With its beaches and casinos, Sihanoukville is primarily a tourist attraction, though one with an industrial deepwater port. Because of the tourist industry, the town has a more lighthearted flavour to it than Phnom Penh. Situated on the eastern part of the Gulf of Thailand, Sihanoukville is a peninsula and has several beaches and small, offshore islands. It was founded in 1964 and is much more urban and modern than other Cambodian cities.
Considering the modest amount of visitors Sihanoukville has, the town features more than ample hotels, restaurants and bars. With its 5 beaches and 3 islands to relax on, Sihanoukville provides a peaceful counterpoint to Thailand's sometimes crowded beaches.
