Sihanoukville also known as Kampong Som is a coastal city in Cambodia and the capital of Sihanoukville Province, at the tip of an elevated peninsula in the country's south-west on the Gulf of Thailand. The city is flanked by an almost uninterrupted string of beaches along its entire coastline and coastal marshlands bordering the Ream National Park in the east. The city has one navigable river, the mangrove lined Ou Trojak Jet running from Otres Pagoda to the sea at Otres. A number of thinly inhabited islands – under Sihanoukville's administration – are near the city, where in recent years moderate development has helped to attract a sizable portion of Asia's individual travelers, students, and backpackers.
The city, which was named in honour of former king Norodom Sihanouk, had a population of around 89,800 people and approximately 66,700 in its urban center in 2008. Sihanoukville city encompasses the greater part of six communes (Sangkats) of Sihanoukville Province. A relatively young city, it has evolved in parallel with the construction of the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, which commenced in June 1955, as the country's gateway to direct and unrestricted international sea trade. The only deep water port in Cambodia includes an oil terminal and a transport logistics facility. As a consequence, the city grew to become a leading national center of trade, commerce, transport, and process manufacturing.
Sihanoukville's many beaches and nearby islands make it Cambodia's premier seaside resort with steadily rising numbers of national visitors and international tourists since the late-20th century.
As a result of its economic diversity, the region's natural environment, and the recreational potential, an increasing number of seasonal and permanent foreign residents make Sihanoukville one of the most culturally varied and dynamic population centers in Cambodia. As of 2014 tourism remains insignificant in comparison with neighboring Thailand. Sihanoukville's future will largely be defined by the authorities' ability to successfully manage natural resources on the one hand and the necessities of urban and insular development, increasing visitor numbers, expanding infrastructure, the industrial sector and population growth, on the other.

important attractions:

Independence Beach Independence Beach gets its name from the deserted hulk of the 7 -storey Independence Hotel at the north end. Locals call this beach 'otel bram-pil chann (hotel 7-stories). It is labeled '7-Chann Beach' on the in-town street sign. Independence is more than a kilometer long, but the sandy area is much narrower making the beach best when the tide is low. The beach is wider and more tourists toward the northwest end near a small fresh water lake (which is the source of the town's fresh water and is rumored to contain crocodiles). At the other end is the beach's only hotel, Sea Breeze. Grass umbrellas and drink vendors now line the beach from end to end but it is still much less frequented than other beaches. The road up to the old Independence Hotel is often frequented by a small troop of Rhesus monkeys but is currently closed while the hotel is undergoing renovation. The pretty Independence Beach is so named for the seven-storey Independence Hotel that sits atop the headland Locals refer to the hotel as the 7-storey hotel -- while street signs refer to the beach as "7-Chann Beach" -- we'll stick with Independence Beach. The Independence Beach in Sihanoukville is a calm and quiet sea side destination in the city of numerous beaches. It is just the place for you to spend some quiet moments with your loved ones while taking pleasure in the untamed beauties of nature. With no interruption at all, you can spend time in this Sihanoukville sightseeing spot just the way you want to.	Kbal Chay Kbal Chhay Waterfalls at Sihanoukville is situated on the Prek Tuk Sap River located about 30 minutes away from Sihanoukville. These falls can be best viewed during the wet season in Sihanoukville. The wet season in Sihanoukville occurs between July to October. It is during this time that the Kbal Chhay Waterfalls in Sihanoukville is the most attractive with white froth of water cascading down. During the dry season however the Kbal Chhay Waterfalls in Sihanoukville remains almost none existent with water just managing to trickle down. The Kbal Chhay Waterfalls of Sihanoukville, Cambodia is actually a collection of 3meters to 5 meters high waterfalls which originates from different sources along the mountain ranges. However, only three out of the collection can be sighted. Besides being just a picturesque sight, the location of the Kbal Chhay Waterfalls in Sihanoukville is also a popular picnic spot where you can spend you day amongst the greenery and serene natural ambience of Kbal Chhay Waterfalls in Sihanoukville. The area also offers abundance of food and drink stand that drink stands for refreshments if you need any.	Koh Rong Sanloem Koh Rong Sanloem is an island off the coast of Sihanoukville, Cambodia, 4 km (2 mi) south of Koh Rong island. It is around 9 km (6 mi) long (north to south), 4 km (2 mi) wide (east to west) and 1 km (1 mi) wide at its narrowest point. Its distance from the local port of Sihanoukville is 25 km (16 mi) (beeline) and 23 km (14 mi) (beeline) from the Serendipity/Ochheuteal beach pier. The word "Sanloem" translates to: 1. Drowsiness and to: 2. far out and hard to discern, in a wider sense. Inconsistencies on how to spell the island's name in its Latinized version date back to the 19th century. The first controversial spelling variants were issued by map makers during French rule. Alternatives have since become widespread and are in common usage. Often confusion ensues as Google Maps offers the phonetically most consistent variant, whereas Google Search redirects to an alternative. Koh Rong Sanloem lies within Sihanoukville province's Mittakpheap district in Commune 5 (Sangkat Koh Rong). Alongside its sister-island Koh Rong it has developed into a popular holiday	Otres Beach Past the southern end of Ochheuteal Beach, beyond the Phnom Som Nak Sdach (Hill of the King’s Palace) headland, lies stunning Otres Beach, a seemingly infinite strip of casuarinas and blinding white sand. In Sihanoukville's glory days it could give southern Thailand a run for its money, but in recent years it has largely been defaced by wanton development. That said, the beach itself is still gorgeous, and the 2km stretch between Otres 1 and Otres 2 remains empty. Inland from Otres Beach, Otres Village was an easy-going backpacker zone before being swallowed up in 2019 by a megacity development rising to the east of Otres. A few guesthouses remain but most are just riding out their leases.	Prek Treng Beach Prek Treng is a great beach in the northern suburbs of Sihanoukville, Cambodia. This is a beautiful place, and absolutely secluded most of time. The tourist crowd doesn't come here from the city, as there are no cafes, nor other attractions. Nevertheless, the beach is always cleaned up, and even has few decent huts. So, now you know, that you don't have to visit the islands to find a pretty secluded spot by the sea. Shore and seabed: sand.
Ocheuteal Beach Ochheuteal Beach, known as UNTAC Beach in the early 1990s and it is now the most popular in Sihanoukville, offering the full spectrum of beach venues from upscale hotels and dining to laid-back budget beach bars and bungalows. Ochheuteal is long, sandy and narrow, with 'Serendipity Beach' at the northern end, a golf-course development at the southern end, and a cluster of mid-range hotels and restaurants near the MP base in the middle. Grass umbrellas, rentable beach chairs and little drink huts line the beach from one end to the other. It offers several nice hotels including the Seaside and Crystal, the mid-range Holiday, as well as some of Sihanoukville's better seafood restaurants, (Sea Dragon, Susaday, Sunshine and Les Feuilles), within walking distance of the hotels. Further south along the beach in front of the golf course develop-ment, a number of budget traveler/backpacker oriented bar/restaurant/beach hangouts have sprung up offering chairs, umbrellas, drinks and a chill-out atmosphere.	Koh Rong Island Koh Rong is the second largest island of Cambodia. The word Rong might refer to an old term for cave or tunnel although some islanders say Rong refers to a historical person's name. It can also refer to the old Khmer word for shelter, adding up to Shelter Island. Located in Koh Kong Province in the kingdom of Cambodia about 25 km (16 mi), the island has an area of approximately 78 km2 (30 sq mi) and 43 km (27 mi) of its entire coastline of 61 km (38 mi) are beaches. Four village communities exist on the island: Koh Tuich, Doeum D'keuw, Prek Svay and Sok San. In recent years the island has become home to an increasing but still moderate number of foreign-run guesthouses and bungalow resorts. As the island's South-Eastern tip around Koh Tuich Village is the point of arrival it has developed into the island's largest settlement center. In absence of even the most basic infrastructure, transport by boat is required to all settlements and holiday resorts, which are scattered over the many beaches. destination for individual travelers. With respect to the island's very tiny population, the tourism sector is by 2014 the core economy.