Sihanoukville
A coastal city and gateway to the islands — with clear, disclosed caution
A city of Cambodia
🗓️Best time to visit
November–March for calm seas suited to island boat crossings.
📸Top activities & landmarks
- The boat harbour to Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem
- The calmer Otres Beach, away from downtown
- An option to use it purely as a fast transit point to the islands
🏨Where to stay
Otres Beach is markedly better than downtown/the casino district — further out, calmer, and more suitable for families and Gulf visitors.
⚠️Tips & warnings
Treat it as a transit point to the islands rather than a destination itself — book the Koh Rong boat for the same day you arrive, and avoid wandering downtown/casino areas at night.
📍 On the ground
Getting around: A bus or domestic flight from Phnom Penh (~4h by road). The port is the departure point for boats to Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem.
Halal & prayer places: Limited and scattered amid a large international dining scene primarily serving Chinese casino visitors; use OpenRice or ask directly.
Local safety: An explicit caveat above the national safety baseline: Sihanoukville is an internationally documented hub (Amnesty International, government crackdown reports) for Chinese-run online-scam compounds and trafficking linked to its casinos — dozens of sites identified with ongoing dismantling campaigns since 2025. This doesn't directly target passing tourists, but it has visibly changed the town's character (casino congestion, haphazard construction). Staying in calmer beach areas like Otres Beach rather than downtown/casino zones is advised, or treating it purely as a fast transit point to the islands.
Cost figures: 2026 prices: a fast boat to Koh Rong ~$15-25 (30-45min), guesthouse $10-20/night in Otres, meal $4-8.
⏱️How many days?
1 day
Suggested plan:
- Arrive and head straight to Otres Beach
- A morning boat to Koh Rong
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