And the party continues.

     SihanoukVille never sleeps now.  Hundreds of new hotels, and several new casinos.  And more on the way.  The busiest place in town is the Serendipity Beach Pier, where thousands of people a day take a ride to or from SihanoukVille's Islands of Koh Rong, Koh Rong Samloem, or many of the day trips to the smaller islands.

     While there are many more hotels since the last blog post, there are also many fewer hotels....  Tour groups (most if not all Chinese owned), have bought several hotels and entire apartment buildings exclusively for their own customers.  And as you might guess, on the mainland, the casinos are doing very well.

     There are also several new large scale construction projects ongoing, for hotel / casino / condo / shopping centers around town and on the beaches.  Up to 1,400 rooms in these hotel / condos!

   The Islands are doing very well also.  Over 150 hotels (bungalows, resorts, dorms etc..) on the islands, with more every week.

    Otres Beach, and Otres Village are also doing very well.  They're even making a 4th Otres Beach (and 5th), probably going out to the SihanoukVille Airport soon.  And Otres Village is extending up towards the top of the hill with a rumored golf course going in.

     Flight are now arriving from Phnom Penh and Siem Reap (Angkor Wat) every day, and overseas flights from China, Vietnam, and soon other Asian countries (think the county of Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur) will soon be starting up.

     On Otres Beach, "The Long Beach" has become very popular, a kilometer plus of only sand, trees and gardens with no commercial activity.  Just free beach.   And also on Ocheteaul Beach, a kilometer section has opened up with only trees and a bike path.

    Many exciting things going on in Sunny SihanoukVille now.  It's a great time to be here, and it's going to get even better real soon.

                                       See you on the beach!!!

    

SihanoukVille, Cambodia - Winter 2016

2016 has just started in SihanoukVille, Cambodia.   The Southern Coast of Cambodia including SihanoukVille, Kampot, Kep, and Koh Kong are all booming.

SihanoukVille added hundreds of tourists businesses in 2015, including about 100 new places on the Islands, especially Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem Islands...  Restaurants, hotels, yoga, bakeries, even a jungle rope climb.

Otres Beach and Otres Village doubled in size during the year,  the town added a handful of new casinos, and dozens of hotels, and the islands have started mega projects at several locations.

Some of the new places include:

• Anam Yoga
  Bao Mai Resort & Casino
• Chinese Small Hotpot
• Chivas Beach Club
• Golden Lion Gym
• Grandma's Chinese Restaurant
• Heart of Venice Bungalows
• Jin Resort
• Kompongsom Sport Club
• Korean Food Market
• La Villa Zentao
• LaLuna
• Lion City Casino
  Mary Beach Hotel
• Mollie Golf Mini Golf
• Monkey Maya
• Naia Resort
• Oga Bar
• Pacha Mama Tea House
• Pie in the Sky
• Ren Resort
• Sam Papa Pippo
• Sea Breeze Resort
• Seaspirals Jewelry
• Taboo Bar
• The Visnu Boutique 

and about 200 others......

2016 looks like the pace might even pick up over the previous year.  There are 2 new roads to Otres Beach: one from route 4, coming directly from Phnom Penh, and another from the SihanoukVille Airport (which has added several flights, including a few international ones).  Previously unoccupied islands around town are opening up, more casinos are on the way, and we even have Mini Golf!

The number, size and speed of the ferries going from the mainland to the islands are increasing, and the prices are dropping too.

Still affordable rooms on both the mainland and islands from $10 (although you might get a fan only room for way less), and higher end rooms are being built left and right.

It's a great time to visit SihanoukVille and the surrounding islands!

Summer 2014 in Siha noukVille, Cambodia

Summer is here, and so are the seasonal rains.  Despite the rain, SihanoukVille's seen a huge increase in tourists.  While the town is doing quite well, SihanoukVille's Island are doing much better.  Koh Rong Island and it's little sister Koh Rong Samloem are now just a 40 minute ride from the mainland beach (and will be 20 minutes away quite soon).

Several new tourist places have opened up around town in the last few months, including:

Ahoi German Restaurant - downtown, near the Vietnamese Consulate
Aloha Guesthouse and Beach Bar on South Ocheteaul Beach
An Nam Vietnamese Restaurant - @Queenco Casino & Hotel
Arun Ras Guesthouse - Downtown on CT Street
Backpacker Heaven Guesthouse - with swimming pool on Victory Hill
Bungalows on the Bay - right on Serendipity Beach
Cambodia Adventures - off road buggy tours around town and beyond
Central Hotel - in downtown SihanoukVille
Columbus Bungalows - at the end of "Far O" Otres Beach
Dao of Life - Vegetarian Restauant and meditation retreat
Diamond Ocean Resort - at Serendipity Beach
Five Men Microbrewery - SihanoukVille's first microbrew, on Independence Road
Glass Bottom Boat - at Queenco Palm Beach, "Near O" Otres Beach
Golden River Bungalows - Riverside on "Far O" Otres Beach
Grand Kampuchea Guesthouse - Ocheteaul, next to Grand Kampuchea Restaurant
Happy Bungalows - on Koh Rong Island
High Point Adventures Rope Park - on Koh Rong Island
Kamasutra Indian Restaurant - Serendipity Beach Road.  Slumdog Curry's sister with Meat
Khmerita Butcher and Sandwich Shop - downtown
Kim Meng Fishing Hole - in Otres Village. You Catch, They Cook, You Eat.
King Pharaoh Karaoke - Ocheteaul Beach
La Cassidaine Guesthouse - and restaurant on Serendipity Beach Road
Le Petrus Beach Restaurant - on South Ocheteaul Beach.
Les Frangins - Beach Restaurant on "Far O" Otres Beach
Lovely Boutique - at Ocheteaul Beach
Mad Max Buggy Tours - Big buggys for big tours, Ocheteaul Beach
Marina Oceania - Cambodia's first private marina, near the Port
Mrs. Orangina Resort - on "Near O" Otres Beach
Otres Beach Resort - Guesthouse and beachside BBQ Restaurant.  "Far O" Otres Beach
Pat Pat Guesthouse - and fine dining.  "Near O" Otres Beach
Piazza Italia - Pizzeria on Serendipity Beach Road
Platinum Hotel - on Independence Road
Quad Tour Adventures -  Guided buggy tours around town.
Roxy Entertainment - Nightclub and restaurant on Ocheteaul Beach
Rumi Bungalows - Koh Rong Samloem Island
Sandy Dragon Restaurant - Ocheteaul Beach on BBQ Street
Seagull Guesthouse - near the Port
Secret Paradise Resort -  on Koh Rong Samloem Island
Skate Style - Rollerblading and Skate Boarding.  On Independence Road
Supin's Chinese Restaurant - North-East style Chinese Ribs and flower Teas
Swiss Beach Guesthouse - on Ochteaul Beach
Taste of Greece - Greek Restaurant at Serendipity Beach
Ten Japanese Restaurant - Tempura and Rice Burgers at Pure North Plaza.  Serendipity Beach.
The Gypsies Guesthouse - and fine dining restaurant on Serendipity Beach
The Living Room - Restaurant and lounge in Otres Village
The Mango Lounge - Guethouse in Otres Village
The Spot - Restaurant on South Ocheteaul Beach
The Sushi Bar - Top of Victory Hill at Victory Castle Villa
Visitors from Home - Chinese Restaurant on Serendipity Beach Road
Western City Hotel - near the Port
White Beach Resort - on Koh Rong Island
Wild Side Villas - in Otres Village
Zhong Gou Guesthouse - Chinese Guesthouse in Chinatown. Downtown.

and there're probably a few more we missed.
If you don't see one here, you can start or buy a business in SihanoukVille, and make it happen.

 

If you're coming to town, check out the SihanoukVille or Cambodian Island websites for more information.

See You Soon!