Sihanoukville Travel Guide
From Wikitravel
Sihanoukville (Preah Seihanu), formerly Kompong Som and familiarly just Snookyville or even Snooky is a seaside town which offers Cambodia's best-known beaches.
Contents |
Get in
By plane
The small airport a few miles out of town was recently upgraded to international status, but as yet there are no regular passenger flights (domestic or international).
By bus
- From Phnom Penh: National route 4 from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville is one of Cambodia's best roads. There is a regular bus service from Phnom Penh (Central Market) which takes about 4 hours at a cost of 15000 Riel, or $4 through a guesthouse.
- From Koh Kong / Hat Lek (border crossing with Thailand): for the most part this road is unsealed and the condition depends on the weather and frequency/scale of maintenance. "Local" and "Tourist" minibuses service this route; they are always jam-packed, and the trip can be uncomfortable. "Local" service price depends on how much space you want (a whole seat, half a seat, or a space on the roof); foreigners can expect to pay around US$6-8. The journey involves four ferry crossings; the scenery is mixed, but does offer some moderately spectacular views at the Koh Kong end.
By boat
- From Koh Kong / Hat Lek (border crossing with Thailand): weather permitting, a daily fast ferry departs from Koh Kong for Sihanoukville at 08:00 and from Sihanoukville for Koh Kong at noon. The journey usually takes about 4-4.5 hours and stops once to pick up/drop off supplies at an outlying island; tickets for foreigners cost US$12 (or 500 baht). Minibuses and moto-taxis shuttle passengers from the ferry to the border crossing; a moto-taxi should cost 50 baht. On the Thai side, minibuses run to Trat (110 baht), direct to Laem Ngop (for ferries to Ko Chang), and direct to Bangkok. If taking the minibus to Trat, note that you will arrive at 18:00-19:00 by which time the only long haul bus services are to Bangkok. In some circumstances it's worth spending a night in Koh Kong or Trat.
By train
There are no longer any passenger services on the Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville railway line. It may be possible to hitch a ride with the freight train security guards - enquire locally for further information.
Get around
Motos are the way to get around Sihanoukville as some of the beaches are a little bit out of town. Inform yourself about the fares and bargain; foreigners typically pay US$1.
See
The reason to visit Sihanoukville is the beaches. Not as crowded as some of the Thai resorts, but they can be cramped on weekends and holidays. For diving go to one of the nearby islands. The town itself doesn't offer much to see. The beaches are:
- Sokha Beach - overlooked by the new Sokha Beach Resort.
- Ochheuteal Beach - the most popular beach, with many restaurants, bars and food vendors.
- Independence Beach - also known as '7-chann beach' after the defunct, seven-storeyed Independence Hotel.
- Victory Beach - south of the commercial port with plenty of budget accommodation nearby on Weather Station Hill.
- Serendipity Beach - the northern part of Orcheuteal beach offers guesthouses right on the beach.
- Otres Beach - south of Serendipity, this is the less developed and crowded beach.
Other places of interest include:
- Kampong Pier Nup Lok - the old fishing port 2 km north of the commercial port offers some nice views.
Do
- Bamboo Island - can be reached by private boat for US$5, at the Sunset Cafe on Occidental Beach. Ask the owner the night before you want to go. On the island there are 9 huts, but as of early 2006 they were constructing several others on the back side. A wonderful place to relax - cabins are US$5/night.
Buy
There are several small shops in the town, plus a standard Cambodian market ('Psaa Leu'). Handicrafts organization Rajana has a branch above the Starfish Cafe.
Eat
Along the beaches there are many food stalls and some restaurants, especially at Ochheuteal beach. There are a good many restaurants in town as well. Sihanoukville boasts a suprisingly diverse set of cuisines.
Drink
Sleep
Accommodation ranges from basic guest houses on the beach to several mid-range hotels. There's no shortage of guesthouses so it is not necessary to book ahead.
Budget
- Sakal Bungalows, Victory Hill. Offering some cheapish pleasant huts above the bar with sea views (over a huge concrete building next door) and more expensive air-con rooms. The menu is brief but the fod is excellent. The bar has a 61 inch TV for sports and films, and stays open as long as it needs to. $5 upwards.
Mid range
- Sokha Beach Resort, Tel:34 935-999. Fax:34 935-888 - US$60+.
Splurge
Stay healthy
Medical services in Sihanoukville are very limited and basic. Medical service is offered by the International Peace Clinic (Ekareach Street) and the public hospital. In case of major trouble evacuation is necessary.
Contact
Sihanoukville area code is 034.
Internet
There are only a few Internet cafes within the town and some other at the beaches (one is behind the Crystal Hotel on Orcheuteal Beach). Charge is about US$2/hour and Internet-'phone services are also available. Some of the mid-range hotels also offer Internet services at higher prices.
Post
The main Post Office is on Victory beach behind the Holiday Palace Casino, with another office opposite the market.
Embassies
The Vietnamese consulate on Ekareach Street issues 30 day visas on a same-day basis.
Get out
- Bokor - an abandoned French hill station near Kompot which was a popular destination in the 1920s.
- Ream National Park - 18 km north of Sihanoukville, offers more than 20,000 hectares of coastal mangrove forest and interesting fauna. Tours can be arranged everywhere in Sihanoukville.
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