Sihanoukville holidays

Sihanoukville, is a 3.5 hour journey by road (220kms) along a fully sealed highway. The main highway from Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh (built by the United States) is the country's economic lifeline, as it carries seafood, salt, and imported goods to the capital city and beyond. It is considered one of the best roads in the Indochina region. The journey passes through the lushly forested Elephant Mountains and continuous plantations of rice, fruit and sugar palm, a common symbol of rural Cambodia. With it's natural and clean environment, and improving infrastructure, Sihanoukville has been designated as the gateway port to the country's various attractions. The town is spread around a deep water bay surrounded by deserted islands and the still clear waters of the Gulf of Thailand. Due to relative isolation from commercial foreign investment, and a low population, the environment remains pristine and untouched, with many of the islands and mainland hills roaming with monkeys and wildlife. The territory is a popular weekend escape for many Phnom Penh'ites, who come to enjoy the pristine beaches and sample the abundant local seafood.

The Beaches

Ochheutal beach is the farthest away and will eventually be incorporated to be part of the new golf course. It is currently a collection of ramshackle huts and bars where one can stay for free if buying a couple of beers a day. A true backpackers experience.

Sokha Beach is the home to the Sokha Beach Resort and 1½ kilometer of private manicured beach. The $1 non guest fee is more than cheap considering the absence of beggars, ptomaine laden food carts and accumulating rubbish.

Independence beach is still very undeveloped but should be enjoyed soon before the reopening of the Art Deco Independence Hotel later this year. The rebuilding of this landmark and later Khmer Rouge headquarters is a major redevelopment project that emphasizes how far this country has come in the past decade.

Next door is Hawaii Beach that is still in good shape. Check out the 2^nd “airport” before it all becomes part of a new Japanese resort development. Nearby are some of the best Seafood restaurants.

Victory beach has lots of development, good hotels including the Holiday Palace Casino where I often stay. A full service hotel with a Thai restaurant and only $15 a night. It is overlooked by Weather Station Hill or ‘Backpackers Hill’ that houses lots of bars, restaurants and accommodations.

Nightlife

There are a cluster of bars and restaurants on the main street and some of the best include:

• Angkor Arms
• Club Sandwich
• Corner Bar
• Crazy Rabbit
• Dannies Bar
• Emerald Bar