Sihanoukville, also known as Kampong Som, is a port city in southern Cambodia on the Gulf of Thailand and is a growing Cambodian urban center. The city is named after King Father Norodom Sihanouk and grew up around the construction of Sihanoukville Port. Construction on the port began in June 1955 and it was the only deep water port in Cambodia.. The port was built in part due to the waning power of the French leading to the Vietnamese tightening their control over the Mekong Delta and hence restricting river access to Cambodia. Sihanoukville's beaches have made it a popular tourist destination.
The city is served by Kang Keng Airport, 18 kilometers from downtown (11 miles). Although it has a limited commercial operation. The planned flights between Sihanoukville and Siem Reap may encourage visitors to Angkor temples in Siem Reap to extend their stay, though the crash of a charter flight in Phnom Damrey on 25th June, 2007 from Siem Riep, has caused concerns.
Sihanoukville attracts tourists with its laid back beach atmosphere when compared to Thailand's more developed ones, but the region's illegal narcotics shipping discourages some visitors. In January 2009 two Canadians - a humanitarian worker volunteer and a tourist, were assaulted by bandits in the city. Jiri Zivny, the humanitarian worker, died after days of comma in Phnom Penh. An official statement, however, concluded that Zivny died by a motorbike crush. The events caused concerns of insecurity for foreigners, although authorities promised to improve it in the port. The port has been pointed also by humanitarian organizations for its recurrence in cases of child abuse and women. |
