Sihanoukville is famous for its tropical islands and beautiful beaches. It is located on the south coast of Cambodia, near the Bay of Thailand. Sihanoukville is a seaside town, which had a chilled vibe and white sand beaches.
The warm waters of the Gulf of Thailand have made this small town a decent little tropical getaway. With the Chinese building casinos in Sihanoukville, there is a negative feeling about it.
In terms, it has closed down local businesses, ruined some beaches, and not added anything to the local infrastructure.
In this post, we will go through things to do in Sihanoukville Cambodia. So let’s get started!
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Is Sihanoukville Worth Visiting?
Sihanoukville is not really worth visiting since the Chinese started building casinos in the town. It’s still decent for a night to two but it has lost its relaxed backpacker vibe, it’s still a decent place for a night out but that’s about it.
Things To Do In Sihanoukville
Sihanoukville is a coastal city in Cambodia that has some amazing beaches. There are fun things to do in Sihanoukville that will keep you busy for a couple of days.
Here is our list of things to do in Sihanoukville Cambodia.
Visit Wat Leu Temple
Sihanoukville is not only well-known for its port and beaches but also for its Buddhist temples. Wat Leu is one of the major Buddhist temples in Sihanoukville.
This temple can be reached easily and quickly from the town center as it is only 6 km away from Sihanoukville town.
Situated on the mountain, you can enjoy the wonderful landscaped forest as well as the panoramic views of the islands and town nearby from Wat Leu.
Go, Beach Hopping
Any visit to Sihanoukville is not complete without visiting its beautiful beaches. There are over 20 beaches in Sihanoukville, with some of them on the nearby islands and along the coast. There 3 main beaches are.
- Otres Beach.
- Ocheteaul Beach.
- Serendipity Beach.
Otres Beach
Otres Beach is nicer, mainly because it’s about 4km from the town. As a result, it’s relatively quiet and low-key. It is a good beach to relax, enjoy wine, and dine. The best time to visit this beach is in the afternoon.
While waiting for the beautiful sunset, you can walk along the shallow safe beach. It has clean water and small waves, perfect for swimming and paddling.
Ocheteaul Beach
Ocheteaul Beach is properly the more popular of the 2. Due to a large selection of bars and restaurants and being in the town.
Unfortunately, you will get hassled by touts walking up and down all day, to get you to buy something.
Serendipity Beach
Serendipity Beach is beside Ocheteaul Beach was more for the backpackers but now it’s a building site with Chinese-owned projects to build casinos.
Today, it’s a construction site with brown, dirty water and so much garbage in the water and along the beach.
Go Gambling
If you are interested in gambling, Sihanoukville over the course of 2018 has been transformed into a town for Chinese gamblers. And continues to build more casinos.
Either way, if you want to hit the tables and try to beat the house, there is an ever-growing number of casinos to choose from.
Go, Island Hopping
Believe it or not, Cambodia has 2 beautiful islands called Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samleom. They have beautiful beaches with white sand and crystal-clear blue water.
Koh Rong is more developed in terms of things to and where to stay. Whereas Koh Rong Samleom is smaller, quieter, and more for the romantic than party. If looking to party then it’s Koh Rong.
There are regular ferry services running daily to each of the islands. They take about 45 minutes to get to either one. The ferry terminal is beside Serendipity Beach in Sihanoukville.
Enjoy Some Water Sports
For those who enjoy outdoor activities, they have some fun water sports to try. These include scuba diving and snorkeling. If you have never been snorkeling, don’t worry because the water sports are safe for beginners.
There is an instructor who will guide you to snorkel, enjoying an amazing underwater view.
Some other water sports include.
- Sailing.
- Waterskiing.
- Jet Skiing.
- Parasailing.
Go Shopping In Sihanoukville
Sihanoukville is not really a paradise for shoppers because the options are quite limited. If you plan to go back to Phnom Penh after visiting Sihanoukville, it is recommended to go shopping in Phnom Penh.
There are a few markets worth checking out.
- Otres Market.
- Phsar Leu Market.
Otres Market
Otres Market is located in Otres Village. The market is worth visiting. Not only is it a market but it is also a nightlife venue where music is performed.
Locals are not overly interested in this market. Here you can buy a wide range of bohemian wares such as crystals, jewelry, and souvenirs.
You can also have your lunch as there are many stalls selling food, snacks, and drinks. The place is open at 4 in the afternoon.
Phsar Leu Market
Located in Sihanoukville, it’s a big local market. It’s the place for the locals to do their shopping, so not really a tourist place.
On the outside of the market, you will find a lot of street-side food courts and fruits. And inside vendors/stalls are selling everything from watches jewelry, food, and much more.
What Is The Best Time To Visit Sihanoukville?
Cambodia is warm all year round with temperatures rarely dipping below 20°C. The dry season in Sihanoukville takes place from December to May, this is the time of the northeast monsoon, so the weather is quite cool.
The rainy season is from June to November each year, and the rainfall in Cambodia is very high.
USEFUL TRAVEL RESOURCES
Book Accommodation
Booking.com has a large range of properties from hotels, hostels, guesthouses, and resorts where you will find the best deals. Airbnb and Hostelworld also have a good range of places to stay at good prices.
Booking Flight
Skyscanner is a flight search comparison website that searches millions of flights all at once. Ultimately it is the best flight comparison website online at the moment.
Booking Transportation & Things To Do
Rome2rio and 12Go are useful to plan how to get anywhere by searching train, bus, car, and ferry routes. Especially useful in countries like Vietnam or Thailand. While Klook is great for exploring things to do in each place.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is cheap and more than likely you will never need to use it but you will have peace of mind if something does happen, you are covered in case of an emergency. World Nomads have great customer service and competitive prices.
Check out our resource page for the best companies to use when you travel.
Wrapping Up
Finally, Sihanoukville is a decent place to stop over for a few days with the best thing to do is relax by the beach. And enjoy the sunset. Decide on what you want to do and start enjoying what Sihanoukville has to offer.
And that’s it for now! I’d love to know if this guide on the things to do in Sihanoukville Cambodia has helped you. Let me know if you have any questions and let me know if you think of Sihanoukville.
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