Sihanoukville in Cambodia is not as popular as the major tourist destinations in Asia, there is not much to do here. However, the few things that you can do are truly worth the experience, such as a visit to the Wat Chotynieng and Wat Utynieng pagodas. (“Wat” is Khmer for “temple”.) Sihanoukville is Cambodia’s answer to the world-class beach destinations in its neighboring countries. While Thailand has Phuket, Indonesia has Bali, and the Philippines has Boracay, Cambodia has Sihanoukville.
Located along the southern coasts of Cambodia and into the Gulf of Thailand, Sihanoukville is home to about 200,000 people but with only three Buddhist pagodas, one Catholic church and one mosque. Buddhism reached Cambodia as early as the 3rd Century but sadly the historic Wats were built outside Sihanoukville. The majestic and legendary Angkor Wat is located in far-away Siem Reap and the often visited Temple of the Emerald Buddha is found in Phnom Penh, the capital city. The country’s official religion is Theravada Buddhism, which is the oldest surviving kind of Buddhism. Two of the Buddhist temples in Sihanoukville are Wat Chotynieng and Wat Utynieng. …
