Sihanoukville is one of the most popular resorts in Cambodia. It is located 185 kilometers from Phnom Pei. The city is also considered the main seaport of the country. Its popularity is gradually growing as a seaside resort. The city can be safely called young, since it appeared only in the 50s of the last century. Tourists, of course, are most interested in the beaches of Sihanoukville. It is about them that we will discuss in our article.
A little about the city…
Sihanoukville is in a very good location. You can get from the city to Bangkok in just half a day, and Phnom Penh is only a two-hour drive. Thanks to its favorable location, Sihanoukville is rapidly gaining momentum as a tourist destination. Here you can visit excursions and have a good rest. The beaches of Sihanoukville are the main attraction of the city. Now the tourist infrastructure is actively developing in the region: restaurants, hotels are being built,travel agencies, diving centers and other facilities.
The city is the main resort of the country. It was named after a king named Sihanouk. The Cambodians themselves consider him the father of the nation. The ruler deserved such a high rank and great respect from local residents because he once stopped the long-term war in the country.
The city itself is not of particular interest. Tourists come here solely for the beaches of Sihanoukville and several attractions.
The resort has its own characteristics. Perhaps shoppers will not like it here, since there are no huge shopping centers with boutiques of famous brands in the city. But in Sihanoukville there is a lot of sun, sand and sea. The choice of beaches in Sihanoukville is very large, among them you can find not only party places, but also completely wild stretches of the coast. The city can be described as a quiet resort. So far, it has not yet been built up with shopping centers and hotels. But at the same time, there is everything you need for a good holiday: shops, bars, cafes and entertainment venues. There are no skyscrapers in the city, the architecture is dominated by 2- and 3-storey buildings.
Serendipity
Serendipity beach in Sihanoukville is one of the most famous. Its name translates as "intuition". The beach is quite small and smoothly passes into Ochutel. In fact, this is the same stretch of coast, divided into two parts. It is worth noting that there are always a lot of people here. The beach is very popular. There is fine white sand, clear sea andrelaxing atmosphere. Not the last role is played by the proximity of Serendipity to the city. It is located closest to the center of Sihanoukville. All conditions for a good rest are created on the coast, numerous restaurants and bars are equipped. You can buy everything you need on the beach. An incredible number of hotels, hostels and guesthouses have been built right on the coast. The choice of housing here is very large, so you can find a room for any budget. Among the hotels there are not only budget establishments, but also expensive hotels. If you are interested in nightlife in Sihanoukville, then you will not find a better place. In the daytime it is quiet here, but in the evening all the fun begins. There are always a lot of young people on Serendipity. Fire shows and other entertainment events are often organized here.
The only not very pleasant moment that tourists do not like is the crowd of beggars. They regularly annoy guests, spoiling the overall impression of the holiday.
Near the beach there are a lot of souvenir, food shops and boutiques with clothes. There is a pier on the coast from which boats sail to the islands.
If you need to find budget accommodation, then experienced travelers recommend paying attention to the area between the beach and the square with the golden lions.
According to tourists, the choice of housing on Serendipity is very large. Here you can find a room for 5-10 dollars a day. They say that there is even such an institution where you can spend the night, you can absolutelyis free. It's called Utopia. Of course, the conditions there are spartan, but in hopeless situations it can help.
Reviews about "Serendipity"
All the beaches of Sihanoukville (Cambodia) are good enough. According to tourists, Serendipity is no worse than other sites on the coast. It is worth noting that the beach is always crowded with people, so there is more garbage here than in other places. If you want silence and solitude in nature, then you should definitely choose something else. Even the Sokha and the Independence are much quieter. Serendipity is the place to be for party goers or for people looking for a budget holiday as the cheapest accommodation can be found here. An important role is played by excellent infrastructure and walking distance to all objects.
Ochutel Beach
Among the beaches of Sihanoukville (Cambodia), it is worth remembering a stretch of coast called Ochutel. It is located in the southeast of the city. Russians often call him "Ochetel" or "Ochutel", as you like. It is a continuation of Serependity. The length of the beach reaches three kilometers. Many tourists believe that this part of the coast is the most popular among holidaymakers and local residents. The beach is not wide, but cafes, shops, souvenir shops and bars are built along it. A large number of awnings, tables, umbrellas are installed on the coast. There are guest houses and hotels near the beach. Local restaurants offer not only national, but also European cuisine, so there are no problems with food. Acceptable prices incafes allow you to taste delicious seafood dishes.
The largest number of hotels is located in the north of the beach. But the southern part of the coast is almost completely closed to outsiders. There is a private golf club there.
According to the reviews of tourists, the Ochutel beach is very noisy and crowded, if you want to have fun, then you are definitely here.
Otres Beach
South of Ochutel is Otres Beach. Sihanoukville is located at a distance of five kilometers from it. This part of the coast is considered the wildest; it is abundantly overgrown with coniferous trees. The beach is conditionally divided into three parts: "Otres 1" - the busiest place, "Otres 2" - a quiet and calm stretch of coast, often called "Long Beach", the village of Otres, located away from the coast.
If you believe the reviews about the beaches of Sihanoukville, then for solitude and romance, you should go to Otres. Of course, recently cafes, guest houses, bars, bungalows and other facilities have been built here, but there are so few of them that they do not interfere with vacationers at all.
Otres beach is known not only as a place for a relaxing holiday. On its territory there is the largest selection of equipment for marine entertainment. Here you can rent a kayak, catamaran or surfboard and ride to the islands in the sea.
Reviews about the beach "Otres"
According to tourists, Otres is far from being the cleanest place. The beach is very popular, many tourists come here inlooking for peace and solitude. If you want to stay here, you can easily find a room in local guesthouses.
Hawaiian Beach
One of the beaches of Sihanoukville (photo is given in the article) is the "Hawaiian" beach. It is located between Indnependence and Victoria. Compared to them, it has a more modest size. In addition, this part of the coast is less sunny, as huge pine trees grow here, creating a lot of shade for tourists. This is its advantage, because not everyone likes to sunbathe. Among the shortcomings, it is worth highlighting the far from ideal state of the coast. According to tourists, on the beach you can see the port mud brought by the current.
Hawaii Beach is very popular with locals, so foreign tourists can rarely be found here.
Independence Beach
The list of the best beaches in Sihanoukville includes Independence Beach. Its length is over a kilometer. According to tourists, this is one of the most peaceful places on the coast. The advantage of the beach is the cleanliness of sand and coastal waters. Every tourist should definitely visit here.
If you are interested in Sihanoukville hotels with their own beach, then there are those. One of them is called "Independence Hotel", and the second "Holiday Palace Casino". Both establishments have their own private beaches for guests. There are also beach restaurants along the coast. The latest reviews of Independence Beach indicate that new establishments are gradually being built on it. And this means thatsoon the local coast will no longer be so quiet. No wonder the popularity of the resort is growing every year.
If you want to spend your holiday on Independence Beach, be aware that there are no budget accommodations here. On the coast there are only expensive hotel complexes. Cheaper apartments will have to look far enough.
Soha Beach
Soha Beach is the private property of the first five-star hotel in Cambodia. "Sokha Beach Resort" - a hotel complex of a representative class, located on the very coast. The length of its beach is 1500 meters. Access to it is open only to guests of the institution. For other tourists, a section of the coast with a length of about one hundred meters is available. "Soho Beach Resort" is a large complex equipped with everything necessary for recreation. On its territory there are swimming pools, spas and other pleasant services. The hotel's beach is considered the cleanest in the resort, as it is regularly cleaned by the staff of the complex.
It is impossible to find budget housing in the Sokha area. In addition to the eminent hotel, there are a couple of hotel complexes here, but the cost of living in them is also quite high. Only in the eastern part of the coast there are bungalows with more affordable prices. If you want to comfortably relax on Sokha, you can get on it for a fee. The staff of the institution uses this practice.
Victory Beach
The beach is located near the hill of the same name "Victory". There is a port nearby. ByAccording to tourists, the water off the coast is quite clean, because the current carries away all the dirt. How true this is is hard to say. However, many note that traces of fuel oil appear on the body after bathing. Therefore, it is hardly worth choosing this stretch of coast as the main vacation spot. If you want to swim in the clear sea, it makes sense to choose any other beach in Sihanoukville.
As for the local coast, there are cafes and hotels, so finding accommodation for every taste is not a problem. A popular place is the Snake House, its owners speak excellent Russian and will give you the necessary recommendations regarding the rest. Pobedy Beach is known for its beautiful palm trees, against which all holidaymakers take amazing photos. Some tourists recommend watching the sunset at Victoria Beach to fully appreciate the beauty of the resort.
Reviews about Pobeda Beach
According to vacationers, the beach is beautiful and pleasant. He could well claim the title of the best in Sihanoukville, if not for water pollution. Perhaps when the current changes direction, the sea becomes clearer. This fact can only be verified empirically.
Lazy Beach
Not far from the coast on the island of Koh Rung Saloem is the "Lazy" beach. Kilometers of pure sand can impress even experienced tourists. The beach is surrounded by tropical thickets. The calm sea near the coast is an ideal place for swimming and diving. The beach is equipped with guesthouses and bungalows that you can rent if you want.stay here for a few days.
Overall impression
If you decide to go on vacation to Cambodia, then you probably want to preview the rating of Sihanoukville beaches. Data from different resources may differ, as well as reviews from different tourists. After all, everyone evaluates the place of rest, based on their own preferences. In our article, we have listed the best beaches in Sihanoukville. Photos and reviews of tourists will help you navigate the issue.
It is difficult to draw any definite conclusions about the resort. According to travelers, the coast of Sihanoukville makes a contradictory impression. On the one hand, local beaches delight with exoticism and the opportunity to have a good rest, on the other hand, Thailand has much more to offer. The local infrastructure is not yet very developed. It is developing, but many tourists still prefer Thailand. Cambodia can be considered as an alternative if you have already reconsidered everything in Thailand. Sihanoukville will not offer outstanding attractions and entertainment. The whole holiday comes down to the contemplation of the beauties of the beach and water procedures.
