences and impressions. The Cambodian people are gentle, friendly, many of them speak Vietnamese or English, and transportation is very convenient. Traveling to Cambodia is an exciting choice because it is close and convenient, yet always offers unique and remarkable experiences for you to explore.
Author: Phung Thu Hien
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