Overview
Lying in the land with thousands years of history, Sihanoukville is listed among the most beautiful beaches of the world. Nearly fifty years ago, a French-Cambodian construction carved a camp out of the jungle and started building the first deep-sea port of a newly independent Cambodia. It was named Sihanoukville in 1964 after the ruling prince of Cambodia, the prosperous port and its golden beaches soon drew Cambodia’s elite. The town is now much newer, more urban and as much a beach town as it is a port town.
QUICK FACTS:
- Location: In the south of Cambodia, 230 kilometres (143 mi) southwest of Phnom Penh on a small peninsula
- Status: A growing Cambodian urban center, an international sea port
- Population: 199,902 Area: 868 km2 (335 sq mi)
- Religions: Buddhism The relaxed beach atmosphere with many popular beaches and a beautiful small archipelago
Lying in the land with thousands years of history, Sihanoukville is listed among the most beautiful beaches of the world. Nearly fifty years ago, a French-Cambodian construction carved a camp out of the jungle and started building the first deep-sea port of a newly independent Cambodia. It was named Sihanoukville in 1964 after the ruling prince of Cambodia, the prosperous port and its golden beaches soon drew Cambodia’s elite. The town is now much newer, more urban and as much a beach town as it is a port town. The main south city Sihanoukville is located exactly on a bay surrounded by coral islands and islets, has natural great beauty with fauna, flora and some endemic species. Sihanoukville has white sand beaches and warm Gulf of Thailand waters with fresh atmosphere. Sihanoukville is also a place to relax, enjoy the fresh from-the-ocean seafood, take in a snorkeling or scuba trip, and generally slow-down, lay back and chill-out. Beaches are the tourist destiny in Sihanoukville. There are many lovely beaches here as Victory beaches- are actually two long beaches divided by a rocky point and a small hill, so named for the Victory Monument that sits near the midpoint, Ochheuteal Beach – is a long and narrow strip of white sand beach, it has white sands, is relaxed and clean; Independence Beach- draws its name from the historic Independence , is also called “7-chann beach” is a good place to relax because of its peace; Sokha Beach- is a beautiful beach and has crescent sand. Many vacation activities relating to the beaches are offered as swimming and sunning, trips to the islands, fishing, and snorkeling. Visiting Buddhist temples, mountain biking, dirt biking, walking around downtown and the central market, shopping, and seeing the Cambodian culture are also popular activities. Scuba Diving is also very popular for those love discovering the diverse marine life. Best time to visit Sihanoukville Despite an all pervading heat across the year, Sihanoukville is a holiday destination that can be visited across the year. Though most travelers prefer to avoid visiting the beaches during rainy season which last from May to October there are many excellent photo opportunities to take advantage of if you are planning to visit the Angkor Wat temples, the lush greenery of the countryside and the full moats. The dry season falling between November and April are generally crowded with tourists. The best time to visit Sihanoukville is the time between hot and dry months which is October and November when there is no debilitating heat effects or frequent bouts of rain showers. Heat lovers tend to flock to Sihanoukville during December and January to take advantage of the bearable heat and sunshine. With its laid back beach location, Sihanoukville is world famous as a perfect destination for an invigorating break in your Indochina travel itinerary. Despite the two highlighted weather seasons there are tourists lingering in Sihanoukville across any time of the year as they conclude an exhilarating journey across Cambodia by taking a break on the refreshing beach. There are little variations in the temperature during the different seasons. Humidity point reaches extreme levels during the months of March and April so you may want to plan your tour to Sihanoukville around October and December when the air is much cooler offering better comfort levels. The temperatures are on average on the low side from November to February in this part of the country.
