Sihanoukville — also known as Kompong Som — is Cambodia's main beach town, sitting on a headland overlooking the Gulf of Thailand. It is the country's only deep-water port, but for most visitors the draw is the string of beaches along the coast: Otres, Ochheuteal, Sokha, and Independence Beach each have their own character.
The town has changed dramatically in recent years. Chinese investment has transformed parts of the coastline, and the casino-driven construction boom has given some areas a chaotic, half-finished feel. But away from the development, the beaches remain attractive, the seafood is excellent and cheap, and the islands offshore — Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem — are among the most beautiful in Southeast Asia. The hilltop pagodas of Wat Leu and Wat Krom and the modernist Independence Hotel give a sense of the older town beneath the construction.
On weekends, residents of Phnom Penh pour in to enjoy the coast. Sihanoukville is about four hours from the capital by road, or you can fly — the airport has expanded along with everything else.