Sihanoukville Province (Khmer: ខេត្តព្រះសីហនុ - Khaet Preah Sihanouk), also known as Kompong Som or Kampong Saom, is aprovince (ខេត្ត-khaet) in the south-west of Cambodia at the Gulf of Thailand. The provincial capital, also called Sihanoukville, is aport city, tourist destination and a steadily growing urban center located on a peninsula.
The province is named after former king Norodom Sihanouk, who personally orchestrated the establishment of Sihanoukville city and the Sihanoukville municipality as it took place alongside the construction of the Sihanoukville Port, which commenced in June 1955. So far it remains the only deep water port of Cambodia, which includes a mineral Oil terminal and a transport logistics facility.
The islands and beaches of Sihanoukville province are an international tourist destination as visitor numbers have risen steadily over the course of the last two decades.
The province is served by the Sihanoukville International Airport, 18 kilometres (11 mi) from Sihanoukville town, although by 2014 it sees limited commercial operation. The airport currently only schedules national passenger flights of Cambodia Angkor Air to Siem Reap and Phnom Penh.
In addition to the port and the growing tourism industry, the activities of countless NGO's and international investment have contributed to an unprecedented economic growth of the province over the course of the last decade. Economic sectors, that further deserve mentioning are the textile industry and the rapidly expanding real estate market. Sihanoukville is the home ofAngkor Beer, one of Cambodia's major breweries.
The initial Sihanoukville municipality was elevated to a regular province on 22 December 2008 after King Norodom Sihamoni signed a Royal Decree converting the municipalities of Kep, Pailin and Sihanoukville into provinces, as well as adjusting several other provincial borders. (Reading Source: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
Transport
Roads and streets
- NR4: Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville are connected by the National Road 4. The road has been built and financed by the USA to accommodate heavy freight containers and gasoline tank trucks connecting the port with Phnom Penh. There are three toll stations along its entire distance of around 250 km. However, it is considered the most dangerous road of Cambodia due to dense traffic, regular traffic accidents and little control by authorities.
- NR3: Connects Sihanoukville with Kampot province. The road joins the NR4 at Prey Nob district. It is paved and in a relatively good condition, but poor in traffic signs. Here like on most highways Cambodia has no control over free roaming cattle and other livestock that regularly block road traffic.
- NR48: Connects Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh with Koh Kong Province,to the southwest of Cambodia. The road eventually ends at the Thai-Cambodian border. There used to be several ferry crossings over the rivers along the route which were replaced by solid bridges. This road has very little traffic and is in relative good condition.
Streets in Sihanoukville town and province are in relative good condition. However, traffic does not follow Cambodian Traffic law and rules, the police does little in the way of enforcement of international norms. Cambodia follows the right-hand traffic. In urban and residential areas there is an overabundance of motorbikes due to the absence of public transportation and taxis. Highways and Sihanoukville city are considered unsafe for driving. Drivers of motorbikes do not wear helmets, drive indiscriminately on any side of the street, do not have mirrors and it is common to see motorbikes with more than two passengers or vehicles driven by children and underaged people. Traffic lights are being ignored altogether. In 2008 the government ordered the enforcement of the use of helmets countrywide, but these rules are not yet followed.
The province does not have a scheduled public transportation system. Therefore, there exists an informal communal and urban transportation system of mini buses, taxis, motor-taxis (moto-dups) and tuk-tuks. This system is not administered by authorities, as anybody can become a bus -, motor-taxi - or tuk-tuk driver. As a consequence, prices of services are ad-hoc, insurance non-existent and service quality varies considerable. It is recommended that foreign visitors confirm prices before using any of these services and ask advice from tourist agencies and hotels.
Airport
The Sihanoukville International Airport was formerly called Kaong Kang (កោងកាង = mangrove) airport. It is located in Ream commune in central Sihanoukville province, near the sea on top a former mangrove lagoon 18 kilometers from Sihanoukville town, along the NR4.
Buses
The long distance-bus station is located near the port. Cambodia is home to many competing companies running frequent services from/to all major provinces. Direct destinations are Phnom Penh, Koh Kong and Kampot. Some companies offer services to Ho Chi Minh City and Siem Reap through a connection in Phnom Penh.
Long distance taxi
Taxis for long distance transportation are available at the bus station and in all hotels..
Boats
Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem have daily ferry service.
There are no more official scheduled boat services from or to Sihanoukville Province to Koh Kong Province.
Small long-tail boats and medium size cruising boats can individually be hired for sightseeing -, fishing -, diving - and drinking trips at guesthouses, travel agencies and diving operators.
Occasionally large cruise ships stop at the port during their voyages in Southeast Asia.
Train
The moderate railway network of Cambodia is currently under re-construction by Toll Holdings which has obtained a concession.The currently rather deteriorated train station near the port used to - and will again - link the province with Phnom Penh via Kampot.
Geography
Main article: Geography of Cambodia
Sihanoukville province is located at the coast of the Gulf of Thailand in southern Cambodia, occupying an area of 868 km2 on a sizable and hillypeninsula. Moderately developed beaches and a number of pristine islands in its proximity are the decisive features that attract national and foreign visitors. A small group of islands dot the near coast due south and west. Sihanoukville province borders Koh Kong province andKompong Speu province to the North and West, Kampot province to the East and the Gulf of Thailand to the South.
The peninsula is separated from the central plains of Cambodia by the Damrei Mountains. The province incorporates the Ream National Parkwith a size of 210 km2 that includes the islands of Koh Thmei and Koh Seh.
Being a comparatively small province, Sihanoukville province has only two urban centers: the Sihanoukville city itself and the Prey Nob District, 46 kilometers north from Sihanoukville town. The province is connected to Phnom Penh by National Road No 4; to Kampot Province by National Road No 3 and to Koh Kong Province by National Road No 48. National Highway No 4 represents the southern end of Asian Highway 11, which in turn is a section of the Asian Highway Network.
Sihanoukville town: The town’s layout reflects little structural planning. Neighborhoods accumulate around the major road "Ekreach(Engl.=independence)". It winds along the headland's rolling hills and halfway between Victory Hill in the north - and Ochheuteal quarter in the south are banks, shops, the local markets, hotels, administrative facilities and most corporate businesses. The post office and the inter-provincial bus station are located towards the north between Victory Hill and the port.
Beaches
- Ochheuteal Beach : Ochheuteal Beach is a 3.3 km long and strip of beach lined with Casuarina and Tamarisk trees, grass umbrellas, rental chairs and little drink huts as well as bigger restaurants and night-time party spots. The northern section has become known as Serendipity Beach and is a popular beach with western tourists, noted for small guesthouse rooms right on the beach. Aside from these guest houses on the beach there are around 30 beach huts which serve meals and drinks. The sustainability of the Ochheuteal beach was a primary consideration of various stakeholders, which brought about the development of a tourism development and management plan in 2005.
- Serendipity Beach: is technically the western end (roughly one fifth or 600 m) of Ochheuteal beach. It has been named by an American fellow, who came here in the Nineties. Struck by its (then) unspoiled beauty and pristine condition, he came up with the term, which quickly entered common vocabulary.
- Otres Beach: is around 4.6 km long and beyond the small "Queen hill" headland at the southern end of Ochheuteal Beach. It is far less developed and commercialized and known for its long stretch of clean white sands. It has developed into a special lodging place for Westerners. From 2004 to 2011 the place was a mix of late Goa and after-the-wall-anarchy. Police cleaned the area up that year, removing 70% of the Hippie places. Permanent structures beyond the road supplement the remaining places by now - a very popular, well established holiday retreat – but prices have also risen considerably.
- Sokha Beach: Sokha Beach is around 1.2 km long and located west of Serendipity Beach. The beach is privately owned by Sokha Beach Hotel, the first five-star luxury beach hotel in Cambodia. While many facilities are provided, visitors have to pay for their use and beach vendors are not allowed.
- Independence Beach: Independence Beach is around 1.3 km long and located north-west of Sokha Beach. The beach is named after the old Independence Hotel. Situated at its northern end is the Independence Hotel. Koh Pos Beach with Snake Island (Koh Pos) are only 350 m off the coast.
- Victory Beach: Victory beach is around 300 m long and situated at the furthest north of the peninsula of Sihanoukville. It was heavily used by backpackers and is still popular with budget travelers. The deep water port is located at the northern end of the beach. Apart from white sand and blue sea, this beach offers a good spot to enjoy the sunset. A consortium of Russian business people undertook large scale development here. The beach is regularly maintained.
- Lamherkay - or Hawaii Beach:At the southern end of Victory Beach is another small strip of sand of similar length - around 300 m, the very place where a French/Cambodian construction team laid groundwork for the construction of the new port in 1955.
- Treasure Island Beach is less than 50 m long and its entire length is fringed with pavilions of a big Cambodian seafood restaurant
- Hun Sen (Prek Treng) Beach: is the northernmost beach of the city with a length of around 1.5 km, situated behind the local port and essentially empty without beach huts and bars, it sees only weekend - and holiday visitors. The water is very shallow, but is not regularly cleaned.
- Ream Beach: is situated south of Otres beach and with an overall length of around 7.7 km it consists of several sections with occasional stretches of rocks and vegetaion. Koh Ta Kiev island lies just 800 m off its southern end.
- Beaches inside the National park : At Ream National Park's southern coast exist several unnamed beaches with an approximate length of 10 km.
- Beaches of Prey Nob district : Beyond Sihanoukville's oil port lie two sizable beaches inside the Komong Saom bay, belonging to Prey Nob district.
Islands
Main article: List of islands of Cambodia
There are 22 islands administered by Sihanoukville province. An increasing number are either in the process of or have been assigned for extensive touristic development. Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem in particular have so far undergone years of unplanned development with plenty of guesthouses and bungalow resorts that offer accommodation from basic dorms to furnished air-con bungalows. Most guesthouses, travel agencies and restaurants inSihanoukville town offer booking packages to these individual island resorts.
- Koh Russei, កោះបស្សី: Also known as Bamboo Island. This medium sized island is located a few kilometers out from Otres Beach or Ream. There is a small navy base and is currently under large scale development.
- Koh Rong, កោះរ៉ុង: Situated 26 km west of the Sihanoukville coast. Koh Rong is the biggest of the islands here. It encompasses an area of 78 km2. The terrain is predominantly hilly with a sizable mountain at the island’s south west. The hills provide water for creeks, lagoons and estuaries. The island’s interior is almost completely forested. Although there are already lots of guest houses and pubs in and around Koh Tuich village, the island remains virtually “empty” – its sheer size dwarfs all the settlements. Daily ferry service and dozens of guesthouses and restaurants.
- Koh Rong Sanloem, កោះរុងសន្លឹម: South of Koh Rong and smaller, beautiful beaches are on the west and east coast. South of Koh Rong, it resembles its bigger sister in shape and geography – although a bit thinner, it is covered in dense forest, generally more flat (still, though there are lovely hills ) and it has noticeably less landmass in relation to its coastline. The marine life around Koh Rong Sanloem is very diverse and offers many diving spots. Daily ferry service to many guesthouses spread all over the island.
- Koh Kaong Kang/Thass, កោះកោងកាង/ថាស: Mangrove Island, Ile des Paletuviers (old French name), Koh Kaong Kang/Thass – one of the inner islands – a great place to snorkel. It is very flat, hence freshwater is scarce and nobody lives there permanently.
- Koh Koun, កោះកូន: Child Island, Ile de Cone (old French name), small island between Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem, no beach, uninhabited, but great dive - and snorkel spot.
- Koh Tuich, កោះតូច: Small island, tiny and beautiful island off Koh Rong’s Koh Tuich village. There is a little pagoda on it since around 2010 – great snorkeling spots around the whole island.
- Koh Pos, កោះពស់: Also known as Morokot Island or Snake Island. This island is 800 metres (2,625 ft) off Victory Beach. It is under development by Russian investors and converted into a luxury holiday destination. It was linked to the mainland with a bridge in July 2011. The bridge is not currently open for traffic.
- Koh Dek Koul, កោះដេកកោល: This small private island is 7 kilometres (4 mi) off Victory Beach. The luxurious Russian owned Mirax Resort is located on this island.
- Koh Bong Po-oun/Song Saa, កោះបងកោះប្អូន: – Siblings/Lovers Islands – Les Frères (old French name), renamed to Koh Song Saa – Lovers islands – two tiny islets off Koh Rong’s north-east, it is home of the exclusive Song Saa Resort. (Reading Source: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
Natural Resort
Kbal Chhay Waterfall is a waterfall approximately 7 km from the city of Sihanoukville in south-west Cambodia and then a further 9 km along a red dust track.
Until 1963 Kbal Chhay was a source for providing clean-water to Sihanoukville, but the arrangement ended when it became a hiding place for the Khmer Rouge.
In 1998 Kbal Chhay was developed by the Kok An Company who in constructing a road in the area developed the site for local and international tourists. Today the Royal Government of Cambodia has regained control of the site and once again uses it as a clean water source for the nearby city.
(Reading Source: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
Experiences
There is a place that we can find variety and yummy breakfast as below location:
I have tried Pork Rice with Eggs ^_^
Seafood
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