| Sihanoukville ក្រុងព្រះសីហនុ, Krong Preah Sihanouk | ||
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| State | Cambodia | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Monti Cardamomi and Dâmrei | |
| Altitude | 15 m a.s.l. | |
| Surface | 868 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 199 902 (2008) | |
| Prefix tel | 855 034 | |
| POSTAL CODE | 18000 | |
| Time zone | UTC 7 | |
Position
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| Tourism site | ||
Sihanoukville (ក្រុងព្រះសីហនុ, also known as Kampong Som or Kampong Saom) is a city in the region of Monti Cardamomi and Dâmrei of the Cambodia.
To know
In a country with thousands of years of history, Sihanoukville is a relatively new bustling city. A Franco-Cambodian project built a jungle camp in 1950 and then began building a port, Cambodia's first deep-sea port. The name was chosen in 1964 by the reigning prince and immediately the new port with its golden beaches became the main destination for the jet set, giving life to the first Angkor brewery and the modern seven-storey Independent Hotel which apparently hosted Jacqueline Kennedy during his 1967 trip to Cambodia.
After this beginning, however, the city fell into decline in 1970 when Prince Sihanouk was deposed in a coup and Cambodia entered the civil war. The city was renamed Kompong Som and went through an unhappy period. The Khmer Rouge used the Independence Hotel as a training target and after hijacking an American container ship, the US reacted by bombing the port. Even after the fall of Pol Pot the bumpy highway to the capital for a long time remained the scene of crime and banditry and the beaches remained empty.
The historic elections of 1993 brought peace and in the following decade the city was rebuilt. Initially visited by a few intrepid hikers, one could still see the walls pierced by bullets, very difficult to see today. The Independent hotel is up and running again and more and more Cambodians and Western immigrants are living here running bars and restaurants.
Sihanoukville is a relatively new city that has grown with the increase in tourism, and therefore also has negative elements. It is not safe, even for men, to walk on the beach after 9pm. Drug dealing is widespread and it is not difficult to see children and adults smoking java (methamphetamine).
Sihanoukville was revolutionized by Chinese investments; many Chinese tourists and construction workers have come to the city to transform it into a Chinese-style tourist city, full of casinos. As of 2020, over 90% of businesses in Sihanoukville are Chinese-owned.
About 90% of the signals are in Chinese (and possibly Khmer) and companies are crowded with Chinese construction workers. It looks like this city will soon become an exclusively Chinese enclave. Until this construction phase is complete, it is probably best to use Sihanoukville as a starting point to get to nearby islands with pristine beaches.
How to orient yourself
Sihanoukville: full screen map.
How to get
By plane
The city is close to Sihanoukville International Airport. Flights between Sihanoukville and Siem Reap allow the arrival of direct tourists not only to the temples of Angkor (near Siem Reap), but also to beaches that can be reached more easily.
- 1 Sihanouk International Airport (Sihanoukville Airport) (it is located 17 km east of the city near the Ream national park). Served by Cambodian Angkor Air and Air Asia. There are direct flights from Saigon, in Vietnam and from various Cambodian airports. (IATA: KOS)
By car
A taxi booked from the central market of Phnom Penh it can make the journey in less than three hours for around US $ 25-40, depending on the price of oil and the condition of the vehicle. You can reduce the price by sharing seats but be careful that Cambodians press themselves up to fit 8 in the car, including two in the driver's seat, so you have to buy two seats to get some comfort.
There are no ferries to Koh Kong/Hat Lek (the border with Thailand).
There are modest cruises that offer day trips to and from Bangkok while traveling to and from Vietnam.
- 2 Marina, ☎ 855 69 367684.
Daily price, US $ 2 per meter. Opened in October 2013, this small port accommodates boats up to 25 m. On the breakwater of the port of Sihanoukville. Here they offer 30-day visa on arrival for US $ 25.
Daily price, US $ 2 per meter. Opened in October 2013, this small port accommodates boats up to 25 m. On the breakwater of the port of Sihanoukville. Here they offer 30-day visa on arrival for US $ 25.On the train
A passenger service between Sihanoukville and the capital Phnom Penh via Takeo and Kampot runs at least four times a week. The service takes approximately 7 hours from Phnom Penh and 1½ hours from Kampot. Tickets are cheap and there are usually a few air-conditioned wagons.
- 3 Sihanoukville Railway Station (Approximately 2½ km north of the city center).
| Railway lines passing by Sihanoukville |
| Phnom Penh ← Kampot ← | IS  OR | → Term |
By bus
Frequent buses arrive from Phnom Penh (4-5 hours), Siem Reap (10-12 hours) Ho Chi Minh City (10-12 hours) and Bangkok.
Phnom Penh Sorya Transport, GST Express, is Mekong Express hourly services operate from Phnom Penh taking 3-5 hours for a cost between US $ 4.50 and $ 10 depending on the quality of the vehicle and the number of stops. The first bus leaves Phnom Penh at 07:00 and the last at 17:45. All buses arrive and depart from the bus station near the central market. Tickets can be booked in company offices, travel agencies and many guesthouses. It is recommended to book one day in advance to secure a seat. National Route 4 between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville is one of the best in Cambodia.
Rith Mony, Bun Thou, is Virak Buntham Express they operate with air-conditioned minibuses that depart at 08:30 to and from Koh Kong/Hat Lek to the border with Thailand, taking about 5 hours. They are always full and the journey can be uncomfortable. The price of the "local" services depends on how much space you want (a seat, half seat or a seat on the roof); foreigners should expect to pay US $ 6-8. Some provide a pick-up service from the offices on the main road at 07:30 which will accompany you to the station to wait for the 08:30 departure. If you pay more we could get the service from the hotel. Sometimes there are buses that depart at 2pm but the service may be available if there is sufficient demand and the cost of the ticket is higher (approximately US $ 15).
Virak Buntham Express offers a service from Ha Tien in Vietnam via the Xa Xia / Prek Chak border post. From Ha Tien there is a ferry to Phu Quoc Island, another popular destination. The journey to get there is easy, you get a visa on arrival for US $ 25 (about 580,000 Vietnamese dong) and you have to bring a photo.
How to get around
By taxi
The distances between the beaches are too long to walk, however the roads are wide and i motorcycle taxi (motodop) I'm everywhere. The typical fare for a ride is US $ 1 although you have to bargain in the evening if the distance is too far. They manage to pick up two people with luggage. For larger groups, taxis can be called by phone and the price is fixed (US $ 5 for most places in the city).
There are the omnipresent ones tuk-tuk around the new bus station and hotel areas. They are very pushy (the most nasty in Cambodia) and they charge too much, and they have put together an "association" to keep the prices. A ride costs US $ 3 if the bus company covers the cost, otherwise US $ 6 if you arrive at the bus station and want to go to the beach (in Phnom Penh it costs $ 2). If you know where you are staying it is useful to call to be picked up and even if it is not free you will save yourself the overhead of prices.
The ride from the new bus station to Serendipity beach shouldn't cost more than US $ 3 during the day.
By motorbike
Another great choice for getting around is to book a moped. If you bargain a little you could get it for US $ 4 a day, but it depends on the season. Gasoline is not very cheap, around US $ 1.25 per liter, and can be bought in many cabins along the road. However, it seems that renting mopeds to foreigners has been illegal since 2009 and the police could stop and fines.
What see
The city doesn't offer much to see. The main areas of interest for tourists are the beaches Serendipity, Otres, Victory, as well as the various islands off the coast.
Beaches
The main reason for visiting Sianoukville is the beaches. They are not as crowded as the Thai ones, although on the weekends they could be meat kiosks. Like many beaches in South Asia they are often littered with trash.
- 1 Independence beach (ឆ្នេរ ឯករាជ្យ, Independence Beach, also known as 7-chan thanks to the 7-story Independence hotel).
- 2 Ochheuteal beach (ឆ្នេរ អូ ឈើ ទៀ ល, Ochheuteal Beach, Chnay Occheuteal). A long strip of white sand in Sangkat No 3. The northern part is now known as Serendipity beach. Here you will find around 30 cabins serving good meals and a good selection of drinks. On the south side there is a golf course while in the center a series of middle-class hotels and restaurants. Leaf umbrellas, beach chairs and bar-huts line the entire beach. Further south in front of the golf course are bars and restaurants with a very relaxed atmosphere for backpackers. A lot of noise and exhaust smoke from various jet skis is to be expected, therefore swimming is dangerous.
- 3 Otres beach (ឆ្នេរ អូរត្រេះ, Otres Beach) (southeast of the Serendipity and Ochheuteal beaches). A fantastic 4 km strip of white sand, much less crowded than the other beaches in the city. Every season more and more bars and guesthouses open along the beach. Tourists will find accommodation in rooms or bungalows (prices US $ 5-30) and like most budget accommodations in Sianoukville are not air-conditioned, except the Secret Garden Resort and the more distant "Old Otres" (Otres 2). This beach is excellent for sunbathing even if you can do other activities (catamarans, windsurfing, kayaking, biking and various organized boat trips). Unlike Serendipity Beach, marijuana products are smoked and sold openly in bars and guesthouses which therefore attract a crowd of Westerners. A second part of the beach, 5-10 minutes away by "tuk-tuk", is called "Otres 2"; it has many guesthouses and attracts a clientele looking for true calm. Here it is less developed and popular and offers few activities. There are no shops here while there is an ATM in the main Otres. Nearby, on the road from Occhuteal, there is a Khmer village with various shops and a few Cambodian restaurants. Otres offers a different climate: it could be sunny all day while downtown Sihanoukville and other beaches are flooded with rain. Here also you have the most beautiful sunsets and many people who stay elsewhere travel to here to be able to enjoy them. Otres itself extends beyond the beach, the side roads lead to inland areas and along the river that flows into the large inland prairie. Along the river there is also another village, other resorts and in the high season a public market with entertainment. There are a couple of resorts and bars in the village. The river can be paddled and its catch is found in local dishes. The sea along the beach is shallow for about 200m, depending on the tide. The seabed is of soft sand and when there are no waves it is safe for both children and novice swimmers.
- 4 Serendipity beach (ឆ្នេរ អូរ ឈើទាល, Serendipity Beach) (connected to the Ochheuteal beach). There are bars and guesthouses overlooking the beach which are open late. This is the busiest beach.
- 5 Sokha beach (ឆ្នេរ សុខា, Sokha Beach). Owned by the Sokha Beach Resort. Private but can be accessed for a couple of dollars and for this there will not be too many beggars or sellers.
- 6 Victory beach (ឆ្នេរ ឯករាជ្យ, Victory Beach) (south of the commercial port). Nearby are plenty of budget accommodations on Weather Station Hill. Close to the port.
Rivers
Outlined by mangroves, Sihanoukville's longest river, Ou Trojak Jet, flows from the Otres Pagoda to Otres Beach via the port. Very popular with canoeists and fishermen. The restaurants on the south bank serve fresh fish supplied by local fishing boats.
Other
- Kampong Pier Nup Lok (2 km N from the commercial port). The old fishing port. It offers great views.
- 7 Koh Rong Island (កោះ រ៉ុ ង, Koh Rong, Monkey Island). US $ 5-15. Advertised all over the Serendipity beach, Koh Rong is a small island 2-3 hours by ferry from Sihanoukville and offers a relaxed situation away from the large crowds. A long beach, a small jungle to walk along with various beach bars, restaurants and guesthouses. Ferries from Sihanoukville depart 3 or 4 times a day from various docks and with different companies that can be booked from any guesthouse or travel agency. A return ticket costs between $ 5 and $ 15. A tourist might ask for more money but you can bargain. Rooms to stay are available upon arrival. Activities available are diving, fishing and snorkelling. Most places have electricity produced by generators which is typically available from dusk to midnight although some bars close at 4am. There is no ATM here.
- 8 Ream National Park (ឧទ្យានជាតិ រាម, Ream National Park). A wonderful nature reserve rich in mangroves about 30 minutes drive from Sihanoukville. Forestry guides can arrange mangrove boat rides for $ 40. Boats depart where the main road crosses the river, so you have to wait to send the taxi away. The final destination of the tour is an island where you can walk a decaying boardwalk that leads to a lookout tower that is difficult to reach due to the battered staircase. The walk is not long, about 100 m but it is tiring because you have to be very careful where you put your feet. You must call in advance.
- 9 Kbal Chhay waterfall (ទឹកធ្លាក់ ក្បាលឆាយ, Kbal Chhay Waterfall), Kbal Chhay Waterfalls, Ou Treh, Sihanoukville, Cambodia. About 7 km from the city and then continue another 9 km on a red clay track. Very popular for swimming and many families spend the day there. Here you will find many food stalls, rest houses and other services.
Events and parties
What to do
- The Cambodian Children's Painting Project (CCPP) (On the Serendipity beach). An NGO that works with poor children. Together with the volunteers, the children create art that is sold to help the children's families. As part of the project the children are given education and instruction, painting materials, sports activities, two meals a day and medical assistance. Social workers look after families. You can help by volunteering, donating painting materials, buying a painting, donating money or organizing an exhibition of children's work.
- 1 Unique massage center (Unique Spa), Ochheuteal Street (In front of the Monkey Republic), ☎ 855 98 513 009. Massages, nail care and body scrubs.
- Diving (scuba diving). trips with 2 dives US $ 59-85, overnight US $ 185-325 all included. There are many islands off the Cambodian coast, rich in coral and fish. All boats depart from Sihanoukville port. There are 4 PADI shops one of which Scuba Nation PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Center is the pioneer of diving in this country. Provides all diving and sorkelling services, day trips, liveaboards, nitrox and many PADI courses, from beginner to instructor. They are very flexible: you can take courses while visiting Phnom Penh and then end up with a liveaboard in the only boats available in Cambodia. EcoSea Dive also offers SSI courses. Angkor Dive is located on Koh Rong Samloem Island and offers overnight trips to the island to also experience traditional life in a Kmer fishing village.The main diving area is 23km offshore, on Koh Island. Rong Samloem or Koh Tang Island 56km from Sihanoukville. An overnight trip is required to reach Koh Tang. Some shallow dives are on Koh Tas 10km from Sihanoukville and are typically used when the weather is inclement to reach Koh Tang, where visibility is double that of the nearest sites and pelagic fish are regularly spotted.
- Snorkelling. It is possible in most of the islands and the best is in the more distant ones where there is more visibility and you can enjoy the fish and coral. Many Serendipity beach restaurants advertise trips for $ 15 but many are unable to explain what the offer is. Most of these combine with a trip organized by a travel agent and include a simple breakfast on the beach, a visit to the bathing place and a 3-hour lunch break at Koh Russei (Bamboo Island). If you are serious about snorkelling you should consider going out with scuba diving centers.
- 2 Mollie Golf mini golf, Wat Kraom, Victory Hill (At the Diamond Sea casino you turn around the temple and it is 700m on the left), ☎ 855 61 665543, @[email protected]. US $ 3 for children under 12 with an adult and US $ 4 per adult.
Mon-Sun 12: 00-18: 00. Miniature golf course with 18 holes, located in a garden near the Wat Kraom temple on Victory Hill. Closed when it rains during the rainy season, from July to October.
Mon-Sun 12: 00-18: 00. Miniature golf course with 18 holes, located in a garden near the Wat Kraom temple on Victory Hill. Closed when it rains during the rainy season, from July to October.Shopping
Banks and ATMs
- ATMs ATM can be found throughout the city. In the center there are branches of the following banks:
- ANZ Bank
- Canadia Bank
- Acleda Bank
- May bank
- ABA Bank
- CIMB Bank
- Union Commercial Bank
- Cambodia Commercial Bank
- UCB Bank.
- There are also counters around the "Golden Lions", on Beach Street, at the CCS hotel and one at the Golden Sands Hotel, at Occheuteal beach. There is an ATM at Otres Beach 1.
- T E Lee Hong Money Exchange 7 Markara Street.
Supermarkets and food
There are many supermarkets in the city as well as a Cambodian market ('Psaa Leu').
- 1 Orange Market (ផ្សារ ក្រូច។), Ekareach Street, ☎ 855 34 933878. 07:30-22:00.
- 2 Samudera Supermarket (ផ្សារ ទំនើប សា មូ ដឺ រ៉ា), No. 064, 7 Makara Street. 07:00-22:00. Inside there is also a currency exchange.
- Lucky Ocean Supermarket, 7 Ekareach Street, ☎ 855 34 451155. 08:00-22:00.
- 3 Market (ផ្សារ លើ, Psar Leu), 7 Makara Street, ☎ 855 86 562 101. Mon-Sun 07: 00-17: 00. Fruits and vegetables at a good price, as well as items for the home and clothes.
How to have fun
Up Golden Lion Plaza at Occheteal Beach, there are 10 good bars that are also used as hangouts to hook up a few prostitutes.The trend of Serendipity Beach is to advertise a permanent happy hour which means drinking cocktails for US $ 2-2.50 and Anchor beer on tap for US $ 0.50-0.75. However, beer prices go up to US $ 1 in the evening.
Where to eat
Along the beaches, there are many food stalls and a few restaurants serving grills with chips and beer for US $ 3-4. There are also many good restaurants in the city and the variety is surprisingly varied.
- 1 Angelo's Restaurant (Close to the Golden Sands Hotel). Excellent grills and Greek cuisine. The ribs are to try.
- 2 The Beach Chalet, Otres Beach 1 Road (Otres beach). Cambodian and western dishes made express and cheap. Prices are fixed all year round. The staff is very nice and always helps. Try the grilled barracuda or red snapper.
- 3 Castaways Beach Bar and Restaurant, Otres 2, Sihanoukville (at the bottom of the old Otres beach, almost at the Secret Garden Resort), ☎ 855 12 998 492, @[email protected]. US $ 2.25-5. closes at 11pm. Simple family-run restaurant with bar. Homemade and reasonably priced Cambodian and Western dishes. You can eat in the bar / lounge or on the sofa in the sandy courtyard, otherwise on the beach while admiring the sunsets. This was the only original resort in Otres and is the only one that is managed and owned by Kmer. Typical dishes are Marasprao, Luclak and Amok, excellent chicken curry and tom yam. On the western menu you can find eggs and pancakes. Otherwise you can ask the owner Ouk what he has to recommend that is not on the menu. Very rich cocktail menu, great rustic setting and a good pool table.
- 4 Cinderellas Coffee Shop, Serendipity Road No. 9 (in front of the Monkey Republic), ☎ 855 12 613 380. Very pleasant cafe just off Ochheuteal beach with comfortable seating both inside and on the patio. The menu is well priced and offers Western, Korean and Asian dishes. In addition to coffee, they also serve beer, wine and cocktails.
- 5 Autumn Moon, Krong Preah Sihanouk (on the left hand side of Ekareach Street, just off the curve for Golden Lions), ☎ 855 34 934 280. Pasta or pizza around US $ 8-9. Italian restaurant. The staff are well trained, polite and the prices are not too high.
- Noh Kor Phnom (Occheuteal Beach (inside, on the first road to the beach from the city)). Unpretentious fish restaurant with a large menu.
- 6 Sunshine Cafe, Otres Beach 1 Road (Otres beach), ☎ 855 12 828432. Great cafe and relaxing beach bar in Otres. Run by a Polish lady and her family. They cook great food and the atmosphere is great. The fellow kmer runs organized boat trips to more interesting places than the other organizers. It also organizes night fishing by boat if there is a sufficient number of people. They also have basic beachfront rooms for US $ 5
Where stay
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The accommodation offer is varied and ranges from simple beach guest houses to 4-star resorts. Booking is especially advisable around New Year's Eve.
Moderate prices
- 1 Don Bosco Guest House (ផ្ទះសំណាក់ ដុន បូ ស្កូ), Phum 1 Sang Kat 2 (in the center), ☎ 855 8791 9834, @[email protected]. From US $ 12. Check-out: 12:00. They have double rooms with air conditioning, hot water, cable TV and Wi-Fi internet. Free access to the swimming pool and gym.
- 2 Apple Guesthouse (ផ្ទះសំណាក់ អេ ផល), 4 28 Mithona Street (in the center meters from the Serendipity / Ochheuteal beach), ☎ 855 97 8573786. US $ 7-12. 15 clean and quiet rooms, close to the center and 2 minutes from the beach. Private garden, cable TV and fast Wi-Fi internet connection, motorbike rental, laundry, international calls and a 24 hour grocery store.
- 3 Savannphoum, Group 15, Mondol 4, Sangkat 4 (300m from the Serendipity beach). US $ 10. A good alternative for those who want to stay close to the beach. Most of the guests are kmer. They serve good and cheap Khmer food, the rooms are clean and the motorbike rental is cheap.
- 4 TEN103, Koh Ta Kiev island (if you call or email in advance they will pick you up by boat in Sihanoukville), ☎ 855 96 858 3197, @[email protected]. US $ 7-25. You can sleep in a tree house or in a hammock with a mosquito net. Services are basic but that's what makes this place so special. The island has unexplored jungle, beautiful beaches and almost no tourism.
- 5 The big easy, Serendipity Beach Road, Street Occheuteal, ☎ 855 81 943 930, 855 10 696 006, @[email protected]. Large rooms in need of refurbishment, with air conditioning and cable TV. Free pool table, and live sports screens. They make Australian pizza and steaks. Room 201 faces the bar so it is very noisy.
Average prices
- 6 Above Us Only Sky (Bar & Bungalows), Serendipity Beach, 40m from the pier. Mittakpheap, Krong Preah (From the Tranquility guesthouse you follow the beach towards the quieter area and find three buildings later), ☎ 855 88 426 8030, @[email protected]. Reception and bar 07: 00-01: 00. Very spacious bungalows in a very quiet area of the beach. It has fans and air conditioning with a front porch with comfortable chairs and a sofa which gives a spectacular view of the ocean. Wi-Fi internet connection. There is also a bar downstairs. There is no restaurant but it is full in the area.
- 7 The Cove Beach Bungalows (Serendipity beach), ☎ 855 12 380296, @[email protected]. US $ 14-50. Khmer-style bungalow with air conditioning. The apartments have a balcony overlooking the sea. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with Khmer and Western dishes.
- 8 The Don Bosco Hotel School (សាលា សណ្ឋាគារ ដុន បូ ស្កូ) (2.5km from the Otres beach), ☎ 855 16 919 834, fax: 855 34 933765, @[email protected]. US $ 30-60 including breakfast. Hotel in a lush garden. Swimming pool, air conditioning and Wi-Fi internet connection, shuttle to the beaches and taxi service. It is a hotel to allow young Cambodians to develop their skills and then find work.
- 9 Malibu Bungalows, Group 14 - Mondal 4 Sangkat 4, Preah Sihanouk (Serendipity beach. From the city center continue passing the roundabout with the lions and continue up the hill and then follow the rocky path instead of staying on the road), ☎ 855 11 422 787. Air-conditioned rooms US $ 30. Another of the ancient hotels overlooking the sea today surrounded by noisy discos. Below, turning right you will arrive at the Beach Hotel.
- 10 Sokha Beach Resort (រមណីយដ្ឋាន ឆ្នេរ សុខា), Street 2 Thnou (Beach Sokha), ☎ 855 34 935999, @[email protected]. Promotional pricing US $ 140-810. Check in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. A beachfront resort. Very sloppy and poorly maintained but the beach is beautiful and the resort is great for families and has a children's pool and playground. Must try is their Lemongrass restaurant and The Deck tapas bar. 180 ° view of the gulf.
High prices
- 11 Independence Hotel (សណ្ឋាគារ ឯករាជ្យ (អូតែល ប្រាំពីរ ជាន់)), Street 2 Thnou, Sangkat 3, ☎ 855 34 934 300, 855 12 728 090, @[email protected]. From US $ 140, breakfast included. A modern style concrete building at the top of the hill with great views of the beach with a nice swimming pool and nice gardens. A touch of quality are the black and white photos of the hotel on its best days. The best feature is the white beach with crystal clear waters and large rocks. A little bit far from the city.
Safety
Relatively safe. The police want to be paid to intervene. Presence of drug addicts (heroin) Although violent crime is very rare, theft and pickpocketing are very common on Serendipity beach and in the surrounding areas, both day and night. Women shouldn't have bags with precious objects or better, they shouldn't have bags at all. Groups of children often surround women who leave bars in the evening, cut off the handles of bags and run away. In addition to this, the criminals on motorbikes cling to the bags and run away, day and night. If you resist, the possibility of being dragged is very high. Travelers to other beaches may feel more relaxed even if they are always careful.
Jet ski
At least six tourists and locals have been hit and killed on Ochheuteal Beach and Otres by jet ski since September 2009. The number of tourists and locals injured by jet ski and banana boats is varied and inaccurate. In 2009 the police demarcated an area for swimmers only with buoys along most of the beach but the employees of the rental companies completely ignore the limits and continue to make very dangerous fast maneuvers a few meters from the beach and among the swimmers to attract the attention of potential customers. Police complaints are ignored. On weekends, many drunken Cambodians ride jet skis chasing each other around the area reserved for swimmers and ignoring the simplest safety rules. On Serendipity Beach, the northern part of the Ochheuteal, water bikers drive wildly through coral formations ignoring swimmers, damaging and killing marine life with engine exhausts. Almost all jet skis are older models with two-stroke engines. With just three or four motorbikes in the water, the whole beach will smell of exhaust fumes not to mention the constant noise from the chainsaw that breaks the tranquility of travelers who would like to relax. If you want to enjoy some relaxation, we recommend going to another beach.
Health
Medical services in Sihanoukville are very limited and basic. The best service is offered by the "CT Clinic" or "Sihanoukville International Clinic" which are the only two reliable for Western immigrants living here. The public hospital should be avoided at all costs because it is terrible. In case of major illnesses or injuries it is recommended to evacuate.
HIV / AIDS is not as widespread as it once was, but the possibility of infection is still relatively high when associated with high-risk groups, such as prostitutes. In 2016, the risk of infection for women in brothels was estimated at 14.7% but government initiatives pushed the correct use of condoms to 90%. Some prostitutes, however, work outside the brothels, in this case the possibility of infection rises.
How to keep in touch
Post office
The new post office is near Victory Park on the left hand side of the road towards Victory Hill. There is also a market office in the center, but postcards can be left here during office hours because they don't have an external box.
Telephony
The area code is 034.
Internet
There are many internet cafes, some guesthouses and many hotels that offer internet access. Many today have Wi-Fi, free in some.
Consulates
- 4 Vietnamese Consulate, 310 Ekareach St, Preah Sihanouk, ☎ 855 34 934 039, fax: 855 34 934 040. US $ 60 for a 30 day single entry visa (Feb 2015); US $ 80 for a 30-day multiple entry visa (Feb 2014). Mon-Fri 08: 00-12: 00, 14: 00-16: 00; Sat 08: 00-12: 00. They issue 30-day tourist visas ready the following morning. In Feb 2014 applicants arriving after 12 noon are charged US $ 5 for having their visa processed on the same day.
Around
- Bokor National Park - An abandoned French resort near Kampot, primary destination in the 1920s.
- Kampot
- Kep
- Koh Kong
- Koh Rong
- Koh Rong Sanloem
- Koh Russei
- Ko Chang, Thailand - There are minibuses that offer direct service to the ferry boarding
- Siem Reap - A 12-hour bus trip. The price is around $ 18. If you take the night bus they might force you to sleep with a stranger in a single bed. Large passengers may be charged double the normal fare.
Other projects
Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Sihanoukville
Commons contains images or other files on Sihanoukville
