Cambodia's beach tourism industry has reached a significant milestone, with Koh Rong, a beautiful island in the southwestern coastal province of Preah Sihanoukville, ranking 9th in the top 10 of " The World 's 50 Best Beaches 2026" list recently published by World's 50 Best Beaches.
As is customary every year, the World's 50 Best Beaches organization announced its list of the 50 most beautiful beaches in the world for 2026 in early May. For the first time, a Cambodian beach made it into the top 10 of the world's leading tourist destinations in this travel guide, a recognition for the island known as a "tourism paradise" in the land of temples.
The annual list of the world's 50 most beautiful beaches is compiled by a panel of over 1,000 experts and experienced travelers. To ensure objectivity, the organization states that it invited some of the world's most well-traveled individuals to participate in the voting.
International travel experts highly rate Koh Rong for its tranquility and stunning natural landscapes spread across the island. Koh Rong, an ideal beachfront resort, is considered both authentic and unique, standing out from many other commercialized destinations in the region.
With its long stretches of fine white sand beaches and warm, crystal-clear turquoise waters, alongside lush tropical vegetation surrounding the island, Koh Rong stands out for its pristine natural beauty, offering the perfect setting for visitors to relax and unwind.
This island has quite a few beaches. Besides the lively Koh Touch beach with its many hotels and restaurants, visitors can also find some peace and quiet at Long Set Beach, Lonely Beach, Coconut Beach, and others.
Long Beach has become a top tourist attraction on Koh Rong island. As its name suggests, it boasts the longest stretch of beach on the island, with pristine white sand and clear blue water.
This natural feature attracts both domestic and international tourists, especially those seeking a stunning backdrop for their photographs. With its fresh air, pristine beauty, and delicious seafood, the island offers a tranquil space for visitors to relax.
Speaking to a VNA reporter, Italian tourist Daniele Ricci said he had a wonderful experience in Koh Rong, an island he considers to have great development potential.
Considering the island's pristine natural landscape and warm hospitality as its strengths, Daniele Ricci hopes that Cambodia will develop the right strategy to both preserve its natural beauty and attract more tourists to visit and relax in the future.
Sharing the same sentiment, Nicolas Pequignat, a French tourist enjoying his holiday in Koh Rong, praised the Cambodian cuisine and the friendliness and attentiveness of the people.
The French tourist believes that Koh Rong has great potential and that in the future, the island will become a favorite destination for many tourists.
The tourism and service industry hopes that Koh Rong's biodiversity and landscape will be maintained and preserved. Ms. Ambre, owner of Lily's Beach Bungalows hotel and restaurant on Koh Rong island, believes that the tourism development model on the island should not be mass-produced, as Koh Rong's appeal lies in its pristine and authentic beauty.
As Cambodia's second largest island, located off the coast of Preah Sihanouk province, Koh Rong covers an area of over 78 square kilometers with 43 kilometers of coastline and more than 23 beautiful beaches.
The best time of year to visit Koh Rong is during Cambodia's dry season, which typically runs from November to May, thanks to plenty of sunny days, minimal cloud cover, and low humidity. Now that the low season has begun, tourism experts are focusing on making the island even more attractive next year.
Current tourism data shows that the number of visitors to Koh Rong has increased sharply over the past two years, with the island welcoming a total of 184,600 visitors in 2024, over 100,000 visitors in the first six months of 2025, and continuing its growth trajectory in 2026.
In Koh Rong, visitors can participate in a variety of activities such as snorkeling to admire coral reefs, taking boat tours around nearby islands, offering a combination of swimming, fishing, and diving; or simply spending afternoons lounging on the beach, enjoying the peaceful and tranquil atmosphere, slowly waiting for the spectacular sunset.
The bioluminescent plankton of Koh Rong, as well as the starry sky, are a spectacular sight that visitors can admire when night falls.
Leading the list of the world's 50 Best Beaches in 2026 is Entalula Beach in the Philippines, followed by the Feri Beach in Greece and Wharton Beach in Australia. Additionally, in Southeast Asia, Donald Duck Bay in Thailand also made it into the top 10 most beautiful beaches in the world in 2026.
Being included in the World's 50 Best Beaches list of the world's 10 most beautiful beaches in 2026 demonstrates that Koh Rong deserves to be a world-class resort destination and a valuable part of Cambodia's "Kingdom of Wonders".
The attention that the ranking brings could help boost tourism on the island and support local businesses in the future.
The World's 50 Best Beaches website described Koh Rong as: "Perhaps one of the most magical places on earth. The colors, the tranquility, and the slow pace of life encapsulate the breathtaking beauty of this place."