Developed in the 1950s as Cambodia's first and only deep water port, it wasn’t until the late 1990s that backpackers started to find their way to the white sand beaches on Sihanoukville. Today the town exudes an easy tropical charm, and is Cambodia’s biggest beach retreat - a resort that offers something for all kinds of travellers. It’s palm-fringed beaches may not be up to paradisiacal standard but the fact that it is still easy to find a stretch all to yourself is wonderfully appealing. Sihanoukville is also the cast off point for a number of beach-fringed islands set adrift in the bay.