Sihanoukville
Encyclopedia
Sihanoukville also known as Kampong Saom, is a province in southern Cambodia
on the Gulf of Thailand
. This port city is a growing Cambodian urban center, located 185 kilometres (115 mi) southwest of the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh
. The province is named after King Father Norodom Sihanouk
and grew up around the construction of Sihanoukville Port
. Construction on the port began in June 1955 and it was the only deep water port in Cambodia
. The port was built in part due to the waning power of the French
leading to the Vietnamese tightening their control over the Mekong Delta
and hence restricting river access to Cambodia. Sihanoukville's beaches have made it a popular tourist destination.
The province is served by Sihanoukville International Airport
, 18 kilometres (11 mi) from downtown, although it has a limited commercial operation. The planned flights between Sihanoukville and Siem Reap
may encourage visitors to Angkor temples
in Siem Reap to extend their stay, though the crash of a charter flight in Phnom Damrey
on 25 June 2007 from Siem Riep, has caused concerns. The flights are scheduled to start on December 14, 2011.
Sihanoukville attracts tourists with its relaxed beach atmosphere when compared to Thailand's more developed ones. However, the city has attracted not only tourists, but several NGOs and foreign and national investors in the last years in order to develop not only the growing tourist industry, but its capacity as an international sea port and other sectors like textile
and real estate
. In Sihanoukville is also located the main factory of Angkor Beer, the Cambodian national beer.
Sihanoukville was the place of the last official battle of the United States
army in the Vietnam War
, although the incident took place outside Vietnam
. It is known as the Mayagüez incident
on May 12–15, 1975 between the US forces and the Khmer Rouge
. Currently, visitors dive in Koh Tang
, one of the Sihanoukville islands where the major battle to free the SS Mayagüez
took place. Divers can see two shipwrecks 40 metres (131.2 ft) down.
On 22 December 2008, King Norodom Sihamoni signed a Royal Decree that changed the municipalities of Kep
, Pailin
and Sihanoukville into provinces, as well as adjusting several provincial borders.
. Internationally it is written in French as Sihanouk Ville or Sihanoukville (Literally "The City of Sihanouk" or "Sihanouk City").
King Norodom Sihanouk is known in Cambodia as the Father of the Nation, because he was the main promoter of the independence of the country from France
in 1953.
The name "Sihanouk" is formed from two Sanskrit
words: Siha and Hanu. "Siha" means Lion
. The word comes from Sanskrit
"Simha". Another example is Singapore
. "Hanouk" is from "Hanu" that means "Jaws". Therefore, Sihanouk is "The Jaws of the Lion".
The former name Kompong Saom means "Agreeable Port" and som is derived from the Sanskrit word "samuya" (समुय).
as a port, in order to communicate the city with international trade. The project was overseen by the government of Norodom Sihanouk
.
The construction of the port began in 1955 and most of the families of the builders remained near the port, effectively becoming the first inhabitants.
During the Vietnam War
, it became an intensive military port first in the service of National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam
and after 1970, with the regime of General Lon Nol
, at the service of the United States
.
With the success of the Khmer Rouge
guerrillas in April 1975, the port was the last place to be evacuated by the US army. The SS Mayagüez
was captured by militants of the new regime on 12 May. The US claimed that the ship was on international sea lanes, but the Khmer Rouge said that it was on Cambodian territory. It is known as the Mayagüez incident
.
After the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime in 1979, the port of Sihanoukville recovered a great importance in the development of the country. With the opening of markets in 1999, the port became one of the main spots of economical growing of Cambodia.
In December 1999, Formosa Plastics
bribed Cambodian officials and dumped 3000 tons of mercury laden waste into Sihanoukville, killing 3 people. Formosa Plastics also tried to dump the waste in the Nevada, USA.
in a small Peninsula
and Bahia
. Beaches are the main feature that attracts national and foreign visitors. A small archipelago is embedded by the Sihanoukville Bahia off its south and west coast. The commercial and international port is located at the north west. The limits of its territory: North and West Koh Kong
province, East Kampot province and south Gulf of Thailand
.
Beaches that line the west contour of the city from north to south are Victory Beach, Lamherkay Beach, Koh Pos Beach, Independence Beach, Sokha Beach, Serendipity Beach, Ochheuteal Beach and Otres Beach. The most popular beaches are Ochheuteal, Sokha, Independence and Victory. Tourists can take water taxis to the nearby islands for diving, snorkeling, and game fishing.
The peninsula is separated from the central plains of Cambodia by the Damrei Mountains
, especially the Bouk Kou. The city is also besides the Ream National Park
(210 km2) and it includes the islands of Koh Thmei and Koh Sei.
Being a rather small province, Sihanoukville has two main urban centers: the Sihanoukville city itself and the Prey Nob District, 46 kilometers from Sihanoukville downtown to the north. The city is connected to Phnom Penh by National Road No. 4; to Kampot Province by NR 3 and to Koh Kong
Province by NR 48.
Town centre: The town centre is located between surrounding hills roughly in the centre of the peninsula. It contains the banks, the market and other businesses. The post office and the bus station are located some distance towards the port.
At the south end of Victory Beach is another small strand of sand called Lamherkey Beach. It is the place where a French/ Cambodian construction team laid groundwork for the construction of the new Port of Kampong Som during the 1950s. At this beach, you can hire a boat to nearby islands.
Other activities in the economy of the province include fishing, aquaculture
, agriculture
, mining
, oil
, factories (frozen shrimp processing, garment and Angkor Beer), real estate
and tourism.
In the last years the increasing of tourism has improved the construction of hotels and tourism infrastructures in the province. Foreign and national investment has been proven by the presence of newcomers to the city.
Streets in Sihanoukville downtown are mostly in a good condition. However, the traffic in the city does not follow rules and the enforcement of international norms is poor. Cambodia follows the right-hand traffic. There is an over abundance of motorbikes due to the lack of bus urban transportation and taxis. The city is considered unsafe for driving: drivers of motorbikes do not use helmets, use any lane of the street, most of them do not use mirrors and it is used to see motorbikes with more than two passengers or drive by children and underage persons. In 2008 the government ordered the enforcement of the use of helmets wide the country, but the norm is not yet followed.
The city does not have public transportation system. Therefore, there is an informal urban transportation in motor-taxis (moto-dups) and tuk-tuks
. That urban system of transportation has no control from authorities, and anybody can become a motor-taxi or tuk-tuk driver in Sihanoukville. As a consequence, there is no control in the prices for services. Foreign visitors are recommended to confirm prices before using any of those services and ask advice from tourist agencies and hotels.
is located 18 kilometres away from Sihanoukville downtown, along the NR4.
. Other direct destinations include Koh Kong
and Kampot. Some companies offer services to Ho Chi Minh City
and Siem Reap
through a connection in Phnom Penh
.
but nowadays it only runs occasionally during the tourist seasons. This is because the road connection to Koh Kong was improved and the bus is now faster, safer and cheaper than the old boats.
Small long-tail boats
and medium size cruising boats can be hired for sightseeing, fishing, diving and drinking trips at most beaches and at the fishing port. Bookings can be made through guesthouses, travel agencies and diving operators.
Occasionally massive cruise ships dock at the port during their voyages in South-East Asia.
via Kampot. The train station is located near the port. The line is currently under construction by Toll Holdings
which has a concession to the line.
The main ethnic group is the Khmer
ethnic group. There are many other groups like Vietnamese
, Chinese
, Cham, Thai
, French
, British
, Korean
and Americans, especially because of its status as a port and a tourist destination.
The Cambodian culture
is predominantly Khmer
. But the presence of several human groups in Sihanoukville makes that the province has a lot cultural manifestations.
The people of Sihanoukville celebrate the traditional feasts of Cambodia and other festivities
like Cambodian New Year
(April), Chinese New Year
(between January and February), Water Festival
(November), Pchum Ben
(honor to the ancestor
s in October) and Kathen Ceremony (offerings to the bonzis).
The ethnic and minority religious groups celebrate the Christmas
Day (25 December) and Holy Week
for the Catholics, the Ramadan
for the Muslims, the Valentine Day and the International New Year
(31 December).
The inhabitants of Sihanoukville dedicate especially to commerce, fishing, agriculture and industry. It is used that families visit the beaches and waterfalls at the weekends. Generally people from Sihanoukville are friendly and they are used to visitors from other Cambodian provinces and foreigners.
, holding the same status as a province
. There is a provincial governor
and three deputy governor
s. It is subdivided into 3 districts (Khan). The port
has an autonomous administration. The districts are divided in communes (22 communes in total).
The port is located 18 kilometers/11 miles from the Kang Keng Airport and 4 kilometers/2 miles from Sihanoukville downtown. Ships passengers are allowed to visit downtown. The terminal itself has not shopping center, banking or tourist offices, but only toilets.
It is allegedly the place where two of the three allegedly captured US marines from the Mayagüez incident
on Koh Tang island were held before they were executed.
s in the province with a population of 1,918 bonzis. Pagodas are important for the Cambodian culture as a center of villages and cities. Some of the most important pagodas in the province:
Sihanoukville has other minority religious groups like Catholic
s, Muslim
s (Cham), Protestants and Animists. Other places of worship:
s with 4,794 students; 2 high school
s with 1,449 students; 10 vocational training with 961 students and 13,728 private schools.
Some private educational institutes have been opened in Sihanoukville: Life University, University of Management and Economics, Built Bright University, Khmer Technology and Management, Don Bosco Technical School and Don Bosco Hotel School.
, USA
Seattle
, USA
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
on the Gulf of Thailand
Gulf of Thailand
The Gulf of Thailand , also known in to Malays as Teluk Siam literally meant Gulf of Siam, is a shallow arm of the South China Sea.-Geography:...
. This port city is a growing Cambodian urban center, located 185 kilometres (115 mi) southwest of the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...
. The province is named after King Father Norodom Sihanouk
Norodom Sihanouk
Norodom Sihanouk regular script was the King of Cambodia from 1941 to 1955 and again from 1993 until his semi-retirement and voluntary abdication on 7 October 2004 in favor of his son, the current King Norodom Sihamoni...
and grew up around the construction of Sihanoukville Port
Sihanoukville Autonomous Port
Sihanoukville Autonomous Port or Port Autonome de Sihanoukville is a government agency and state corporation of Cambodia and Sihanoukville that operates and governs the country's sole deep water port. Located in Sihanoukville, in Bay of Kompong Som on the Gulf of Thailand in the south of Cambodia...
. Construction on the port began in June 1955 and it was the only deep water port in Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
. The port was built in part due to the waning power of the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
leading to the Vietnamese tightening their control over the Mekong Delta
Mekong Delta
The Mekong Delta is the region in southwestern Vietnam where the Mekong River approaches and empties into the sea through a network of distributaries. The Mekong delta region encompasses a large portion of southwestern Vietnam of . The size of the area covered by water depends on the season.The...
and hence restricting river access to Cambodia. Sihanoukville's beaches have made it a popular tourist destination.
The province is served by Sihanoukville International Airport
Sihanoukville International Airport
Sihanouk International Airport , located east of Sihanoukville town in Sihanoukville province, is Cambodia's third international airport. The airport is also known as Kang Keng Airport...
, 18 kilometres (11 mi) from downtown, although it has a limited commercial operation. The planned flights between Sihanoukville and Siem Reap
Siem Reap
Siem Reap is the capital city of Siem Reap Province in northwestern Cambodia, and is the gateway to Angkor region.Siem Reap has colonial and Chinese-style architecture in the Old French Quarter, and around the Old Market...
may encourage visitors to Angkor temples
Angkor
Angkor is a region of Cambodia that served as the seat of the Khmer Empire, which flourished from approximately the 9th to 15th centuries. The word Angkor is derived from the Sanskrit nagara , meaning "city"...
in Siem Reap to extend their stay, though the crash of a charter flight in Phnom Damrey
Dâmrei Mountains
The Dâmrei Mountains, literally the "Elephant Mountains", are a mountain range situated in the southwest of Cambodia.-Description:These mountains are an offshoot of the Krâvanh or Cardamom Mountains, but occupy a much smaller area. The highest elevation is Phnom Bokor at 1,081 meters above...
on 25 June 2007 from Siem Riep, has caused concerns. The flights are scheduled to start on December 14, 2011.
Sihanoukville attracts tourists with its relaxed beach atmosphere when compared to Thailand's more developed ones. However, the city has attracted not only tourists, but several NGOs and foreign and national investors in the last years in order to develop not only the growing tourist industry, but its capacity as an international sea port and other sectors like textile
Textile
A textile or cloth is a flexible woven material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw fibres of wool, flax, cotton, or other material to produce long strands...
and real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
. In Sihanoukville is also located the main factory of Angkor Beer, the Cambodian national beer.
Sihanoukville was the place of the last official battle of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
army in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, although the incident took place outside Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. It is known as the Mayagüez incident
Mayagüez incident
The Mayaguez incident between the Khmer Rouge and the United States from May 12–15, 1975, was the last official battle of the Vietnam War. The names of the Americans killed, as well as those of three Marines who were left behind on the island of Koh Tang after the battle and who were subsequently...
on May 12–15, 1975 between the US forces and the Khmer Rouge
Khmer Rouge
The Khmer Rouge literally translated as Red Cambodians was the name given to the followers of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, who were the ruling party in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, led by Pol Pot, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, Son Sen and Khieu Samphan...
. Currently, visitors dive in Koh Tang
Koh Tang
Koh Tang is an island off the coast of Preah Sihanouk Province in the Gulf of Thailand. The island is approximately 43 km southwest off the coast of Cambodia...
, one of the Sihanoukville islands where the major battle to free the SS Mayagüez
SS Mayagüez
SS Mayaguez was a U.S.-flagged container ship that attained notoriety for its 12 May 1975 seizure by Khmer Rouge forces of Cambodia, which resulted in a confrontation with the United States at the close of the Vietnam War....
took place. Divers can see two shipwrecks 40 metres (131.2 ft) down.
On 22 December 2008, King Norodom Sihamoni signed a Royal Decree that changed the municipalities of Kep
Kep, Cambodia
Kep is a coastal city and former beach resort in Cambodia's Kep Province, 173 kilometres southwest of Phnom Penh.The city was founded in 1908 during French colonial rule and was originally named Kep-sur-mer. Many of the French-style villas are overgrown and run-down, but Kep is slowly being...
, Pailin
Pailin
Pailin is a province at the northern edge of the Cardamom Mountains, in the west of Cambodia near the border of Thailand. This province is surrounded by Battambang Province, and was officially carved out of Battambang to become a separate administrative division after the surrender of the Ieng...
and Sihanoukville into provinces, as well as adjusting several provincial borders.
Origin of the name
The province honors the name of King Norodom SihanoukNorodom Sihanouk
Norodom Sihanouk regular script was the King of Cambodia from 1941 to 1955 and again from 1993 until his semi-retirement and voluntary abdication on 7 October 2004 in favor of his son, the current King Norodom Sihamoni...
. Internationally it is written in French as Sihanouk Ville or Sihanoukville (Literally "The City of Sihanouk" or "Sihanouk City").
King Norodom Sihanouk is known in Cambodia as the Father of the Nation, because he was the main promoter of the independence of the country from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1953.
The name "Sihanouk" is formed from two Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
words: Siha and Hanu. "Siha" means Lion
Lion
The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
. The word comes from Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
"Simha". Another example is Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. "Hanouk" is from "Hanu" that means "Jaws". Therefore, Sihanouk is "The Jaws of the Lion".
The former name Kompong Saom means "Agreeable Port" and som is derived from the Sanskrit word "samuya" (समुय).
History
As the newest Cambodian city, Sihanoukville doesn't have a long history like Phnom Penh or Siem Reap. It was founded in 1960 after independence from FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
as a port, in order to communicate the city with international trade. The project was overseen by the government of Norodom Sihanouk
Norodom Sihanouk
Norodom Sihanouk regular script was the King of Cambodia from 1941 to 1955 and again from 1993 until his semi-retirement and voluntary abdication on 7 October 2004 in favor of his son, the current King Norodom Sihamoni...
.
The construction of the port began in 1955 and most of the families of the builders remained near the port, effectively becoming the first inhabitants.
During the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, it became an intensive military port first in the service of National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam
National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam
The Vietcong , or National Liberation Front , was a political organization and army in South Vietnam and Cambodia that fought the United States and South Vietnamese governments during the Vietnam War . It had both guerrilla and regular army units, as well as a network of cadres who organized...
and after 1970, with the regime of General Lon Nol
Lon Nol
Lon Nol was a Cambodian politician and general who served as Prime Minister of Cambodia twice, as well as serving repeatedly as Defense Minister...
, at the service of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
With the success of the Khmer Rouge
Khmer Rouge
The Khmer Rouge literally translated as Red Cambodians was the name given to the followers of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, who were the ruling party in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, led by Pol Pot, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, Son Sen and Khieu Samphan...
guerrillas in April 1975, the port was the last place to be evacuated by the US army. The SS Mayagüez
SS Mayagüez
SS Mayaguez was a U.S.-flagged container ship that attained notoriety for its 12 May 1975 seizure by Khmer Rouge forces of Cambodia, which resulted in a confrontation with the United States at the close of the Vietnam War....
was captured by militants of the new regime on 12 May. The US claimed that the ship was on international sea lanes, but the Khmer Rouge said that it was on Cambodian territory. It is known as the Mayagüez incident
Mayagüez incident
The Mayaguez incident between the Khmer Rouge and the United States from May 12–15, 1975, was the last official battle of the Vietnam War. The names of the Americans killed, as well as those of three Marines who were left behind on the island of Koh Tang after the battle and who were subsequently...
.
After the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime in 1979, the port of Sihanoukville recovered a great importance in the development of the country. With the opening of markets in 1999, the port became one of the main spots of economical growing of Cambodia.
In December 1999, Formosa Plastics
Formosa Plastics
Formosa Plastics Corporation is a Taiwanese company based in Taiwan that primarily produces polyvinyl chloride resins and other intermediate plastic products. It is the corporation around which influential businessman Wang Yung-ching formed the Formosa Plastics Group, and it remains central to...
bribed Cambodian officials and dumped 3000 tons of mercury laden waste into Sihanoukville, killing 3 people. Formosa Plastics also tried to dump the waste in the Nevada, USA.
Geography
Sihanoukville is located in the south of Cambodia. It is 230 kilometres (143 mi) southwest of Phnom PenhPhnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...
in a small Peninsula
Peninsula
A peninsula is a piece of land that is bordered by water on three sides but connected to mainland. In many Germanic and Celtic languages and also in Baltic, Slavic and Hungarian, peninsulas are called "half-islands"....
and Bahia
Bahia
Bahia is one of the 26 states of Brazil, and is located in the northeastern part of the country on the Atlantic coast. It is the fourth most populous Brazilian state after São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, and the fifth-largest in size...
. Beaches are the main feature that attracts national and foreign visitors. A small archipelago is embedded by the Sihanoukville Bahia off its south and west coast. The commercial and international port is located at the north west. The limits of its territory: North and West Koh Kong
Koh Kong Province
Koh Kong is a province of Cambodia. The name means "Kŏng Island Province". Its capital is Koh Kong.-Geography:The most south-western province of Cambodia, Koh Kong has a long undeveloped coastline and a mountainous, forested and largely inaccessible interior which embraces part of the Cardamom...
province, East Kampot province and south Gulf of Thailand
Gulf of Thailand
The Gulf of Thailand , also known in to Malays as Teluk Siam literally meant Gulf of Siam, is a shallow arm of the South China Sea.-Geography:...
.
Beaches that line the west contour of the city from north to south are Victory Beach, Lamherkay Beach, Koh Pos Beach, Independence Beach, Sokha Beach, Serendipity Beach, Ochheuteal Beach and Otres Beach. The most popular beaches are Ochheuteal, Sokha, Independence and Victory. Tourists can take water taxis to the nearby islands for diving, snorkeling, and game fishing.
The peninsula is separated from the central plains of Cambodia by the Damrei Mountains
Dâmrei Mountains
The Dâmrei Mountains, literally the "Elephant Mountains", are a mountain range situated in the southwest of Cambodia.-Description:These mountains are an offshoot of the Krâvanh or Cardamom Mountains, but occupy a much smaller area. The highest elevation is Phnom Bokor at 1,081 meters above...
, especially the Bouk Kou. The city is also besides the Ream National Park
Ream National Park
Ream National Park , is a national park of Cambodia located 18 km from Sihanoukville in south-east Cambodia. Established in 1993, when the Cambodian government began to take action to protect many of its threatened areas, encompasses 210 km² including 150 km² of terrestrial and 60 km² of marine...
(210 km2) and it includes the islands of Koh Thmei and Koh Sei.
Being a rather small province, Sihanoukville has two main urban centers: the Sihanoukville city itself and the Prey Nob District, 46 kilometers from Sihanoukville downtown to the north. The city is connected to Phnom Penh by National Road No. 4; to Kampot Province by NR 3 and to Koh Kong
Koh Kong
Koh Kong, Kaoh Kong or Kaôh Kŏng may refer to several places in Cambodia:* Koh Kong , a large island in Koh Kong Province* Koh Kong Bay, a bay on the coast of Koh kong Province* Koh Kong District, a district of Koh Kong Province...
Province by NR 48.
Town centre: The town centre is located between surrounding hills roughly in the centre of the peninsula. It contains the banks, the market and other businesses. The post office and the bus station are located some distance towards the port.
Beaches
- Occheuteal Beach and Serendipity Beach: Occheuteal Beach is a long and narrow strip of beach lined with CasuarinaCasuarinaCasuarina is a genus of 17 species in the family Casuarinaceae, native to Australasia, southeast Asia, and islands of the western Pacific Ocean. It was once treated as the sole genus in the family, but has been split into three genera .They are evergreen shrubs and trees growing to 35 m tall...
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 serving good value meals and a wide selection of drinks. The sustainability of the Occheuteal beach was a primary consideration of various stakeholders, which brought about the development of a tourism development and management plan in 2005.
- Otres Beach: Beyond a small headland at the south end of Ochheuteal is the similar Otres Beach.
- Sokha Beach: Sokha Beach is located just west of Serendipity Beach. This beach is privately owned by Sokha Beach Hotel, the first five-star luxury beach hotel in Cambodia. It provides many facilities with a wide white sandy beach, but hotel guards may prevent visitors who are not guests from going on to the beach.
- Independence Beach: Independence Beach is located next to Sokha Beach on its west. The beach was named after the old Independence Hotel. This beach offers a good stretch of clean sand. Situated at the northern end of the beach is Independence Hotel and Koh Pos Beach with a tiny island only 800m off the coast. Koh Pos is known for its rock strewn shoreline.
- Victory Beach: Victory beach is situated at the furthest north of the peninsula of Sihanoukville. It was the original backpacker beach and is still popular with budget travelers. At the northern end of the beach is located the deep sea port. Apart from white sand and blue sea, this beach offers a good spot to enjoy the sunset.
At the south end of Victory Beach is another small strand of sand called Lamherkey Beach. It is the place where a French/ Cambodian construction team laid groundwork for the construction of the new Port of Kampong Som during the 1950s. At this beach, you can hire a boat to nearby islands.
Islands
There are more than a dozen islands off the coast of Sihanoukville for tourists to hop around. Only some of them have been so far developed for overnight stays. Many guesthouses, travel agencies and restaurants on Ochheuteal and Serendipity beaches offer trips and packages to some of these islands.- Koh Russei: Also known as the Bamboo Island. This medium sized island is located a few kilometers out from Otres Beach or Ream. There is a small navy base and some beach bungalows.
- Koh RongKoh RongKoh Rong , is the second largest island of Cambodia. Located in Koh Kong Province about 25 kilometers off the Sihanoukville's coast in the Gulf of Thailand, the island has an area of approximately 78 km2...
: It is situated west of the Sihanoukville coast. It offers the fantastic strand of beach on its southwest, stretching about 5 kilometres (3 mi). It has fresh water resources on the island and a bustling fishing community on the southeast with basic supplies including fresh water, fish and crab.
- Koh Rong SamlonKoh Rong SamlonKoh Rong Samlom is an nicest island off the coast of Sihanoukville, Cambodia. It includes a large heart-shaped bay with shellfish cultivation and beaches on the north coast towards Koh Rong....
: It is a bit smaller than Koh Rong and situated on its south. Beautiful beaches are on the east coast, where a large heart-shaped bayBayA bay is an area of water mostly surrounded by land. Bays generally have calmer waters than the surrounding sea, due to the surrounding land blocking some waves and often reducing winds. Bays also exist as an inlet in a lake or pond. A large bay may be called a gulf, a sea, a sound, or a bight...
with some shellfishShellfishShellfish is a culinary and fisheries term for exoskeleton-bearing aquatic invertebrates used as food, including various species of molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms. Although most kinds of shellfish are harvested from saltwater environments, some kinds are found only in freshwater...
cultivation is located, and on the north shoreline facing Koh Rong. The marine life around Koh Rong Samloem is very diverse and offers some amazing diving.
- Koh TangKoh TangKoh Tang is an island off the coast of Preah Sihanouk Province in the Gulf of Thailand. The island is approximately 43 km southwest off the coast of Cambodia...
: It is located quite far from the main shoreline of Sihanoukville. Going there requires trippers to stay overnight on board. It offers interesting diving spots most of which are not frequently explored. The island is home to a military outpost and travelers should expect to be boarded by military personnel when out at the island.
- Koh Pos: Also known as Morakot Island or Snake Island. This island is 800 metres (2,625 ft) off of Victory Beach. It is under development by Russian investors to become 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: This small private island is 7 kilometres (4 mi) off from Victory Beach. The luxurious Russian owned Mirax Resort is located on this island.
Economy
The economy of Sihanoukville is based primarily in its port for import and exports to the national economy. It has also an oil container port and cargo facilities.Other activities in the economy of the province include fishing, aquaculture
Aquaculture
Aquaculture, also known as aquafarming, is the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic plants. Aquaculture involves cultivating freshwater and saltwater populations under controlled conditions, and can be contrasted with commercial fishing, which is the...
, agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
, oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
, factories (frozen shrimp processing, garment and Angkor Beer), real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
and tourism.
In the last years the increasing of tourism has improved the construction of hotels and tourism infrastructures in the province. Foreign and national investment has been proven by the presence of newcomers to the city.
Roads and streets
- Ekareach Street: The main street of the town. It runs from near the port through the town center to Golden Lions roundabout near the Ochheuteal Beach.
- NR4: Phnom PenhPhnom PenhPhnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...
and Sihanoukville are connected by the National Road 4National Highway 4 (Cambodia)National Highway 4 or National Road No.4 is one of the national highways of Cambodia. With a length of , it connects the capital of Phnom Penh with Sihanoukville in the south-west. Sihanoukville is the only sea international port of Cambodia. In consequence, NH4 is one of the most important...
. The road has been built especially for the transport of merchandise between the capital and the port by heavy trucks and containers. It has three toll stationsToll roadA toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...
along. However, it is considered the most dangerous road of Cambodia due to several traffic accidents and little control by authorities.
- NR3: It 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. Cambodia has not control over cattle and it walks freely over the roads.
- NR48: It connects Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh with Koh KongKoh Kong ProvinceKoh Kong is a province of Cambodia. The name means "Kŏng Island Province". Its capital is Koh Kong.-Geography:The most south-western province of Cambodia, Koh Kong has a long undeveloped coastline and a mountainous, forested and largely inaccessible interior which embraces part of the Cardamom...
Province, at the southwest of Cambodia. The road joins also the Thai-Cambodian border. There used to be several ferry crossings over the rivers along the route but nowadays they have been replaced by bridges.
The city does not have public transportation system. Therefore, there is an informal urban transportation in motor-taxis (moto-dups) and tuk-tuks
Auto rickshaw
An auto rickshaw or three-wheeler is a usually three-wheeled cabin cycle for private use and as a vehicle for hire. It is a motorized version of the traditional pulled rickshaw or cycle rickshaw...
. That urban system of transportation has no control from authorities, and anybody can become a motor-taxi or tuk-tuk driver in Sihanoukville. As a consequence, there is no control in the prices for services. Foreign visitors are recommended to confirm prices before using any of those services and ask advice from tourist agencies and hotels.
Airport
The Sihanoukville International AirportSihanoukville International Airport
Sihanouk International Airport , located east of Sihanoukville town in Sihanoukville province, is Cambodia's third international airport. The airport is also known as Kang Keng Airport...
is located 18 kilometres away from Sihanoukville downtown, along the NR4.
Buses
The bus station is located outside of the center of the town, towards the port. There are many competing companies running a frequent service from/to Phnom PenhPhnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...
. Other direct destinations include Koh Kong
Koh Kong
Koh Kong, Kaoh Kong or Kaôh Kŏng may refer to several places in Cambodia:* Koh Kong , a large island in Koh Kong Province* Koh Kong Bay, a bay on the coast of Koh kong Province* Koh Kong District, a district of Koh Kong Province...
and Kampot. Some companies offer services to Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
and Siem Reap
Siem Reap
Siem Reap is the capital city of Siem Reap Province in northwestern Cambodia, and is the gateway to Angkor region.Siem Reap has colonial and Chinese-style architecture in the Old French Quarter, and around the Old Market...
through a connection in Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...
.
Long distance taxi
Taxis for long distance transportation are available at the bus station as well as opposite to the main market.Boats
There used to be a daily boat service from/to Koh KongKoh Kong
Koh Kong, Kaoh Kong or Kaôh Kŏng may refer to several places in Cambodia:* Koh Kong , a large island in Koh Kong Province* Koh Kong Bay, a bay on the coast of Koh kong Province* Koh Kong District, a district of Koh Kong Province...
but nowadays it only runs occasionally during the tourist seasons. This is because the road connection to Koh Kong was improved and the bus is now faster, safer and cheaper than the old boats.
Small long-tail boats
Long-tail boat
The long-tail boat, known as Ruea Hang Yao in the Thai language, is a type of watercraft native to Southeast Asia, which uses a common automotive engine as a readily available and maintainable powerplant. A craft designed to carry passengers on a river may include a lightweight long canoe hull, up...
and medium size cruising boats can be hired for sightseeing, fishing, diving and drinking trips at most beaches and at the fishing port. Bookings can be made through guesthouses, travel agencies and diving operators.
Occasionally massive cruise ships dock at the port during their voyages in South-East Asia.
Train
There is a railway link to Phnom PenhPhnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...
via Kampot. The train station is located near the port. The line is currently under construction by Toll Holdings
Toll Holdings
TOLL , properly TOLL Holdings Limited, is Australia's largest transport company, based in Melbourne, Victoria. The company has operations in road, rail, sea and air in 55 countries....
which has a concession to the line.
Demography
In 2008 there were 199,902 persons living in Sihanoukville province.The main ethnic group is the Khmer
Khmer people
Khmer people are the predominant ethnic group in Cambodia, accounting for approximately 90% of the 14.8 million people in the country. They speak the Khmer language, which is part of the larger Mon–Khmer language family found throughout Southeast Asia...
ethnic group. There are many other groups like Vietnamese
Vietnamese people
The Vietnamese people are an ethnic group originating from present-day northern Vietnam and southern China. They are the majority ethnic group of Vietnam, comprising 86% of the population as of the 1999 census, and are officially known as Kinh to distinguish them from other ethnic groups in Vietnam...
, Chinese
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
, Cham, Thai
Thai people
The Thai people, or Siamese, are the main ethnic group of Thailand and are part of the larger Tai ethnolinguistic peoples found in Thailand and adjacent countries in Southeast Asia as well as southern China. Their language is the Thai language, which is classified as part of the Kradai family of...
, French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
, British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
, Korean
Korean people
The Korean people are an ethnic group originating in the Korean peninsula and Manchuria. Koreans are one of the most ethnically and linguistically homogeneous groups in the world.-Names:...
and Americans, especially because of its status as a port and a tourist destination.
Culture
Culture of Cambodia
The culture of Cambodia has had a rich and varied history dating back many centuries, and has been heavily influenced by India. Throughout Cambodia's long history, a major source of inspiration was from religion...
is predominantly Khmer
Khmer people
Khmer people are the predominant ethnic group in Cambodia, accounting for approximately 90% of the 14.8 million people in the country. They speak the Khmer language, which is part of the larger Mon–Khmer language family found throughout Southeast Asia...
. But the presence of several human groups in Sihanoukville makes that the province has a lot cultural manifestations.
The people of Sihanoukville celebrate the traditional feasts of Cambodia and other festivities
Public holidays in Cambodia
-Public holidays:-References:* Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation * Cambodian Embassy in Australia...
like Cambodian New Year
Cambodian New Year
Cambodian New Year or Chaul Chnam Thmey in the Khmer language, literally "Enter Year New", is the name of the Cambodian holiday that celebrates the New Year. The holiday lasts for three days beginning on New Year's day, which usually falls on April 13 or 14th, which is the end of the harvesting...
(April), Chinese New Year
Chinese calendar
The Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar, incorporating elements of a lunar calendar with those of a solar calendar. It is not exclusive to China, but followed by many other Asian cultures as well...
(between January and February), Water Festival
Water festival
The Water Festival is the New Year's celebrations that take place in Southeast Asian countries such as Burma, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand as well as Yunnan, China. It is called the 'Water Festival' by Westerners because people pour water at one another as part of the cleansing ritual to welcome...
(November), Pchum Ben
Pchum Ben
Pchum Ben is a Cambodian religious festival, culminating in celebrations on the 15th day of the tenth month in the Khmer Calendar. In 2008, the national holiday fell on the 28th - 30th of September in the Gregorian calendar....
(honor to the ancestor
Ancestor
An ancestor is a parent or the parent of an ancestor ....
s in October) and Kathen Ceremony (offerings to the bonzis).
The ethnic and minority religious groups celebrate the Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
Day (25 December) and Holy Week
Holy Week
Holy Week in Christianity is the last week of Lent and the week before Easter...
for the Catholics, the Ramadan
Ramadan
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which lasts 29 or 30 days. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex during daylight hours and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, spirituality, humility and...
for the Muslims, the Valentine Day and the International New Year
Gregorian calendar
The Gregorian calendar, also known as the Western calendar, or Christian calendar, is the internationally accepted civil calendar. It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom the calendar was named, by a decree signed on 24 February 1582, a papal bull known by its opening words Inter...
(31 December).
The inhabitants of Sihanoukville dedicate especially to commerce, fishing, agriculture and industry. It is used that families visit the beaches and waterfalls at the weekends. Generally people from Sihanoukville are friendly and they are used to visitors from other Cambodian provinces and foreigners.
Administration
For administrative purposes Sihanoukville is a municipalityMunicipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
, holding the same status as a province
Province
A province is a territorial unit, almost always an administrative division, within a country or state.-Etymology:The English word "province" is attested since about 1330 and derives from the 13th-century Old French "province," which itself comes from the Latin word "provincia," which referred to...
. There is a provincial governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
and three deputy governor
Deputy Governor
A Deputy governor is a gubernatorial official who is subordinated to a governor, rather like a Lieutenant governor.-British colonial cases:In the British empire, there were such colonial offices in :...
s. It is subdivided into 3 districts (Khan). The port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
has an autonomous administration. The districts are divided in communes (22 communes in total).
| ISO Code | District | Romanization | Population | Communes | Villages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1801 | មិត្តភាព | Mittakpheap | 67,440 | 5 | 19 |
| 1802 | ព្រៃនប់ | Prey Nob | 75,142 | 14 | 65 |
| 1803 | ស្ទឹងហាវ | Stueng Hav | 13,108 | 3 | 10 |
Port
The Sihanoukville Autonomous Port was finished in 1960 as the international sea port of Cambodia. It has an area 290 meters long per 28 meters wide. It has an exterior berth 8.50 to 13 meters depth and 7.50 to 8.50 meters depth in the interior. Four medium vessels can be at the port.The port is located 18 kilometers/11 miles from the Kang Keng Airport and 4 kilometers/2 miles from Sihanoukville downtown. Ships passengers are allowed to visit downtown. The terminal itself has not shopping center, banking or tourist offices, but only toilets.
It is allegedly the place where two of the three allegedly captured US marines from the Mayagüez incident
Mayagüez incident
The Mayaguez incident between the Khmer Rouge and the United States from May 12–15, 1975, was the last official battle of the Vietnam War. The names of the Americans killed, as well as those of three Marines who were left behind on the island of Koh Tang after the battle and who were subsequently...
on Koh Tang island were held before they were executed.
Religion
As 2004, there were 27 pagodaPagoda
A pagoda is the general term in the English language for a tiered tower with multiple eaves common in Nepal, India, China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and other parts of Asia. Some pagodas are used as Taoist houses of worship. Most pagodas were built to have a religious function, most commonly Buddhist,...
s in the province with a population of 1,918 bonzis. Pagodas are important for the Cambodian culture as a center of villages and cities. Some of the most important pagodas in the province:
- Upper Pagoda: It is also known as "Wat Chotynieng", or "Wat Lue". Located in a hill that overlooks Sihanoukville town is dedicated to Prince Chourn Nath, Cambodian Buddhist leader.
- Down Pagoda: It is also known as "Wat Krom". Located in Sihanoukville downtown. It is dedicated to Yeay MaoYeay MaoYeay Mao is an ancient hero and a divinity of the popular religiosity of Buddhism in Cambodia. Her main place of veneration is in the south of the country, at the Pech Nil pass about 62 miles south of Phnom Penh, on the road to the sea port of Sihanoukville. She is considered the protector of...
, a southern Cambodia divinity. - Ream Pagoda: It is located in the Ream commune, near the Ream Naval Base.
Sihanoukville has other minority religious groups like Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
s, Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
s (Cham), Protestants and Animists. Other places of worship:
- St. Michael's Church: It belongs to the Catholic communities. There is a celebration for faithful visitors to the port in EnglishEnglish languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
every Sunday evening. The church was built in 1960 by sailors and it is located in the same hill of Upper Pagoda, facing the port.
- Iber Bikhalifah Mosque: It belongs to the Muslim communities. It is located in downtown, just in the popular Leu Market.
Education
The city has not yet a big cover in education, but it is improving in the last decade. The 2004 statistics show the following centers of education: 33 pre-schools with 1,670 children, 52 primary schools with 34,863 students, 5 collegeCollege
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
s with 4,794 students; 2 high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
s with 1,449 students; 10 vocational training with 961 students and 13,728 private schools.
Some private educational institutes have been opened in Sihanoukville: Life University, University of Management and Economics, Built Bright University, Khmer Technology and Management, Don Bosco Technical School and Don Bosco Hotel School.
Sister cities
MiamiMiami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Seattle
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...