Fishing Port

The fishing port (Kampong Pier Nup Lok) sits about 2 km north of the main port on Hun Sen Beach Drive on the other side of the port shelter area near the quay. Fishing boats and other small local boats dock here instead of the main port area. A small village has grown around the fishing port - a ramshackle collection of shops and houses clustered near the docks and stretching along Hun Sen Drive in both directions. The docks wooden dock and surrounding village are a whirl of color and local activity - chaotic, dirty, pungent and potentially photogenic. Fishing boats stream out of this port every night just before sunset - a beautiful sight, especially from Victory beach.

Independence Hotel

The seven-storey Independence Hotel on the point between Victory and Independence Beaches was Sihanoukville’s premiere accommodation in the 1960’s. The port had been completed in 1960 and Sihanoukville was quickly becoming a popular beach destination, attracting a growing stream tourists and weekenders from Phnom Penh. It was the heyday of Sihanoukville’s early development. Villas were popping up on Ochheuteal and the time was ripe for the addition of upscale hotel facilities.

The Independence Hotel was constructed in 1963/64 at a cost of 30,000,000 Riel, though it was not inaugurated until November 13, 1968. The hotel was designed by French architect M. Mondet of Leroy & Mondet, who were also responsible for several other 1950s/60s structures in Cambodia. The hotel was originally constructed seven storeys tall, with 45 rooms total, uniquely designed with all rooms situated on only one side of the hotel so that they all faced the ocean. After the hotels completion an additional 50 tourist class bungalows were added to the grounds to accommodate more guests. Interior decoration of parts of the hotel was done by HE Norodom Sihanouk himself, who was Prime Minister and former King of Cambodia at the time. HE Norodom Sihanouk also designed the Promenade des Anglais - a garden and walkway at the base of the rocky headland that borders the northern end of Independence Beach. Color schemes of ochres, oranges, red and black, mint green, reds and chartreuse were used, adding to the liveliness and holiday spirit of interior design.

The Independence Hotel was abandoned as a hotel when the Khmer Rouge seized power in 1975. After the fall of the Khmer Rouge in 1979 the hotel was taken over by squatters who occasionally opened some rooms to paying guests. During the 1980s the locals started referring to it as 'Hotel Pram-Pul Jawn,' which means '7-storey hotel,' and the name stuck. Even today many locals know it only by that name. Following the hotel, the nearby Independence Beach has also become known as 'Chhne Samot Hotel Pram-Pul Jawn,' i.e. '7-Storey Hotel Beach.' The Independence opened briefly during UNTAC’s (United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia) stay in the early 1990’s in order to accommodate the influx of foreign visitors and then was abandoned again in 1993. In 2004 renovation work began on the hotel. Completed two year later the Independence Hotel  has been fully and carefully restored to its former opulence and reopened as modern upscale accommodation.

www.independencehotel.net

Independence Square

The Independence Square consists of an open meeting hall on Ekareach Street (Independence Street), and across the street a small park containing a small shrine and the Independence Monument (Vimean Ekareach), which is a monument to Cambodia's independence from foreign rule and to Cambodia's war dead. Note the urn-like structure at the center of the monument. The Independence Monument was constructed in in 1985. Most of the trees in the park have been recently felled and the park is undergoing a general renovation. Ceremonies are held at the park on January 7th and some other national holidays. Located at the intersection of Ekareach Street (main street) and Mittapheap Kampuchea Soviet Street (Cambodia/Soviet Friendship Street.) 

Kbal Chhay Waterfalls

The Kbal Chhay Waterfalls are a series of waterfalls (3-5 meters) and chutes on the Prek Tuk Sap River, located about 10km north of town. During the dry season (November-June), the falls can be little more than a trickle, but the wet season falls can be quite powerful. The area is slowly being developed and there are now drink stands, food stalls and covered picnic areas available. Lots of local picnickers crowd the area on the weekends. A favorite for local families and teens. It’s about a 30-minute ride from downtown Sihanoukville to the falls. Take Route 4 north to the ‘Kbal Chhay’ sign near mile marker 217, about 1km north of the anchor and globe monument.

Port of Sihanoukville

The town of Sihanoukville exists due to the construction of the Port of Sihanoukville. Prior to 1954, Cambodia maintained international sea trade via the Mekong. But the demise of French Indochina in the early 1950s meant the Mekong delta reverted to the control of Vietnam and, lacking a deep water port,  Cambodia was cut off from the ocean. Seeking unfettered access to the ocean, plans were made to construct a new deep water ocean port. The Kampong Som area (later to be renamed Sihanoukville) was selected over other areas such as Ream and Kampot for water depth and ease of access. The port facilities and National Route #4 connecting the port to Phnom Penh (known at the time as the Khmer-American Friendship Highway) were constructed from 1955-60. France contributed the bulk of the funds to construct the port and the USA contributed the funds to build the road. The new Port of Sihanoukville was inaugurated by French Minister of State Louis Jacquinot in April 1960. The port waters are 11-13 meters deep except for an 8-9 meter point in the channel near Koh Pos. The older quay can be seen from Victory Beach jutting 290 meters into the ocean. The northern section consists of a 350 meters quay and 3117 meters of breakwater. Large ships general approach from the west. Previously they approached from the southwest between Koh Pos Island and the mainland, but the construction of the new bridge has cut of that approach.

http://www.pas.gov.kh/ (Port of Sihanoukville website)

Sihanoukville Mountain

This 132 meter peak just behind the main town area offers a spectacular view of the city, the islands and the beaches from Otres to the port. Take the hill road from the back of town up the hill to the main road. Turn left and follow the road to the top of the hill about 200 meters past Wat Leu. Or alternatively, take Route 4 about 2.5km north of town. Make a right turn at the brewery and follow the road up the hill, about 200m past the Wat Leu. Walk out on the rocks. It is an excellent spot to view sunset though the security is sometime questionable after dark. Ask you guesthouse about the current situation.

St. Michael’s Church

St. Michael's is the only Catholic Church in Sihanoukville and one of the town's original buildings. Only two of Cambodia's 73 churches survived the Khmer Rouge period of the late 1970s: the Carmelite Chapel in Phnom Penh and St Michael's in Sihanoukville.

According to official records the church was inaugurated in 1962, but was reportedly constructed in 1960. The church was designed by French Catholic priest Father Ahadobery with the assistance of Cambodian architect Vann Molyvann and constructed on land donated by HE Norodom Sihanouk. St Michael is the patron saint of sailors and the churches architecture also reflects the seafaring theme of this port town church. Note the ‘ship’s sail’ brick latticework at the front of the church building and the boat shaped latticework on the sides. It served local, mostly ethnic Vietnamese) Catholics continuously until 1975. (Even after centuries of missionary work, the Catholic Church has had very little luck converting Khmers in Cambodia to Catholicism, capturing less than 1% of the population. On the other hand, more than 15% of the population of Vietnam is Catholic, most of them in the south. Likewise, a significant percentage of ethnic Vietnamese in Cambodia are Catholic.)

Under the Khmer Rouge from 1975-79, religion of all sort was banned, and the church was used as a jail and a barn. After the fall of the KR in 1979 the church saw very little ascent in its station, still being used as storage building. St. Michael's was not reopened as a church until 1993. Today is active and serving 50+ families, many of whom are Vietnamese. It is located at the base of Sihanoukville Mountain, just off the corner of Boray Kamakor and Kampuchea-Soviet Mittapheap Streets.

http://www.catholiccambodia.org/en/mass/mass.php (Website of the Catholic Church in Cambodia)

The Beaches

Sihanoukville town sits in the center of a small peninsula that juts into the warm waters of the Gulf of Thailand. Several beaches of fine pearl-white sand, line the shore around the peninsula, all easily accessible from the town. The main beaches are lined with little thatch roofed beach bars and seafood shacks offering cold drinks, beach umbrellas and chairs, seafood BBQ, evening parties and water sports. Ochheuteal and Serendipity Beaches are the most popular and the busiest with plenty of nearby hotels, guesthouses, bars and restaurants. On the other side of town, Victory Beach at the base of Weather Station Hill (aka Victory Hill) is also popular but not as busy, offering a somewhat more tranquil atmosphere. Budget bungalows and guesthouses sit on the side of the hill and the beach sports seafood shacks, chairs, umbrellas and even a nightclub. Otres Beach is similar to Ochheuteal but far less touristed and has a much more relaxed, out of the way feel. Currently there are plenty of little seafood shacks and bars and a few places offering beach bungalows. For more beaches and much more details see the beaches page.

Victory Monument

Victory Monument on the road between Weather Station Hill (Victory Hill) and Victory Beach, was built in 1985 to symbolize Cambodia’s friendship with Vietnam and the Vietnamese-assisted victory over the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. It is also known as a Vietnam/Cambodia Friendship Monument. One of these monuments can be found in almost every major town in Cambodia. The nearby beaches and general area has become know after the monument - the Victory Beaches and the Victory area.

Wat Chotynieng

Wat Chotynieng (aka Wat Leu, ‘upper wat’) overlooks town from the top of Sihanoukville Mountain. From downtown you can see the wat atop the hill near the antennas. You can also see a Chinese style graveyard on the side of the hill under the wat. Paintings in the vihear at the pagoda depict the life of Buddha. At the rear are portraits of the founder, Prince Junot, and Lok Om (left), the leader of the Buddhist community in this area until his death in 1999. In front of the chapel is a statue of Lok Om, erected in 1996. 

Wat Utynieng

Wat Utynieng (aka Wat Krom meaning ‘lower wat’) sits on a small hill on Santipheap Street overlooking the ocean. It is one of the three most important wats in the Sihanoukville town area, the other two being Wat Leu on the hill behind town the and the wat near Otres beach. Very uniquely, this wat contains a building dedicated solely to Ya-Mao, a local deity.

Cambrew Brewery

Located just north of Sihanoukville, Cambrew Ltd. is Cambodia's one and only brewery, producing Angkor, Bayon, Angkor Extra Stout, Black Panther and Klang  beers, as well as some Pepsi products. Angkor Beer is Cambodia's national beer, sporting a logo of a three towered silhouette of Angkor Wat. All the Cambrew beers are available in Cambodia and some are available overseas as well, including Angkor Beer.

The brewery was originally constructed in 1966 under the name SKD Brewery (Societie des Khmere Distilleries) (officially inaugurated November 13, 1968) and was operated by the government from 1967-1975 brewing Angkor and Bayon beers as well as other bottled beverages. The brewery building was designed by famed Cambodia architect Vann Molyvann during the 'golden period' of New-Khmer Architecture. The main office building follows the distinctive 'dong raik' architectural design form in which the upper floor overhangs the ground floor by several meters, highlighted and reflected in the shape of the distinctive triangle supports in the facade. Sihanoukville was chosen as the site for the brewery  for the quality of the local water which supposedly had the ideal mineral content for brewing beer. The choice of Sihanoukville was not without controversy at the time due to the distance from the bottle manufacturing plant near Phnom Penh. After 8 years of operation, production at the brewery shut down with fall of Cambodia to the Khmer Rouge in 1975 and the facilities remained idol for more than a decade. Some references state that the brewery was abandoned until 1998, but this is incorrect. The brewery was in full operation in 1995 when I toured the the facilities and interviewed the manager. According to that interview, with the aid of foreign investment, the brewery was refurbished and production was reinstituted in 1991.

The brewery has operated continuously since that time, occasionally adding new products to its collection of beers.

Located 3 km north of Sihanoukville on National Route #4.

Open house for tourists every Wednesday from 3:00PM-5:00PM. 

www.angkorbeer.com.kh (Cambrew Ltd.)