1. Sihanoukville City (Mittakpheap District)
Once a sleepy French-colonial beach town, Sihanoukville has exploded into Cambodia’s coastal boomtown. The skyline bristles with Chinese-backed high-rises and casinos, while Serendipity Beach Road and Ochheuteal Beach remain the beating heart of backpacker life—sunset beers, fire shows, and $5 seafood barbecues. Victory Beach and quieter Otres Beach still offer laid-back vibes, and the bustling Psar Leu market is perfect for fresh crab and Khmer curries. It’s chaotic, colourful, and unapologetically evolving.
2. Prey Nob District
The green escape east of the city. Rolling hills hide secret beaches like Independence Beach and Prek Treng, while Ream National Park headquarters offers mangrove boat trips, jungle treks, and dolphin-spotting in the estuary. New coastal roads have opened up hidden coves and fishing villages where locals still grill squid on the sand at sunset.
3. Stueng Hav District
A thin coastal strip of fishing villages, salt fields, and empty beaches stretching toward Kampot. Stueng Hav town itself is a quiet port with colourful wooden boats and the freshest seafood in the province. Offshore, the little-known Koh Ta Kiev and Koh Russey (Bamboo Island) offer rustic bungalows, jungle trails, and some of the clearest water in Cambodia.
4. Koh Rong City (on Koh Rong Island)
The gateway to Cambodia’s island paradise. Koh Tui village is the main hub—white-sand beaches, dive shops, and a lively strip of bars and hostels. Long Set (4K) Beach and Lonely Beach are just a short walk or boat ride away, while Police Beach still feels like a secret. Bioluminescent plankton light up night swims like underwater stars.
5. Koh Rong Sanloem City (on Koh Rong Sanloem Island)
The quieter, more romantic sibling. Saracen Bay is the postcard-perfect curve of powdery sand lined with boutique bungalows and hammocks under palm trees. Lazy Beach and Sunset Beach live up to their names, while M’Pai Bay retains a tiny fishing-village feel. Jungle trails connect the beaches, and the island remains blissfully free of cars and casinos.
Together, Preah Sihanouk’s five districts deliver every shade of coastal Cambodia—from neon-lit urban beaches to untouched island hideaways—making it the kingdom’s undisputed seaside playground.