Not too welcoming to the hyped tourist bustle of Thai beaches. The answer to the question of how to get to Sihanoukville will not seem simple. There are no direct flights from the airport to the resort, and connecting flights through and Siem Reap look, to put it mildly, not cheap.
Choosing wings
There are several ways to get to Sihanoukville, but if you are used to counting money, the first step, in any case, should be to choose a flight to Phnom Penh:
- The cheapest options for connecting flights are offered by Aeroflot and Etihad. In the first case, the transplant will take place at. The total travel time will be just over 10 hours, excluding connections, and the ticket price starts from $700. The Arabs provide for two connections - in and Bangkok - and the cost of tickets in the case of a flight with them will be $ 680. In total, you will spend about 13 hours in the sky.
Phnom Penh Airport is located 7 kilometers west of the center of the Cambodian capital.
How to get to Sihanoukville from Phnom Penh Airport
The resort and administrative capitals of Cambodia are separated by about 230 kilometers. The most impatient tourists prefer to cover this distance by taxi. The cost of the trip significantly depends on your ability to bargain, the place where you take the car, the "altitude" of the season and the time of day. The average price for an air-conditioned car is $50-70. At the airport, taxi drivers' appetites are usually a little high, and therefore it makes sense to first get to the city, where you can find a suitable car.
Inexpensive to get to the capital from the airport will help you public transport:
- The state bus N03 departs from the airport every half an hour. To find the bus stop, exit the passenger terminal building to the left and go around the car park on the left. The stop is located across the street from the parking lot. The route operates from 5.30 am to 20.30 pm. The journey to the city will take about 40 minutes, depending on traffic. The fare will be half a dollar.
- Tuk-tuk is another popular way to get around. South-East Asia. The price of a trip on this exotic mode of transport for a European is $5. The tuk-tuker will first announce a minimum of $10, but bargaining in this case is not only appropriate, but even obligatory.
- Taxi drivers will charge about $10 for delivery from the airport to Phnom Penh. The journey will take approximately 30-40 minutes.
The object you need in Phnom Penh is the bus station, from which buses leave for Sihanoukville. The bus station schedule includes many flights and on average they depart every hour. The ticket price ranges from $5 to $10, depending on the type of bus, its class and other factors. The cheaper the ticket, the more likely it is that the air conditioner will not work too well, and on the road you will spend not the promised 3-4 hours, but all seven.
In 2016, the railway connection between the capital of Cambodia and Sihanoukville was resumed. Trains depart on Saturdays and Sundays at 7 am and on Fridays at 3 pm. The carriages are equipped with air conditioning systems and comfortable seats. Ticket price is about $7. Travel time is less than three hours.
To avoid the huge number of stops and other inconveniences associated with the transfer, take a taxi from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville. If you flew in with a small company or family, it will be even more profitable if you carefully calculate the costs for each:
- The section of the path from the airport to Phnom Penh by bus N03 - $ 0.5.
- From a stop in Phnom Penh to the bus station - $ 1 by tuk-tuk.
- The price of a bus ticket to Sihanoukville is $10.
- The trip from the Sihanoukville bus station to the selected hotel is about another $ 3 by tuk-tuk.
- In total, it turns out at least $ 15, and if there are four of you, taking a taxi is not only convenient, but also profitable.
Fly and no nails!
If you decide to fly directly to the beaches of Sihanoukville, get ready not only to spend a decent amount, but also to waste a lot of time on inconvenient connections.
The cheapest will be a joint flight with Qatar Airways and Vietnam Airlines. The first transplant is to be at, the second - at. You will have to spend more than 14 hours in the sky, and two more times for the same amount - waiting for the next flight. The connections on this route are very inconvenient. The ticket price is unlikely to be lower than $960.
No less time will have to be spent on a flight with the wings of Air China and Vietnam Airlines. Dockings in this case are coming in Ho Chi Minh City. Passengers spend 14 hours in flight, excluding transfers, and they also have from 7 to 13 hours. In total, the road takes about 35 hours and you will have to pay $ 1170 for it.
Sihanoukville International Airport is located 18 km from the city. Taxi cars will help you get to your chosen hotel. The cost of the trip is from $ 10, depending on the location of the hotel.
All prices in the material are approximate and are given for March 2017. It is better to check the exact fare on the official websites of carriers.
- Tickets for the most comfortable daytime buses from Giant Ibis can also be booked through 12GoAsia , if you are used to using it, which is no wonder, given the convenience of the site. Similarly: for an overpayment in dollars, you get firm confidence in the time and day of departure, in addition, you can choose the most convenient place.
Use 12Go - an excellent and serviceable, in my opinion, service for traveling throughout Southeast Asia! Read my detailed review and review about it. - Directly at bus stations. Unlike Bangkok , with its gigantic bus terminals or with its two universal bus stations, neither Penka nor our village-type Kampong Saom has anything like it. There are several obscure bus stations with ticket offices, where giant basses and nimble minibuses, as we call them, huddle. And to find out what options there are, you have to go around all these stations! Those. you walk, scorched by the sun or watered by rain, along the back streets of Phnom Penh or Sihanouk, from one railway station to another, cursing your narrow-mindedness ... Somehow, it’s more convenient via the Internet, it seems to me.
- Points of sale of tickets.
There is at any seedy hotel and tour desk - this is one of the not sickly articles of the additional earnings for all kinds of players and players of the tourist market of Kampuchea.
You go down to the reception at the hotel where you are staying and ask for tickets.
There is only one minus - as a rule, the hotel enters into a partnership agreement with one carrier, and maneuverability is significantly reduced due to this. But at hand, again. Suitable for those who are not yet on a short enough foot with online reservation of everything that is possible.
Small comfortable buses Giant Ibis By train from the capital to Sihanoukville and back
With this mode of transport, there is a separate and rather sad story. As all of us, enlightened travelers, know, the Khmer Country in the recent past was destroyed almost to the ground - thanks to Pol Pot, American, Vietnamese and other "well-wishers". In this connection, passenger rail transportation did not work here for a long time.
In April 2016, the only train running along the route PPen - Takeo - Kampot - Sihanoukville and back was solemnly launched. Rolling stock - production of the sixties, repaired and re-equipped, brought to a quite tolerable degree of convenience. In particular, air conditioning and soft seats, as well as clean toilets with paper towels and Glade air freshener, are guaranteed.
However, the feeling of a retrospective in Cambodian during a rail journey through this country, no, no, and yes, it will arise. For example, thanks to colorful ceiling fans that dangle charmingly while moving in other cars. As well as the shabby stations of Mother Kampuchea.
In the car of the Cambodian train ... The Khmers are a people who love to have fun. Especially to eat. The composition of the seller of instant noodles will invariably roam, and at every stop you can stock up on epic boiled eggs for this country, dramatic dried fish, sliced fruits and thermonuclear Cambodian coffee, quite pathetic for the local unpretentious national cuisine - with ice, a giant pile of sugar and milk . Everything is as it should be. Let me remind you that there are toilets in every carriage - experiment on your health! ...
Let's try to move from descriptive narratives to practicality and highlight some of the real advantages of traveling in Kambo by train.
- The only way to avoid the terrible Phnom Penh traffic jams that envelop the growing metropolis around the clock, except in the early morning. Usually on buses, only arrival and departure from the city takes at least an hour!
- The train station is located in the very center of the city and is easily accessible.
- Unlike buses, which suffer from frequent and long stops, which, coupled with traffic jams in the capital, delay arrival by several hours, trains run quite accurately on schedule. Although it is long - about 8 hours))
- Safety.
The highway from Stump to Sihanouk is disgusting and dangerous: narrow, ornate, it is fraught with accidents at almost every turn. Koi and happen with enviable regularity in the direction.
The train ride will be quieter. Suitable for traveling with children and the elderly. - Low prices.
When tickets are valid good buses like Gian Ibis or night “hotel” basses from Virak cost 11-13 dollars, by trains you can get there for 8 dollars. - You can take motorbikes and bicycles with you! It will cost on different trains from 5 to 14 dollars, or from 20 thousand .
Railway station in BCP:
Of the minuses - trains run catastrophically rarely.
Schedule:
- Friday - the train departs from the capital's railway station at three o'clock in the afternoon;
- Saturday. In both directions, trains leave at 7 am. At 14:30 they arrive at the terminal stations.
- Sunday - departure from Kampong Som at 16:00, arrival at 23:30.
Railway station in Sihanoukville
Another shortcoming - Railway tickets in Kampuchea, unlike bus services, you cannot book online. And you can't in hotels. It is possible only at the stations themselves, and it is highly recommended to do this 2-3 days before the trip - they say they fell in love with this new mode of transport. For cheapness, comfort, toilets in carriages and safety.
Passenger information telephone: 078 888 583. International format: +85578 888 583.
The cash desk in Penka is open from 8 am to 4:30 pm on weekdays and from 6 am to noon on Saturdays and Sundays.
We get by taxi
You can order in two ways: through a travel agency, look for cab drivers on the spot after the fact, or book an individual transfer online through a special service.
By the way, a popular way of transporting tourists here. Your seat is in the wheelchair. Finally, let's take a look...
All transfer options Phnom Penh Airport – Sihanouk
Getting from Phnom Penh to Kampongsom by plane
A very doubtful decision in its expediency. For three reasons: expensive, long, inconvenient.
There are two domestic Cambodian airlines. And here's what's wrong with them.
- Cambodia Angkor Air
Ticket price - from 50 to 300 $. Travel time is from 5 to 25 hours. In response to the reader's eye now bulging inquiringly at all this, I hasten to clarify: there are no direct flights. We'll have to hit the road from Penk to Siem Reap, and from there you will be rushed to Sihanouk with a breeze.
You can book on the airline's website: www.cambodiaangkorair.com - Cambodia Bayon Airlines
Daily departures at 12 noon with arrival in our coastal pearl of Southeast Asia, smoked with the smoke of happy grass, at 14:35.
Prices - $ 100-150, travel time - 2 hours 55 minutes. Official site - www. bayonairlines.com.
An important nuance: remember that you will also have to get to the airport of departure by taxi, as well as upon arrival. These are additional expenses. You can also order such transfers through our favorite KiwiTaxi…
In the cabin of the Sorya Bus evening flight On this, slightly delusional, in connection with the surreal air traffic in Cambodian, I bow.
With wishes for a rough road, the easiest trips and a real Asian reboot, yours sincerely, a big lover of Southeast Asia, Marta.
September 2016
Sihanoukville, formerly called Kompong Som and now familiarly called Snookiville or even Snuki, is a coastal resort in Cambodia that is famous for having the best beaches in the country. The history of these places goes back thousands of years and is filled with both interesting and tragic events. The city itself began as a French-Cambodian camp carved out of the jungle in the 1950s. Soon the town turned into a bustling port, and its golden beaches attracted the very elite here: even Jackie Kennedy once stayed at the Independence Hotel. During the civil war in the 1970s. the star of Sihanoukville has set, but in the 1990s. The resort began to regain its former glory. At first, only brave backpackers came here, and guidebooks frightened with bullet marks on the streets. But now you are unlikely to find here at least one mention of the then war: even the historical Independence, which was inhabited by ghosts for 30 years, has been rediscovered. And today, bars and restaurants are actively opening in Sihanoukville, and The New York Times has already managed to suggest that this is “Asia's next trendy beach”. So come calmly and relax with pleasure (although it’s still not worth appearing on the beach after 21:00 in Sihanoukville - even for men).
The distance from Sihanoukville to Phnopmeni is approximately 229 km.
Sihanoukville from A to Z: hotels, beaches, sea, entertainment and excursions. Bright photos and video. Reviews of tourists about Sihanoukville.
How to get to Sihanoukville
There are no direct flights from Russia to Cambodia, you have to fly with two or three transfers. Aeroflot, Es Seven, Singapore Airlines” and other airlines deliver their passengers to the airports of the Middle East, China and Southeast Asia, where you need to transfer to the planes of local airlines Air Asia, Vietnam Airlines, Cambodia Anchor Air to Sihanoukville International Airport.
The fastest flight from Moscow to Sihanoukville takes 15.5 hours, but the ticket price will be prohibitive for many. The best option is 4 hours longer, but half the price and, moreover, does not require haste during transplants.
Read more about how to get to Sihanoukville.
Search for flights to Phnom Penh (nearest airport to Sihanoukville)
Weather in Sihanoukville
Average monthly temperature, °C day and night, water
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Transport
The main means of transportation around the city are tuk-tuk (1-3 USD) and motorcycle taxis (1 USD). Prices on the page are for September 2018.
Cuisine and restaurants
Sihanoukville - large seaside resort, so it is no wonder that here you can find a restaurant with almost any cuisine in the world. Even Russian. Not far from Victory Beach is Snake House, run by Russians. The minimum bill is 12-15 USD, the hall is decorated in the form of a serpentarium, there is a mini-zoo.
Along the beaches (especially in the Ochheuteal area) there are many restaurants and food stalls. Many of them prepare seafood with chips for only 4 USD. All bars on Serendipity Beach have a permanent "Happy Hour", during which all cocktails are offered for 2-2.5 USD, and draft Angkor beer for 0.5-0.75 USD.
Popular hotels in Sihanoukville
Sihanoukville beaches
The beaches of Sihanoukville are not as crowded as, for example, Thai ones, but, at times, they are also littered. For diving, you need to sail to the nearest islands.
Beaches (from northwest to southeast):
- Victory Beach (which includes Hawaii Beach)
- Independence Beach with the 7-storey Independence Hotel
- Sokha Beach, which, apart from one section of 100 m, belongs to the Sokha Hotel Beach Resort
- Ochheuteal Beach - the most popular beach with many restaurants and bars
- Serendipity Beach - Northern part Ochheuteal Beach
- Otres Beach - the least developed and least crowded beach south of Serendipity
- Koh Poah - "Snake Island", which is owned by Russian investors. Now there are plans to build a bridge and an island resort. Located 800 m from Victory Beach
Sihanoukville Hotels
At the Snake House restaurant, a 10-minute walk from Victory Beach, there is a 3-star hotel of the same name, which is also managed by immigrants from Russia. Address: Soviet St., tel.: +855 92 742929. SGL 25-30 USD per night, depending on the season.
Oddly enough, but this is not the only "Russian" hotel in Sihanoukville. Mirax Resort 5 * - a private island resort, also owned by Russians. The cost per night here starts from 350 USD per Standart room with breakfast. Address: Koh Dek Koul Island Tel: +855 9274 2929
When you want to get from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville, you have a few options to consider. Here are the main types of transport that carry out transportation between these points:
- Airplane
- Bus
- Taxi
If the goal is to get to your destination as quickly as possible, then choose Airplane. If time suffers, and in the first place is the availability of the trip, then you should give preference to the Bus.
The fare, of course, will depend on the chosen mode of transport. A taxi ticket is the most expensive option. It will cost approximately EUR 159.86. If you want to save money on moving, then choose the Bus: Bus tickets cost only EUR 10.86.
How far is Phnom Penh from Sihanoukville?
When traveling ground transport it is important to understand the distance that will have to be overcome from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville. From Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville 229 km. In a straight line - like an airplane flies - the distance is 187 km.
How long does it take to get from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville?
The travel time from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville depends on the means of transport you are traveling with. In general, the trip usually fits in the interval from 1 to 7 hours.
How much does a trip from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville cost?
The cost of the trip from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville varies depending on the chosen means of transportation. Virak Buntham Express offers the most budget option: choose the Bus and the ticket will cost you EUR 10.86.
If you want to travel with more comfort, then pay attention to a taxi and get ready to pay EUR 159.86 for a one-way taxi ticket.
We have compiled a list with indicative prices for traveling from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville by different modes of transport for a general understanding:
- Bus tickets - EUR 10.75 - EUR 11.65;
- Flights – EUR 64.51 - EUR 88.70
You always have the option of ordering a taxi: the approximate cost of the trip will be from EUR 112.00 to EUR 159.49.
You can always order a taxi: the approximate cost of the trip will be from to.
How many flights per day are there between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville?
The number of flights per day varies depending on the mode of transport chosen.
- Buses leave the route at 00:30 in the morning, and the last bus departs at 18:00 in the evening. A total of 12 buses run between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville during the day.
- Flights between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville are carried out during the day: as a rule, there are about 2 departures daily.
Taxi always stays good option: you can order a car from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville with departure at any time of the day.
The most popular modes of transport to travel from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville
How to choose the most convenient way of travel from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville? To make it easier for you to choose, we surveyed 1,000 travelers. Here are the voting results:
- 99% decided to go by bus.
- 1% took a taxi.
Sihanoukville is a small town in Cambodia, located in 200 km from the capital on the shores of Kampong Saom bay. Sihanoukville- the main port of Cambodia, as well as a rapidly developing seaside resort. We spent two months in this tropical paradise and want to talk about what we liked and what we didn’t like, about the sights of Sihanoukville, where to stay and where to eat in Sihanoukville, as well as a lot of other useful and interesting information.
Sihanoukville famous for its beaches, fish restaurants, and in the near future, many casinos and crowds of Chinese will be added to the "sights" of Sihanoukville. But first things first.
How to get to Sihanoukville
By plane
V 18 km from Sihanoukville is the current international Airport (IATA: KOS), although it is not very large, but it is better than nothing.
Due to its size, Sihanoukville Airport cannot handle very large aircraft, but it is suspected that it will be rebuilt in the not too distant future.
And then huge liners will start flying to Sihanoukville, carrying on their board not only Chinese builders, but also numerous package tourists, including from Russia. We also flew to Sihanoukville by plane, though not from Rossi, but from.
Very comfortably: 1.5 hours and you are there. But direct flights from Moscow to Sihanoukville on this moment no, but you can always pick up a flight with a transfer.
Their airport to the city will have to go by taxi. Average price: 15-20$ , depending on the destination. It is most convenient to arrange a taxi in advance at the hotel where you plan to stay, so that later you do not stray in search of the place you need.
By bus
Sihanoukville has a direct bus service with many cities, both inside Cambodia and with neighboring countries. So you can get to Sihanoukville by bus from Siem Reap, Kampot, Kep and many other cities in Cambodia. There are also buses from Thailand and Vietnam. Bus tickets in Asia are best found on the 12Go Asia website.
Prices vary depending on the speed of the bus, its comfort. The most convenient and reliable are Giant Ibis and Mekong Express.
By train
Sihanoukville has a railway line that will connect Sihanoukville with Phnom Penh and some other cities in Cambodia. She is not very long. Trains run along the route Sihanoukville - Kampot - Takeo - Phnom Penh and, accordingly, in the opposite direction.
We can’t say anything about the quality of Cambodian trains and their punctuality yet - we haven’t tried it, but as soon as we report back ☺.
Where to live in Sihanoukville
In this matter, how many people - so many opinions. Someone prefers to live in the city, someone in the countryside. But given that Sihanoukville is now one big construction site, then my answer to the question " Where to live / settle in Sihanoukville? unequivocal - only on Otres.
We lived on Otres for two months and were very, very happy there. Otres is the name of the beach. gentle sea, clean beaches, good food and no fuss - what else is needed for happiness.
On Otres, we managed to live in two hotels Ta Kloy Tip Bungalow and Oasis on Otres. The level of both is more than decent, especially in terms of price-quality ratio. But still, in our opinion, Ta Kloy Tip Bungalow (in which we settled initially) is more suitable for short-term vacations.
In Sihanoukville, you can also rent a house for a long time. But Lately there is a tendency that more and more housing is being rented or even bought out by the Chinese, so among expats there are fewer and fewer people who want to get involved with long-term rental contracts: what if tomorrow a large-scale construction will unfold under your windows, and you still have a contract for six months, and a deposit, usually a fee for two months, no one will return in case of early termination of the contract.
Transport and getting around in Sihanoukville
There is no public transport in Sihanoukville. There are several options for getting around Sihanoukville: taxi, tuk-tuk, bike or car rental, bicycle or on foot.
By taxi
In Sihanoukville, there are many offers from both official taxi drivers and private taxi drivers, usually foreigners, and they vary quite a lot both in price and in the comfort of the car.
Sometimes there are very funny options. For example, when our friend was looking for a car for a trip from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh, private traders announced the price for him 100$ , despite the fact that the officials carry for 50$ . To a reasonable question, what, in fact, is twice as expensive for you, I received an excellent answer: “Well, we still have to go back, we are unlikely to find a client on the way back. So that 50$ and further 50$ back” – smart arithmetic, don’t you think? So I advise you to first find out the prices for trips from the officials, and then ask the price of the bombers.
On a tuk tuk
There are a little more than enough tuk-tukers in Sihanoukville. And even if you are going to get around in a different way, I still recommend at least once taking a ride in a local tuk-tuk.
They are so cool, as if descended from the pages of some strange Japanese anime. Imagine a carriage with a motorcycle ☺ instead of horses. It looks very funny. So don't miss this ride.
Bike rental in Sihanoukville
Many travel agencies in Sihanoukville offer bike and car rentals. Average price: 5$ per day, 60-70$ per month per bike type Honda Airblade, depending on the availability of rooms, technical condition, your ability to bargain and the greed of the landlord.
Do not be surprised, many bikes in Sihanoukville rent without numbers. Generally. No numbers at all. I don’t know for what purpose this was done, or to avoid paying taxes, like no number - no bike, which means you don’t need to pay insurance or tax; or maybe so that they could not steal or resell - although this version looks very doubtful, because vehicle without a number, it’s easier to attach somewhere, but at least for spare parts; in order not to travel outside Sihanoukville - in the city itself, the police turn a blind eye to the lack of numbers, but it’s not a fact that they will be loyal to the column federal highway or another city. Maybe someone knows which of my versions is correct, or maybe there is another answer, it lies on the surface, but I just don’t notice it?
As a deposit for the bike, they ask for either a passport or 500 and more green American dollars. The bike should come with a helmet, and preferably two, if you plan to ride with a passenger, an additional lock on the wheel.
In Otres, everyone rides without helmets, when traveling to the city - who knows. We prefer to wear helmets, we have only one head and somehow we don’t want to part with it so ridiculously, abrasions on the elbows and knees heal quickly, but even a small bruise on the head can lead to very disastrous consequences.
The police, in theory, are watching that all road users are “helmeted”, but usually they look at violations through their fingers and it is unlikely that anyone will run after you with sticks, as, for example, in. If you are nevertheless stopped, be kind and friendly, well, it will not be superfluous to have 1-2$ to smooth out the conflict.
We also do not recommend neglecting the lock on the wheel. During the day and at cafes, of course, you can just lock the bike, but at night, it is better to secure it additionally. It is not difficult and does not take much time, but it can save a lot of nerves and money in the future. By the way, you will have to pay the owner for stealing a bike. The official price is indicated on a piece of paper that is signed when renting, and is usually 700$ , but in theory you can throw off about half of it, at least there were precedents. I don't want to scare anyone, but forewarned is forearmed.
Car rental
There are quite a few rental options. small car like Daewoo Tico, costs from 20$ per day and 150$ per month. A bigger and more powerful option, level Lexus RX300, will cost more: from 50$ per day and 550$ per month.
Bicycle rental
Some guesthouses and hotels offer bicycles to their guests for free, but here the principle of who gets up first, that and slippers applies, in the sense of great ☺.
Bicycles can also be rented from agencies, the price usually does not exceed 1$ per day. Unfortunately, I don’t know about the monthly rent, but I believe that no more 20$ .
Where to eat in Sihanoukville
Khmer cuisine has its own characteristics. Yes, it has something in common with Thai, but there is also a lot of Chinese. The main difference, in my opinion, is the spices used. The main favorite is Kampot pepper, many dishes are cooked with it, because it is practically National treasure, but I’ll tell you more about Kampot pepper in an article about Kampot (no, not about a drink, but about a pretty city in southern Cambodia).
Sihanoukville has a huge selection of seafood: lobsters (though small), shrimp, squid, scallops, oysters and other marine reptiles. The range is comparable to . But still, they cook them in Sihanoukville a little differently, adding Asian or something, but if you ask, they can cook it, so to speak, in its pure form, without clogging the taste of seafood with unnecessary seasonings.
But Sihanoukville does not live by seafood alone. There are establishments for every taste and budget, local, Italian, French, even Russian cuisine is in Sihanoukville. But with specific recommendations of institutions, the situation is somewhat more complicated. Here, as in the old but very famous song:
“I won’t tell you for all of Odessa,
All of Odessa is very big…”
So with Sihanoukville, I have the same story, where to eat in Sihanoukville in general, I can’t advise, but tell me about where to eat in Otres - that’s please. Although, there are so many cafes on Otres that it is unlikely that you will be able to visit everything in half a year. Therefore, I will only talk about two of our favorites, where we went most often for lunch, dinner, and sometimes, with all our love for homemade breakfasts, for breakfast.
Khmer Kitchen Restaurant & Bar
- it official name cafe, usually everyone just calls it "Tony's", by the name of the owner of the cafe and the neighboring store.
Despite the name, the guys know how to cook not only local cuisine, but also European dishes. The only thing we didn’t like about them was the Caesar salad, but everyone has their own vision of how it should be.
Soups, sandwiches, steaks, salads (except Caesar) are beyond praise!
Otres is full of establishments with variations of the name on the theme happy pizza. We never fully understood, this is due to an attempt to indicate that they also have a happy pizza, or is it a fantasy problem ☺.
Of the many establishments with similar names, we chose it on. Here they cook very tasty, but still the emphasis is on Asian cuisine, European dishes are worse than Tony's.
It can also be very noisy here, as the Chinese love to spend time in. But this is a very minor drawback. - this is actually an attraction of Otres, however, like Khmer Kitchen Restaurant & Bar.
Shops in Sihanoukville
Since we lived on Otres, we bought most often there, especially if you need to buy something small. Again, I will not talk about everything, but only about the one where we went most often.
Tony Supermart
On Otres, it is considered the cheapest and most convenient store with a decent assortment. Here they buy not only at retail, but also wholesale. Many local cafes are purchased from him. It is located in close proximity to the restaurant. Khmer Kitchen which I mentioned above. Here, as well as in Arambol, you can buy on credit, the main thing is not to forget to return these same debts later.
Naturally, in shops like Tony's, there is no talk of the possibility of buying for cashless payments. Therefore, if you, like us, like to pay for purchases in order to save miles, then you will have to go to the city itself. Today in Sihanoukville there are two most popular stores where you can pay by credit card:
Samudera
Big store with a good selection. Here you can buy everything from food and personal hygiene products to clothing, up to the cook's tunic ☺.
The only thing is that in order to pay with a card for purchases in Samuder, you need to have some kind of identity card with you, the rights are quite suitable.
Orange
Orange and its assortment is smaller than Samoudera, but here you can pay by card without ID.
It also seemed to me that Orange is a little more expensive than Samudera, but I didn’t compare by positions, maybe something is more expensive here, something there.
Sihanoukville market
Shopping in the market is a pleasure. But on the other hand, there is a larger assortment of vegetables and fruits than on Otres, a large selection of seafood, meat.
There are all sorts of ready meals, clothes, shoes. In general, such a classic market, nothing unusual. The only but, if you can hardly tolerate unpleasant odors, you will be very uncomfortable in the market.
If you are shaken by the local color and you want to receive your purchases with delivery, then nothing is impossible, the only online store in Sihanoukville will come to your aid - CMB Mart. We ourselves did not order anything there, but our neighbor regularly used their services and was generally satisfied.
ATMs in Sihanoukville
When we left Otres, the installation of new ATMs was in full swing. Therefore, we will not give tags for ATMs, I'm afraid they may change their location in the near future. But that doesn't stop us from telling the ATMs in Sihanoukville.
First, a little about money: in Cambodia, both local riels and evergreen American dollars are in use. 1$ = 4000 riels.
At ATMs, money can be withdrawn both in dollars and in local currency. The ATM takes a commission from each transaction: 5$ if the withdrawal amount 400$ inclusive, if you need to withdraw more, you will have to lay out already 6$ . ATMs have a limit on the amount of withdrawal, usually a limit of no more 100$ . It is often recommended to shoot in dollars, but there are important nuances that cannot be ignored:
- if you have a dollar card, shoot in bucks and don't worry. For you, this is actually the best option without any pitfalls;
- if you have a ruble card, then withdrawing money in bucks you get a complicated conversion: first your bank converts money into dollars, then a local bank converts dollars into riels, and then again into dollars.
All this “magic” happens naturally at the internal exchange rates of banks, and it is difficult to predict how much the advice “withdraw in dollars” will ultimately cost you. Let me just say that we once removed from the ruble card Tinkoff Black- the rate was worse than usual, but not critical, then we immediately switched to the dollar. But for the guys who rented from Sberbank, the rate differed very significantly and, of course, not in their favor. So, perhaps, in riels it will be more profitable.
History of Sihanoukville
City of Sihanoukville named after the king Norodoka Sihanouk, which in 1950 and founded Sihanoukville as a major deep-water port, with considerable financial support from France. Norodom Sihanouk is a very significant person in the modern history of Cambodia, but more about him some other time.
Before 1970 Sihanoukville was used as a port to transport arms and supplies to the National Liberation Front South Vietnam(NLF) supported by Norodok Sihanouk. After Norodok Sihanouk was overthrown, and so as not to remind anything of the disgraced king, the city was renamed Kampongsaoom, and on many maps it is still called that, despite the fact that the historical name Sihanoukville was returned to it.
Sihanoukville received its second birth in the 90s of the last century, in the sense of the 20th century. The barangs (they are farangs, they are also foreigners ☺) reached the town on the seashore with a comfortable climate and good conditions for investing and doing business. With their direct participation, Sihanoukville began to develop, hotels, restaurants, shops were built here, its tourist face began to form.
As of 2008, unfortunately, more recent data could not be found, the population of Sihanoukville was 199 902 people, wherein urban population was less than half 89 846 people.
Most of the urban population is employed in tourism, infrastructure maintenance seaport and brewing. No, this is not a joke - there is a large brewery in Sihanoukville. The peasants are mainly engaged in agriculture: they grow rice, vegetables, fruits, as well as fishing.
Now Sihanoukville is experiencing a third birth - the city is being built up and settled by the Chinese. Sihanoukville airport receives two flights daily from China. In the city, everything is duplicated in Chinese, hotels, restaurants, shops and casinos, casinos, casinos are being built. Why so much - I will not put my mind to it. Over the past 4 years, the number of casinos has increased by 53 times!(from 1 to 53 ☺) and this is far from the limit.
Sights of Sihanoukville
Today Sihanoukville is, first of all, beach resort, so the main attractions are Sihanoukville beaches- long sandy stretches of coast lined with palm groves and numerous seafood restaurants.
Very often, the beaches of Sihanoukville include the beaches of the neighboring islands of Koh Russei, Soon Nail Island, Koh Rong Samlon, Koh Tang, Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanlem (Koh Rong Sanlem). But in my opinion, this is somewhat incorrect, so in our article we will consider only those beaches that are, let's say, on the mainland of Sihanoukville, and we will talk about the islands in a separate post. In the meantime, let's return directly to the beaches of Sihanoukville. The beaches of Sihanoukville are quite clean, at least some of them. When the sea is stormy coastal strip can cause all sorts of rubbish and debris, but the beaches are regularly cleaned, which is good news.
Otres Beach
You understand, I could only start our story from our favorite beach ☺. Otres beach- an ideal place for those who want to fully enjoy nature and immerse themselves in relaxation. On the Otres beach there are ennobled areas with sunbeds, cafes, a la Indian shek, bars and other benefits of civilization. But there is public areas, without any infrastructure, where you can just lie on the sand or rocks and enjoy the unity with nature.
Otres beach quite big, it even has numbers: Otres 1, 2, 3, etc. They differ not only in remoteness from the center, but also in the relief of the coast. For example, Otres 1 is a long sandy strip. And Otres 4 is a rocky coastline. So if you want to change the landscape around you at your discretion, without making major moves, Otres beach is the right choice.
Ou Chheuteal Beach
Beautiful long beach, its length is almost 2 km. Imagine this fairy tale: 2 km of shallow almost white sand. No wonder Ochitel Beach is considered one of the most popular in Sihanoukville, but this popularity has its drawbacks - quite high prices for accommodation in guesthouses near the beach. It is believed that the development of Sihanoukville as tourist center It started from this beach.
Serendipity Beach
If you want action, then Serendipity is for you. There are many cafes, restaurants, bars and other tourist entertainment.
Music is heard from everywhere, and music of completely different styles and directions. Imagine Khmer tunes mixed with shrill R&B hits, spiced up with hints of jazz and Latin, and something else completely incomprehensible, and you will get a complete picture of Serendipity Beach. Relaxation is definitely not worth looking for here, but bright saturated beach life- it's always welcome ☺.
Sokha Beach
Sokha beach- it private beach, it belongs to the Sokha Beach Resort, Sihanoukville's first five-star hotel. Sokha Beach is probably the only protected beach in Sihanoukville. But not everything is so bad, you can even look at the beach if you cannot afford to stay at Sokha Beach Resort, there is a small area, let's say, for mere mortals.
Independence Beach
Independence Beach is one of the cleanest in Sihanoukville, at least it was or was thought a couple of years ago. Now, due to the influx of the Chinese and the construction they have launched, the cleanliness of Independence Beach is a big question.
Independence means independence in English, Independence Beach is located near the Independence Monument and, I believe, this fact gave the name to the beach. Although there is another opinion, supposedly it is in honor of the hotel, which has been welcoming guests in Sihanoukville for more than 40 years.
Victory Beach
The beach, which I sometimes call Russian, since it is in the area of \u200b\u200bthis beach that many famous Russian establishments are located. Housing in the beach area is considered quite budgetary.
But in my opinion, no savings and charm of the Russian-speaking community can kill the main disadvantages of Victory Beach - proximity to the commercial port and the dirty water resulting from this neighborhood.
If you are tired beach holiday and you want to join, let’s say, the cultural or spiritual life of Sihanoukville and see some places that are significant for Sihanoukville, then, as they say, “I have them” ☺.
Other sights of Sihanoukville
I warn you right away, you should not expect any unrealistic beauties or even special artistic or historical value from the sights of Sihanoukville.
This sculpture is a kind of symbol of Sihanoukville. But in order to recognize lions in these strange creatures, you will have to pretty strain your imagination and fantasy.
In fact, the Golden Lions (Golden Lions) perform quite a utilitarian function - in such a simple way in Cambodia they designate roundabouts, giving a kind of landmark. Imagine for yourself what is more convenient: to agree with someone to meet at a conditional third crossroads or at the golden lions? The second option is clearly clearer both in finding and in determining the location. By the way, there are many similar sculptures denoting roundabouts in Sihanoukville itself and in other cities of Cambodia.
Independence Square and Independence Monument
Independence Square in Sihanoukville was laid out in 1985 in honor of the 30th anniversary of the independence of Cambodia. I think it will not be a secret to anyone that Cambodia, and in those days Kampuchea or Hindustan, was a French colony for a long time, and only 1955 gained independence.
There are several buildings in the square, somewhat subtly reminiscent, but, of course, you should not compare them - the scale is not the same.
A gilded vase or goblet is installed side by side on a separate pedestal. We were unable to find out what is there, since we do not understand Khmer, and we did not see any accompanying information in other languages.
Perhaps it is this composition that should be considered the Monument of Independence, but I'm not sure. The park itself is very pretty. The only negative is that there’s no way to park near it, so you’ll have to rack your brains a little where it’s more convenient to stick your pepelats to inspect this attraction of Sihanoukville.
A bull standing in the sea at Port Beach
I don’t know how much this one is, let’s call it that, the object of modern art can be attributed to the sights of Sihanoukville, but we found it very funny and we decided to mention it.
It is located on the so-called Port Beach, which offers, perhaps, the best views of the next attraction of Sihanoukville - the Russian Bridge to the island of Kaoh Puos (Snake Island).
When we were in Sihanoukville, ordinary mortals were not allowed to ride on it, only builders and those involved in this action.
The bridge connects Sihanoukville and the island of Kaoh Puos, on which, according to numerous banners, Cambodia, together with Russia, in defiance of the Chinese, plans to build their own Resort City, as Comrade Bender said, not like Ostap, but like a robot, “with blackjack and whores ".
This is perhaps the oldest temple in Sihanoukville. Here even today monks live and study, various religious ceremonies are held, burials are made.
Wat Leu was built in honor of Prince Chourn Nath. Prince Chourn Nath is very popular in Cambodia, and this is not surprising, because much of the modern culture of Cambodia is his merit. The prince worked and campaigned extensively for the preservation of the Khmer language, is the author of the Cambodian anthem, and is also one of the authors of the explanatory Khmer dictionary.
Wat Leu is located on the high point This mountain is called the Upper Pagoda.
As I said, the Wat Leu temple was originally located on a mountain, but as it grew, it gradually began to take a fancy to the slopes of the mountain, and later went down to its foot. At the base there is even a small pond, which for some reason everyone stubbornly calls a lake.
Walking around Wat Leu is a pleasure. There are many benches, gazebos where you can sit, relax, meditate. It also offers wonderful views of the city.
It is on one of viewing platforms Wat Leu Temple, we understood how the old Sihanoukville “dies”, and a new one comes to replace it - with high-rise hotels made of glass and concrete, wide roads and never sleeping casinos.
Wat Krom is located at the bottom of the mountain, between the beaches of Independence and Victory and therefore it is often called the Lower Pagoda, as opposed to the Wat Leu temple.
The second most important temple of Sihanoukville, and for some, perhaps the first. Near the temple there is a large operating crematorium, and in the temple itself there are many different crypts, crypts and crypts.
Wat Krom temple is dedicated to Ya-Mao, which means "black woman" in Khmer. Do not be surprised, the temple itself is Buddhist, but no one bothers to build it in honor of some god, goddess, monk, hermit, etc., while in Russia there are churches of the Virgin Mary, Nicholas the Wonderworker, etc. It's almost the same story here.
It is believed that Ya-Mao patronizes everyone who is on the road: travelers, taxi and tuk-tuk drivers, captains of ships and planes. Therefore, in the temple in the morning, before the start of the working day, you can meet many Khmers who ask her for help and good luck on the way.
True, the story of Ya-Mao herself is far from joyful. It is believed that a beautiful girl lived in the Sihanoukville area in the 19th century and she had a fiancé, whom she loved very much. But since they were not very rich, the young man decided to earn extra money, hired a sailor on a ship and went to Hong Kong.
Time passed, and there was no news from the groom. Then I-Mao decided to go to her betrothed herself. But, alas, when she sailed to her beloved, a storm broke out at sea and she drowned. But her soul did not die, because she really wanted to find out what happened to her fiancé. It is believed that her spirit came back and now protects all sailors, drivers and travelers.
So, if you are in Sihanoukville, do not forget to ask Ya-Mao for support in your journey.
The architecture of this temple is very unusual. We have not been able to come to an unambiguous conclusion that it reminds us more of an Indian wigwam or a white sail of a brigantine. But the second option, it seems to us, is still more true, because St. Michael is considered the patron saint of sailors.
During the Khmer Rouge, almost all Catholic buildings were destroyed. The Church of St. Michael in Sihanoukville is one of the few religious buildings that survived after the rule of the Khmer Rouge.
During this bloody period for Cambodia, the church of St. Michael was used as a prison or barn. It was reopened after restoration only in 1993 with the support of the UN.
St. Michael's Temple was built by the French Catholic priest Agadoberi together with the Khmer architect Vann Molyvann.
Bar-restaurant "Garage"
This is truly a cult place in Sihanoukville. First, it is notable for its appearance. Yes, on one side there is a building and a building. What if you tilt your head up?
That's it! Not every day you can see buildings whose roof is crowned with a real plane.
Secondly, there is the Garage bar-restaurant itself, where you can listen to cool music, drink, have a bite and chat with old-timers.
And thirdly, here is a private collection of expensive bikes and cars. It is unlikely that something like this can be seen somewhere else in Sihanoukville.
There are two more natural sights of Sihanoukville that I want to mention, but adjusted for the fact that we ourselves, due to the weather, did not visit them - this Kbal Chhai Waterfall and national park Ream. Hopefully next time we can get to them.
That, perhaps, is all that I would like to tell about Sihanoukville. To be honest, when we first thought about a trip to Cambodia, we were very skeptical. In fact, we just fell in love with Cambodia and Sihanoukville, I hope you will also be able to feel tender feelings for them along with our small but remote guide ☺.
