Koh Rong Sanloem

Food & Drink

• Bong's – a Western island spot with cocktails, good eats, and the ability to withdraw cash
• Lost and Found “Restaurant” – just a British guy and his homestay, making the best cheese toasty known to man
• Be Sivmey, a supermarket that will make you the best Khmer sandwich you've ever had, trust me
• Plenty of beachfront spots and minimarts scattered through town

Sights

• Plankton Beach – a 7-minute walk from town, a pristine 1.5-mile white sand beach with bioluminescent plankton at night
• Easy Tiger Cambodia – a loungey open-air beach bar with a pool table and great vibes

Experiences

• A jungle hike to the other beaches around the island
• Watching the bioluminescent plankton light up the water after dark
• Playing pool with friends and locals at night

Getting Around

• Getting here means a ferry from Sihanoukville — there's nothing to see in Sihanoukville itself beyond a place to sleep before or after the crossing
• Koh Rong is bigger and more built up with more amenities; Koh Rong Sanloem is quieter and more laid-back — decide which fits what you want

Travel Tips

• Do your research before picking where to stay — there's everything from high-end resorts to humble homestays, even in a small village like M'Pai Bay
• Bring bug spray — the mosquitoes here are relentless, even with a bed net
• Go now. This hidden gem will not stay hidden for more than a few more years, especially with an airport reportedly on the way

Overall Review

A little slice of paradise. M'Pai Bay on Koh Rong Sanloem is a small fishing village turned hidden tourist gem, and I spent 3 days here and could have easily stayed for two weeks — maybe because of the slow island-time pace, maybe because of the people, maybe just because I could walk around with my shirt off and drink a beer whenever I felt like it. I met people who'd already done the Thai islands, and they told me these islands were better than anything else they'd experienced. This hidden gem will not remain hidden for much longer, I guarantee it.