Cambodia's premier coastal city was founded in the 1950s as the country's first deep-water port, named after King Norodom Sihanouk. Once a sleepy backpacker beach town, it has undergone massive Chinese-funded development since 2016. The surrounding islands, including Koh Rong, remain largely undeveloped and offer some of Southeast Asia's most pristine beaches.
Nights sit around 25°C and afternoons around 30°C.
Sihanoukville barely changes season: afternoons sit around 31°C and nights around 25°C most of the year.
There is a clear wet season from April – November, peaking in August with around 617 mm. The dry months run from January.
Wind is rarely an issue; most months sit between calm and a light breeze. Air quality is worth watching: March averages an AQI of 73, while September clears to 36.
Daylight is steady all year, around 12.0 hours a day.
For what you're after, the best months in Sihanoukville are November – March. Expect fast internet (73 Mbps) and a low cost of living (about €600 a month).
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