Sihanoukville
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| Sihanoukville ក្រុងព្រះសីហនុ | |
 | |
  Sihanoukville | |
Coordinates:  10°38′N 103°30′E / 10.633, 103.5 | |
|---|---|
| Country | Cambodia |
| Province | Sihanoukville |
| Settled | |
| Official | 1964 |
| Government | |
| - Type | City and Provincial Municipality |
| Area | |
| - Total | 868 km² (335.1 sq mi) |
| Population (2006) | |
| - Total | 235,190 (province) |
| - Density | 270.9/km² (701.6/sq mi) |
| Area code(s) | KH-18 |
Sihanoukville, also known as Kampong Som, or Kampong Saom, is a port city in southern Cambodia on the Gulf of Thailand. The city was founded in 1964 to be the only deep water port in Cambodia (in part due to the waning power of the French leading to the Vietnamese tightening their control over the Mekong Delta and hence restricting river access to Cambodia) and its beaches have made it popular as a tourist destination. According to the Royal Government of Cambodia, some 320,000 tourists visited Sihanoukville in 2006, up by 30 percent from 2005.[citation needed] The city is named after King Norodom Sihanouk.
Sadly in 1994, the town was the location where three Western backpackers were kidnapped and killed by the Khmer Rouge, which affected tourism in the area for many years after.[1] However, the Khmer Rouge no longer pose any threat.
The city is served by Sihanoukville International Airport. The planned flights between Sihanoukville and Siem Reap may encourage visitors to Angkor temples in Siem Reap to extend their stay, though the crash of a charter flight on this route in 2007 has caused concerns. Sihanoukville attracts tourists with its laid back beach atmosphere when compared to Thailand's more developed ones, but the region's illegal narcotics shipping discourages some visitors.[2]
Contents[hide] |
[edit] Geography
Sihanoukville is on a small peninsula with beaches and tropical islands off its south and west coast and the commercial port to the north west. Beaches that line the west contour of the city from north to south are Victory Beach, Lamherkay Beach, Koh Pos Beach, Independence Beach, Sokha Beach, Serendipity Beach, Occheuteal Beach and Otres Beach. The most popular beaches are Occheuteal, Sokha, Independence and Victory. Tourists can take water taxis to the nearby islands for diving, snorkeling, and game fishing.
[edit] Downtown
The town centre is located on a hill roughly in the centre of the peninsula and is seen as a distinct area for tourism promotion. It contains the banks, bus station and market, although the post office is some distance toward the port.
[edit] Occheuteal Beach and Serendipity Beach
Occheuteal Beach is a long and narrow strip of beach lined with Casuarina trees, grass umbrellas, rental chairs and little drink huts. Many huts were bulldozed by the government to make way for a supposed new resort. This have raised concerns with human rights organizations. The northern section has become known as Serendipity Beach and is a popular beach with western tourists, noted for small guesthouse rooms right on the beach.
[edit] Otres Beach
Beyond a small headland at the south end of Occheuteal is the similar Otres Beach.
[edit] Sokha Beach
Sokha Beach is located just west of Serendipity Beach . This beach is privately owned by Sokha Beach Hotel, the first five-star luxury beach hotel in Cambodia. It provides many facilities with a wide white sandy beach, but hotel guards may prevent visitors who are not guests from going on to the beach.
| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Country: |  Cambodia |
| Division: | Province |
| Area: | 868 km² |
| Inhabitants: | 235,190 (2006) |
| Pop. density: | 270.9 inh./km² |
| ISO 3166-2: | KH-18 |
| Map | |
 | |
[edit] Independence Beach
Independence Beach is located next to Sokha Beach on its west. The beach was named after the old Independence Hotel. This beach offers a good stretch of clean sand. Situated at the northern end of the beach is Independence Hotel and Koh Pos Beach with a tiny island only 800m off the coast. Koh Pos is known for its rock strewn shoreline.
[edit] Victory Beach
Victory beach is situated at the furthest north of the peninsula of Sihanoukville . It was the original backpacker beach and still popular with budget travelers. At the northern end of the beach is located the deep sea port. Apart from white sand and blue sea, this beach offers a good spot to enjoy the sunset.
At the south end of Victory Beach is another small strand of sand called Lamherkey Beach where the Hawaii Seaview Restaurant is located. It is the place where a French/ Cambodian construction team laid groundwork for the construction of the new Port of Kampong Som during 1950s. At this beach, you can hire a boat to nearby islands.
[edit] Islands
There are more than a dozen islands off the coast of Sihanoukville for tourists to hop around. Most of them are yet to be developed for an overnight stay with the exception of Bamboo Island or Koh Russei in Khmer. Many guesthouses, restaurants and cafes on Occheuteal and Serendipity beaches offer trips and packages to these islands.
Soon Nail Island (also called Magic Island because it looks like a mushroom) will have a hotel run by the Russian owners of the Snake House. They already have a pier and most of the hotel and restaurant are finished.
[edit] Koh Rong
Koh Rong is situated west of the Sihanoukville coast. It offers the fantastic strand of beach on its southwest, stretching about 5 km. It has fresh water resources on the island and a bustling fishing community on the southeast with basic supplies including fresh water, fish and crab.
[edit] Koh Rong Samlon
Koh Rong Samlon is a bit smaller than Koh Rong and situated on its south. Beautiful beaches are on the east coast, where a large heart-shaped bay with some shellfish cultivation is located, and on the north shoreline facing Koh Rong.
[edit] Koh Tang
Koh Tang is located quite far from the main shoreline of Sihanoukville. Going there needs trippers to stay overnight on board. It offers interesting diving spots most of which are not frequently explored. The island is home to a military outpost and travelers should expect to be boarded by military personnel when out at the island.
[edit] Administration
For administrative purposes Sihanoukville is a municipality, holding the same status as a province. It is subdivided into 3 districts.
- 1801 Mittakpheap (មិត្តភាព)
- 1802 Prey Nob (ព្រៃនប់)
- 1803 Stueng hav (ស្ទឹងហាវ)
[edit] Sister cities
[edit] References
- ^ GoCambodia: Travel - Travel Guide, Travel Info, Cambodia Travel, Travel Service Inquiry, Visiting Angkor Complex, Traditional Greeting, Temples Admission and Guide,Say in Cambodia,Airport Arrival Service,Phnom Penh Major Cities, A fastinating province
- ^ www.state.gov/documents/organization/81446.pdf
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Sihanoukville travel guide from Wikitravel
- Sihanoukville Cambodia Travel Information
- Sihanoukville Beach Photo Gallery
- Ream National Park (Sihanoukville) Photo Gallery
- Sailing in Sihanoukville
- Phnom Penh tours
- Chemical Waste Dumped near Sihanoukville
- Canby Publications
- Backpacking in SihanoukVille
- Resort Hotels in SihanoukVille
- SihanoukVille's Casino's
- Tourists interested in Sihanoukville may also be interested in Kampot
- Tourists interested in Sihanoukville may also be interested in Kep
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