Contours of the city

This significant sports tourism marathon event is held in Sihanoukville Province (named after King Norodom Sihanouk). It is known locally as Kampong Som and is located 230km southwest of the capital city of Phnom Penh. It has become one of the best seaside destinations in Asia.

Known for its beautiful beaches, the province revolves around fabulous seafood, water-sports and its surrounding islands. The popular beaches which line the contours of the city are the Victory Beach, Deum Chrey Beach, Independence Beach, Sokha Beach, Serendipity Beach, Ochheuteal Beach, Samdech Hun Sen Beach, Hawaii Beach, Ream Beach, and the Otres Beach.

The Sihanoukville International Half Marathon is held at Ochcheuteal Beach during the Khmer new year season in early April. It is organised by the Cambodian Marathon Committee and supported by the Royal Government of Cambodia This event has four race distances of 21.097km ,10km, 5km and a 3km Kids Run.

Half marathon runners will enjoy a beautiful course which includes more than 13km along the pristine beach of white sand and a long line of pine trees. All races start in the early morning from 05.30 onwards at the famous Ochcheuteal Beach. Runners head out on a beautiful beach road and each category turns into the city centre roads before returning to the finish line at the same start-finish gate.

More than 2000 runners participated in the 2023 race after four years suspended due to reconstruction of the city’s infrastructure and the Covid pandemic period.

The Sihanoukville Governor H.E. Kuoch Chamroeun flagged off the Half Marathon. Cambodian Kong Sam Bath reached the finish line at 1:23:11 followed by the Japanese Ota Yugo at 1:24:58. The first female runner Ota Natsuko reached the line at 1:52:27. Based on the experience of runners, times in Sihanoukville are about 4–5 minutes more than on flat courses such as those in Siem Reap or Phnom Penh.

After the race runners can relax on the beach or go island-hopping, snorkelling and scuba-diving. Most of the natural beauties in and around Sihanoukville province (Kampong Som) are still very much undisturbed. After night falls tourists can explore and enjoy the culinary diversity of restaurants and bars that are scattered alongside the beaches and all over town. Attractions in Sihanoukville province come in great variety and are sure to leave tourists with cherished memories.

On behalf of the Cambodian Marathon Committee, we would like to invite and warmly welcome runners from around the world to come and run our Sihanoukville International Half Marathon 2024 which will be organised on Sunday 7 April 2024.

Best wishes to all runners from the Cambodian Marathon Committee.