Rapidly growing, Sihanoukville is known for its beautiful tropical islands, beaches, and more recently, excellent scuba diving. The best known islands are Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem, but there are many others waiting to be explored.
However, Shianoukville town, once a laid back and beautiful beach destination, turned into a prime example what happens when uncontrolled development takes over in a very short period of time. Gone are the days of empty beaches lined with huts and small restaurants. The waterfronts are now lined with concrete buildings, featuring casinos and block style hotels mostly catering to Chinese gamblers. Unless you are into gambling, the only reason to come to Shianoukville town is to catch a ferry to one of the stunningly beautiful islands off the coast. Make sure to get to the docks early to catch a boat to avoid staying here for the night.