½ûÂþÌìÌÃ

Hello.

It's a matter of time.

Sihanoukville is in the middle of becoming a large city, many constructions are going on, which means hundreds of sand trucks causing sand and dust plus damaged roads.
Although it's not fun just right now it will be fine in a year or two. Because of a higher influx of middle class Chinese visitors there will be improvements in health care, infrastructure, new highway from PP and more.

Right now the only place that is still worthwhile staying is one of the islands off the coast, Koh rong and Koh rong samloem.

So if you need the sea [I love it too, lived there for nearly 3 years] come over in two years, or alternatively stay the first year of your retirement in Phnom Penh and/or visit other places in the meantime, Siem reap comes to mind.
Forget about other places at the sea, like Kep and Koh kong, very quiet [boring] places with not much to do. Sihanoukville used to be and will be again the place to go for sea and beach lovers.

Good luck.

Joe
Cambodia expert
½ûÂþÌìÌà team

Hi guys. I've been in Sihanoukville for the last month but spent the most time in Otres Village. I don't believe at the current time that Sihanoukville is a good place to retire or settle down. The amount of construction of hotels, resorts, casinos, bars, and restaurants is significant. The accompanying infrastructure to support all this is not evident and hopefully things like power, water, and roads will be improved as these new facilities are bought online. In Otres Village, its normally a very quiet beach village with dirt roads for the most part. Otres is a casualty in some ways too with a huge development occurring right outside of the village. There are at least 10 multi story buildings going in and construction goes on non stop with the sound of the pile drivers going basically 24/7. There now are power outages in Otres almost every day and who knows what will happen when the new buildings are finalized. Again, the existing roads and infrastructure are hard pressed to support the construction. Yet Otres Beach is perhaps the most beautiful of beaches. I cannot recommend that Sihanoukville currently is a place to consider to move to. Maybe as Joe points out when things calm down it will get better. I don't know. It just seems that it has changed so much and has a long way to go.

Hi. I have lived in Sihanoukville for 4 years. I am on the point of moving to Siem reap, as the town has become an unpleasant place to live in. Rubbish collection hopelessly inefficient,  so rats and roaches having a good time. Local municipal water system has virtually collapsed, we now have well water.Typhoid in the local hospital. Power cuts most days. Road system under severe strain, although the main road has been repaired, minor roads a disaster. Traffic volumes, especially construction traffic, increasing daily. Construction everywhere, noise and dust and more rubbish.
In my opinion, it will not be okay in 2 years. The ugly, box like construction projects keep on coming: Sihanoukville is to become a playground for gambling Chinese tourists, that is what this is all about. With these tourists come the attendant hard drugs, violence, and prostitution. However bad it is now, it's only going to get worse (unless you are a gambler)
Siem reap is nice!

Bumping an old thread to see if things are sill declining here.
This place was topping out list before reading this.
Gambling Chinese and associated gambling issues are no good.
We're planning for Danang now unless Sihanoukville gets sorted out okay.

My last post re this subject is from November 2018 and not much has changed in such a short period of time.

It will be ok in 2-3 years, a modern large city, much better than it was.

Cheers.

Joe

Yeah, Joe could be right about the 2 to 3 year time frame!

I've watched several recent videos (2019) posted on YouTube (by local and foreign visitors) to Sihanouk town. 
- What they are showing and saying about the ongoing conditions has not been very encouraging.

Most all the foreign visitors leave within a few days. Some have instead gone to the nearby islands and reported things there being pretty much fine and untouched - only grumbling about the power outages preventing them from charging their phone, drone, and camera batteries.

I've been in Cambodia for nearly a year, (escaped from Thailand - Lol..) with intentions to settle down in Sihanoukville.  But after a couple of visits, decided Sihanouk is still to early to call home.
I've been hiding-out in Koh Kong town, (near the boarder with Thailand) and split my time between Koh Kong and Trat town in Thailand.   
I plan to continue this arrangement for another year in the hope Sihanouk calms down enough to make it my 'home-base' in Asia . If not, then possibly another town/city in Cambodia.
- I really had my heart set on a 'sea-side location' ..to one day call home!

- Koh Kong is okay, but is a 'very' quiet, fishing village style town..  (i.e. Sleepy Ville), surrounded by jungles, waterfalls and lots of bugs & snakes,  with not much else than Eco Tours to attract visitors  (or major Chinese investment) ..at least not so far. (but I'm hearing rumors already!).

Cheers,
Benj.

Next to Koh kong an enormous Chinese resort will be constructed including an airport.

The quiet days of Koh kong are also over.

Why don't you settle on Koh rong island? Beautiful place with white beaches and a wealth of nature around.

Power outages can be dealt with by buying a small generator that gives enough power to have lights, charge phones, have cold beer (if you have a fridge )and so on. Not so expensive and a great solution.

In case someone says Kampot, don't. It's as quiet as Koh kong but not at the sea.

The nicest seaside resort is Sihanoukville and the islands are not spoiled and I've heard they won't be spoiled with casinos.

Cheers

Joe

ben2... not to cross-pollinate (or cross-something) BUT;
Have you looked at Danang?

We're thinking it's a seaside life and cheaper than HuaHin with a similar beach and vibe.
And, of course, a much friendlier visa program than LOS.

Hello MealsDavis..

Yeah, I've been looking at Da Nang and other sea-side locations in Vietnam, many of which look very appealing to me.
The only real concern I have is that Vietnam doesn't have a bona fide 'retirement visa' in place as yet, although there has been talk about introducing such a plan.
- And also the fact they were looking to 'Thailand' for guidance on long-stay visa schemes is a little disconcerting.

Otherwise for Vietnam, it's been a fairly simple procedure to just do back-to-back 'visa-runs' every 3 months with no questions asked.. as far as I've been told.

- One interesting thing I've 'heard' is about the island of 'Phu Quoc'.
Vietnamese Government may pass a law that permits foreigners to reside and own house and lease land for up to 99 years.!
- I'm told, you don't even need to get a visa of any kind at all to go visit the island. Just bring passport!
(i.e. more like a 'Visa on arrival scheme' ..but just for the island!).

- That said, I've really been happy with Cambodia's hassle free, 'apply once and see ya next year', multiple-entry visa renewal plan.  More time at the beach.. less time (i.e. no time!) spent visiting immigration offices!

No, no, no, it's finished move to kampot RIP SIHANUKVILLE it was paradise 6years ago Cambodia has been sold to the Chinese. It's finished move on, such a shame.

That's what I've learned. Also the construction mayhem is a prequel to Sihanoukville's decline for expats and regular travelers.

Vietnam's easy visa for retirement is why we will retire there soon.

Thailand forces you to leave every 90 days and spend your money somewhere else. Vietnam lets you stay all year like you are welcome in their society.

I read Cambodia's business visa has tightened up and they are following Thailand.

Very untrue statement MealsDavis!

Untrue that Cambodia follows Thailand in visa requirements. Cambodia is by far the easiest country re visa and extensions in SE Asia. Business extension of stay only requires a letter of employer, that's all.

Retirement extension of stay only requires you hand in your passport and the money, that's all.

So please don't bring down Cambodia's relaxed way of getting visas and extensions, just to justify your decision to go to Vietnam. Nothing wrong with Vietnam but it's not easier than Cambodia. First visit can only last 3 months, then you have to leave the country.

In Thailand no need to leave the country every 90 days as you write. If you are on a retirement extension of stay you don't have to leave at all, just extend once a year.
True is that you have to show up at immigration every 90 days, something Cambodia doesn't have.

So be free to settle where you want, but don't talk bad about Cambodia, as you're totally wrong.

You and others have been hijacking this Sihanoukville thread, please stop with it now.

Cheers.

Joe
Cambodia expert
½ûÂþÌìÌà team

Thanks for clearing that up Joe.
Yeah, the letter from an employer in Cambodia now is what I was referring to.

I'll try not to pollute the board with bad info anymore.