Sihanoukville - First Impressions of my First City in Cambodia

I arrived in Sihanoukville from Koh Kong after a 6 hour bus journey and I was out within 2 hours from the hostel to investigate my first city in Cambodia and see how my first impressions on this place was.
I took a walk through a lot of high rise buildings towards the beach, discovering that the Chinese are spending a lot of money on Sihanoukville changing the character of the city, which the local Cambodians are not happy with. Research has told me that there is conflict between the 2 cultures. With a lot of new hotels and especially casinos, there is new crime, with criminal gangs operating in the city! I read online from some forums that it was dangerous to walk around at night.
Once at the front, I saw a beach for the first time in weeks! It was clean with not many people using it. However it was lovely to see.
My first impressions is not good, but I have another full day to see if there is anything to change my mind.
I am an older backpacker travelling the world proving that backpacking is not just for the younger generation.
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[@michaelwilson2419]

Thank you for your very educational and quality documentary - travel video.

[@jbs9231]

Kampot too has Changed, Jet ski,s on the River , girlie bars in Riverside village.

[@ivanamcmullin-8548]

Looks definitely like resort town already. Beach is beautiful. Lots of development for sure. Nice walk Stu. 👍🇰🇭🌴

[@brianstarke4022]

I was there several times between 2015 and 2018. It went from an incredible, chill, sleepy beach town to absolute SH*T!

[@olderbackpacker]

It’s a shame :(

[@ParkinsonRaw]

Good vlog Stu, Otres beach used to be my paradise. the chinese flattened it. Try getting the train outta there, the stations an eye opener. Kampot was my favourite City. Crab curry is a must try when near the sea

[@pp-bf2ec]

Otres beach is here still. Been living 50 meters from it for almost 15 years already. Only flanking happened in Otres area is by the local government is the illegal bungalows build on public beach that released all sewage untreated to sea.

[@stanleymoore8084]

Very interesting to say the least more history wise lessons , thanks 🙏🏻

[@PATThaiA]

Great Video.Great Content.Great Creator.Thanks.

[@deandeifir9515]

Get the ferry to Koh Rong island across the way. A lot nicer (as of 2019 anyway). enjoying the videos

[@davewalker2167]

Interesting... I was last there 10 years ago & dont recognise it at all! I stayed in otres 2 but trekked into 'town' a few times. Just read that its expanding out to otres now? Will eventually be swamped by sihounoukville soon (if it hasn't already?) Otres 2 was great. Looks like as u said its earmarked for chinese tourists,hence all the casinos etc.. was a backpackers hangout. Sad! Check out otres b4 it all goes to s##t.
I first went to Cambodia in 1999, hardly any 'western tourists at all, tried to get down there from pnom penh but it wasn't possible due to the total lack of infrastructure, i.e roads. Craters in the road & landmines! The khymer rouge were still active (tho in a less active way) & it was still dangerous to travel into the countryside outside the main towns. How Cambodia has changed!! Keep the video's coming. Am enjoying them alot😊

[@jogon1052]

Very sad for the locals who are losing their homes and culture. That is what the Chinese are trying to do all over the world..

[@dovygoodguy1296]

So why doesn't the Cambodian government do something about it???

[@pp-bf2ec]

@@dovygoodguy1296 Because they are not losing anything. It's just American propaganda from VOA and VOD type press. The city population in fact has grown from 30-40k to over 100k in last 10 years. Most of them are local Khmers.

[@olderbackpacker]

They’re not losing their homes or culture as it’s a big city, but at the front where the beaches are, it’s changed from a chilled holiday/backpacking area to a lot of high rise buildings/casinos/shopping malls for the Chinese tourism market

[@a.rrolfsson963]

Because they are the ones selling it to the Chinese 🤷🏼‍♂️​@@dovygoodguy1296

[@brianstarke4022]

Hi that's not how it works in Cambodia. There is no government. There is a family and they run and take a cut of everything. It's all going exactly as planned.@@dovygoodguy1296

[@pp-bf2ec]

If you aere still there, head over to Otres beach area.

[@wontbelongnow5567]

Yes head there I've stayed twice there it was beautiful. I hope they haven't knocked it down otres 1or 2.

[@jbs9231]

Not the Same Otres, forest of trees that use line the back and all along the of the beach have Gone. Most of good accomodation No more. Not that I was a regular at Sihnokville,

[@anthonyclarke7942]

I haven't been for about 4 years, but looks horrendous, head to the islands or go to siam reap or kampot, battanbang.

[@mike4722]

You still at sihanouk?

[@olderbackpacker]

I’m not. Sorry. I was there about 1 month ago.

[@frank-michaelhohler3147]

Who came to know Sihanoukville before the Chinese colonized this gem. will be shocked, what money and greed can produce.

[@olderbackpacker]

Totally agree :(

[@sly5789]

Nice beech 🤣

[@Cetashane]

Hot hot hot

[@wayneleader2364]

They have ruined that city it used to be a wonderful chilled sleepy beach resort .

[@susanadu9043]

A city with only abandoned buildings and garbage.

[@olderbackpacker]

Not my favourite place :/

[@LJE69]

Spelling bad, predictive tex Loas 😂