Ochheuteal beach was Sihanoukville’s most popular, but
it still retains a bit of a caravan-park feel to it and the motodops
here are among the most dodgy in Cambodia. It may be difficult to
pronounce, but the name certainly hasn’t put people off the longest and most popular beach in Sihanoukville. Many actually know Ochheuteal beach as Serendipity, which actually refers to the western smaller patch of sand past the pier.
Much of the beach is dedicated to food stalls and small bamboo bars, but
the southern stretch is largely deserted. While Serendipity has some of
the cooler beach shacks, the restaurants and bars stretch for much more
of the full length of the beach, with the far end playing host to the
on-again off-again joints that offer free accommodation in the low season (you’re expected to either eat and drink at the place frequently or help them distribute flyers in return).
The seas can get rough here and drownings are not uncommon, so
exercise care when swimming — the waves may not look big, but the
currents are deceptive. And, without wanting to sound too much like your
mother, swimming when under the influence (of whatever) isn’t a particularly intelligent thing to do.
Ochheuteal also has more than its fair share of con-men, dodgy moto drivers and other lowlife, so exercise care at night.
Staggering down the beach in the early hours of the morning stoned or
drunk is not recommended. Rapes, stabbings and muggings have all been
reported here, both at the rocky end near Serendipity, but also along
the other end of the beach. Take care.