Sihanouk Ville is a coastal city that is collated 235 km southwest of Phnom Penh. It can be reached by National Road No 4. The Cambodian seaside paradise can be visited all year round.
Its charm results from a harmonious combination of undulation mountain, tropical islands, translucent seawater, glittering sand, swaying palms, tourist spots, and an international seaport, along with a mild climate and a cooling breeze.
The tranquil water is perfect for relaxing after tiring visits to Angkor, swimming in the evening through the phosphorescent water that gleams like diamonds, and sunbathing on the white sandy beach. Watching the sunset along the coast is the perfect ending to the day. If you want to see beautiful natural scenery and breathe clean fresh air and enjoy extraordinarily delicious seafood, Sihanouk Ville has it all. There is a wide variety of accommodation and restaurants available at a reasonable price.
It takes about 4 hours to journey from Phnom Penh to Sihanouk Ville on a comfortable luxury air-conditioned bus. You will enjoy the wonderful view of mountains, forests and valleys along the road, all of which will make your journey an unforgettable one.
Alas, the party came to an abrupt end in 1970 when Sihanouk was deposed in a coup and Cambodia descended into civil war. The town – renamed Kompong Som – soon fell on hard times: the victorious Khmer Rouge used the Independence Hotel for target practice and, when they made the mistake of hijacking an American container ship, the port was bombed by the U.S. Air Force. Even after Pol Pot's regime was driven from power, the bumpy highway to the capital was long notorious for banditry and the beaches stayed empty.
When one hears “Cambodia,” the image that automatically comes to mind is the wonders of Angkor Wat — the ancient archaeological complex filled with temples and stone edifices that fill the heart with awe.
Sihanoukville, or Snooky as it is known to foreigners, however, is far from being prehistoric. A mere fifty years old, the town is located south of Cambodia. It is known as Kompong Som or Krong Preah Sihanouk to locals, and dubbed by New York Times as “Asia’s next trendsetting beach.” The French and Cambodians constructed Sihanoukville in the early 1960s as a seaport town, and despite its rough times during Pol Pot’s regime, it has grown through the years as the place to be in Cambodia.
Fun Time at Sihanoukville
The term som in Kompong Som means “agreeable,” and also “fun” or “having a good time.” Sihanoukville seems to meet this promise with its variety of entertainment for the intrepid traveler. Its primary attraction is its beaches and water sports, bordered as it is on three sides by tropical beaches and islands.
After an exhausting day soaking the sun at the beach, however, Sihanoukville has more to offer, depending on the visitor’s taste. There are bars and discos that are open until the early hours of the morning, as well as karaoke joints and other places one would not take one’s children or parents to.
For a “cleaner” and less rowdy pastime, touring around town or having a food trip would be a good idea. Food can be found everywhere in Sihanoukville, and depending on the traveler’s palate, one can have the familiar Western food, or “exotic” dishes like grilled dog or fried spiders that one should eat at their own risk. For those with sensitive stomachs, it is best to avoid streetfood and tap water. Bottled water should be the norm, unless one likes to risk getting diarrhea, or worse.
Other Things to Do in Sihanoukville
Aside from its water sports and its nightlife, there are other alternative activities should one decide to stay longer in Sihanoukville. There are motorcycles and bicycles for rent, which one can use to go around the town. Having a Khmer massage is also a good idea, as well as shopping, learning to cook Khmer food, and for the big-hearted, volunteering to help the poor children at the non-profit organization Cambodian Children’s Painting Project.
Whatever one decides to do, always remember to consider the best times to go to Sihanoukville, as well as the visa requirements in going there! It is rainy season from May to early November, so even though it does not rain everyday, too much water may dampen one’s spirit.
Unless, of course, one enjoys the simpler things in life, like sitting inside a nice hotel in the middle of Cambodia’s beach town, drinking beer, and listening to the rhythm of the falling rain. Such is life indeed.