Sihanoukville = Kampong Som

Sihanoukville is the main beach resort of Cambodia being three hours south of Phnom Penh.

Sihanoukville is a port city in southern Cambodia on the Gulf of Thailand. The city is the only deep water port in Cambodia and its beaches are rapidly making it popular as a tourist destination.

The best beach weather begins with the end of the rains in November. The dry, warm, breezy weather that follows lasts through January. Night temperatures can get down to a chilly 20° but the days hover around 28°-30°. Many think December and January are best with their balmy temperatures and blue skies
At the end of January, Sihanoukville begins to warm and continues to get hotter through July (maximum 35°). After February, cool 'mango showers' occasionally blow in from the north. December through June is said by some local outfitters to be the best scuba weather with clearer (though cooler) waters than the rest of the year.

Sihanoukville does not offer shopping comparable to Phnom Penh, but there are a few souvenirs and local market.
 

Cambodia has a great wealth of cigarettes, both locally produced and imported.  You can stop by any cigarette stand and get a carton, a pack, or just sample a single cigarette

Sunset starts around 6pm.
Are your tired from a day in the sun or in the bed ?
Restaurants, bars, discos, beach parties, casinos, big screen movies.
Some places close around 9pm, some open at 9pm.
 

Most visitors to Sihanoukville travel from Phnom Penh by bus. Sihanoukville can also be approached by ferry and road from Koh Kong (the border crossing from Thailand) and by road from Kampot.
There are no regularly scheduled flights to Sihanoukville.

Most shared taxis depart Phnom Penh before 10:00AM, though you can still find one into the mid afternoon. R15,000/person. Shared taxis offer a cramped and harrowing 2½-3½-hour ride with 8 or more people stuffed in a compact car. Private taxis run about $23-$35. In Phnom Penh taxis wait at the southwest corner of the Central Market (Phsar Thmey). In Sihanoukville, Phnom Penh bound taxies wait on Street 108.
 

Koh Kong to/from Sihanoukville by road

Road #48 - the relatively new road from Koh Kong City to its intersection with National Route #4 north of Sihanoukville -has been repaired and is now passable. From the intersection at Route #4, you can proceed south to Sihanoukville or take the Route #3 cutoff to Kampot.
When you cross the border from Thailand, touts for vans to Sihanoukville will immediately approach you, claiming their van is about to leave. Vans only leave when they are full, regardless of tout’s claims to the contrary. Best to choose a van or taxi that is almost full. 5 - 7 hours to Sihanoukville or Kampot. 600 baht. Road conditions on Road #48 deteriorate dramatically during the wet season. Routes #3 and #4 are paved and remain in good condition year round. Many if not most guesthouses in Sihanoukville offer vans to Koh Kong.


Koh Kong to/from Sihanoukville by ferry

Small bullet ferries run daily in both directions between Sihanoukville and Koh Kong. The trip takes 3 1/2 - 4 hours. US$12-$15 for foreigners. (Tickets are cheaper at guesthouses than at the ferry dock). There are occasional cancellations during the rainy season.
From Koh Kong to Sihanoukville: The speedboat departs at 8:00am every morning.
From Sihanoukville to Koh Kong: The speedboat departs at 12:00noon everyday from the ‘Port of Passenger Ship’, near the Port of Sihanoukville, just off Hun Sen Beach Dr. Tell your motodup driver ‘Koh Kong’ and he will know that you mean the Koh Kong ferry dock.



 

Downtown. A 5 minute drive to most of the beaches.
Downtown has most of the stores, including the central market, the bus station, and several of the hotels, guesthouses, bars and restaurants in Sihanoukville. Bakeries, and most of the banks and medical services. There's even the first ATM machine in Cambodia at ANZ Bank.
You can walk around downtown in an hour or so, and maybe an extra half hour at the Central Market.  If you're just getting into town by road, you'll end up at the old New Market (Psah Thimey).  It's about a 5 minute walk to the main street downtown.  You'll be greeted by motorycycle taxis, Tuk Tuks, and taxis.  If you haven't chosen a place to stay, they'll be sure to advise you on where they want you to stay.  You can also walk into town to get advice from the many foreign shop owners.  The Sihanoukville Advertiser, distributed free at most hotels and restaurants, has the latest on prices and services for many hotels.
 

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Sihanoukville History

Capture and Release of SS Mayaguez by Khmer Rouge forces in May 1975

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