Sihanoukville

Infobox Settlement
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native_name = ក្រុង​ព្រះសីហនុ
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image_caption =View of Sihanoukville from the surrounding hills.


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map_caption = Location of PAGENAME, Cambodia


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Cambodia
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = Sihanoukville
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government_type =City and Provincial Municipality
leader_title =Governor
leader_name =H.E. Sbong Sarath
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established_title =Settled
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established_title2 =Official
established_date2 =1964
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area_total_km2 = 868
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population_as_of = 2006
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population_total = 235,190 (province)
population_density_km2 = 270.9
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latd=10 |latm=38 |lats= |latNS=N
longd=103 |longm=30 |longs= |longEW=E
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area_code =KH-18
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The city is served by Sihanoukville International Airport. 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 on this route in 2007 has caused concerns. Sihanoukville attracts tourists with its laid back beach atmosphere when compared to Thailand's more developed ones, but the region's illegal narcotics shipping discourages some visitors. [www.state.gov/documents/organization/81446.pdf]

=Geography=

Sihanoukville is on a small peninsula with beaches and tropical islands off its south and west coast and the commercial port to the north west. 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, Occheuteal Beach and Otres Beach. The most popular beaches are Occheuteal, Sokha, Independence and Victory. Tourists can take water taxis to the nearby islands for diving, snorkeling, and game fishing.

Downtown

The town centre is located on a hill roughly in the centre of the peninsula and is seen as a distinct area for tourism promotion. It contains the banks, bus station and market, although the post office is some distance toward the port.

Occheuteal Beach and Serendipity Beach

" trees, grass umbrellas, rental chairs and little drink huts. Many huts were bulldozed by the government to make way for a supposed new resort. This has raised concerns with human rights organizations. 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.

Otres Beach

Beyond a small headland at the south end of Occheuteal is the similar Otres Beach.

okha 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.Infobox Cambodian Province
name = Sihanoukville
khmer = unicode|ក្រុង​ព្រះសីហនុ
area = 868
population = 235,190
population_as_of = 2006
density = 270.9
isocode = KH-18
map

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 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 where the Hawaii Seaview Restaurant is located. It is the place where a French/ Cambodian construction team laid groundwork for the construction of the new Port of Kampong Som during 1950s. At this beach, you can hire a boat to nearby islands.

Islands

or Koh Russei in Khmer. Many guesthouses, restaurants and cafes on Occheuteal and Serendipity beaches offer trips and packages to these islands.

Soon Nail Island (also called Magic Island because it looks like a mushroom) will have a hotel run by the Russian owners of the Snake House. They already have a pier and most of the hotel and restaurant are finished.

Koh Rong

Koh Rong is situated west of the Sihanoukville coast. It offers the fantastic strand of beach on its southwest, stretching about 5 km. 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 Samlon

Koh Rong Samlon is a bit smaller than Koh Rong and situated on its south. Beautiful beaches are on the east coast, where a large heart-shaped bay with some shellfish cultivation is located, and on the north shoreline facing Koh Rong.

Koh Tang

Koh Tang is located quite far from the main shoreline of Sihanoukville. Going there needs 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.

Administration

For administrative purposes Sihanoukville is a municipality, holding the same status as a province. It is subdivided into 3 districts.

=Sister cities=

*flagicon|United States Seattle, USA
*flagicon|United States Miami, USA

References

ee also

*Sihanoukville International Airport

External links

*
* [http://travel.webshots.com/album/559182977aiZvPT Sihanoukville Beach Photo Gallery]
* [http://travel.webshots.com/album/559180755tbpKUq Ream National Park (Sihanoukville) Photo Gallery]
* [http://www.3continents.net/2006/02/25/sihanoukville-cambodia/ Sailing in Sihanoukville]
* [http://www.phnompenhtours.com/Sihanouk.htm Phnom Penh tours]
* [http://www.ngoforum.org.kh/Environment/Docs/toxic_waste%20near.htm Chemical Waste Dumped near Sihanoukville]
* [http://www.planetbiodiesel.org Charitable School in Sihanoukville]
* [http://www.canbypublications.com Canby Publications]
* [http://www.sihanoukvillebackpacker.com Backpacking in SihanoukVille]
* [http://www.sihanoukvillebeachresorts.com Resort Hotels in SihanoukVille]
* [http://www.sihanoukville-casino.com SihanoukVille's Casino's]
* [http://www.sihanoukville-cambodia.com SihanoukVille Tourist Guide]