As HLH Group’s maiden housing development D’Seaview gears up for Phase 2 of its development – after having had all 300 of its residential units fully subscribed in Phase 1 since its launch in September 2015 – it will simultaneously be introducing Sihanoukville’s largest shopping mall.

The shopping mall, comprising a colossal 20,000 square metres of retail space, will be situated right next to D’Seaview. Slated to be the trendy uptown area of Sihanoukville, with D’Seaview being a mixed-use development that encompasses 737 residential units and numerous commercial units suitable for an array of businesses, the shopping mall will be an enticing complex to complete both residents’ and non-residents’ entertainment and shopping needs. The mall will hold such amenities as food courts, bars, health and wellness centres, beauty salons, mini-marts and financial institutions. The development will also incorporate an integrated hotel to capture Sihanoukville’s growing popularity as Cambodia’s premier beach town.

View from Wat Leu. Beautiful Sihanoukville has increasingly been eyed by local and foreign investors.

“Given the country’s positive GDP growth of about 7 per cent annually, Cambodia’s economy remains vibrant and attractive to both local and foreign investors. Located next to D’Seaview, the mall will provide retail space for shopping and entertainment, making it a magnet for visitors and locals,” said Dato’ Dr Johnny Ong, CEO of HLH Group. He added that the mall will not only be popular for shoppers, it will also provide the development with an additional revenue stream.

“We are currently seeking experienced mall operators for sale,” said Dato’ Dr Ong.

While Sihanoukville has been pegged as the next hotspot in Cambodia not only for property investments, tourism has taken off with more flights landing and with the potential to become a fixture on the cruise ship circuit, HLH Group’s inaugural shopping mall could not have been more timely.

Dato’ Dr Ong also noted that the addition of this shopping mall will add more activities to the city, a problem that has long been lamented when engineering Sihanoukville’s attractiveness as a destination.

Popular TV personality KhieuSansana, who had recently subscribed to one of D’Seaview’s units, said that she believes Cambodia’s ASEAN integration plays an imperative role in attracting regional visitors to Sihanoukville. And as a constant traveler herself, she would also be able to lease her unit out to locals and foreigners who come for leisure or business while generating revenue from her personal investment into such a prime residence.

With D’Seaview being only a five-minute stroll from the tranquil and scenic Sokha Beach – one of Sihanoukville’s many sandy white beaches of crystal blue waters – property market watcher and investor Clement Dupont said that the development will elevate the city’s image to one of luxurious liveability, compared to other run-of-the-mill seaside holiday destinations.

“People will realise that Sihanoukville is a worthwhile place to invest in and attract homebuyers who are looking to live and work in a comfortable and classy environment, as the city’s economy grows from year to year,”Dupont said.

Other than for its good infrastructure Sihanoukville is popular for its bar and restaurant scene.

Set to capitalise on the Kingdom’s trade and manufacturing sectors by having the country’s only deep-sea port, as well as a forthcoming 190-kilometre long and 25-metre wide expressway on National Road 4 linking Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville, the city has advantages coming from all directions. With D’Seaview’s location at the pulse of the city, HLH Group’s mall will garner interest from international and national retailers.