Cambodia Shopping: what to buy & where to shop

Posted on 18/03/2014 1:01:22

Recently, we received some emails from our customers about asking what to buy and where to shop in Cambodia. As the local travel agency, we recommend some traditional local markets and some featured items here.

What to Buy in Cambodia ?

1. Weaving Silk
Weaving Silk, also named Khmer Silk, is sold “like hotcakes” around the country. The soft and beautiful weaving silk is still hand-made, using traditional methods with the pattern dyed into the threads before the silk is woven. Therefore, the task of dying and weaving a single piece can take several weeks.

There are two kinds of weaving silk: old silk and new silk. The former is made a few years ago and price is increasing gradually. The latter is produced in nowadays and its price is lower. But they share the same quality.

2. Wood Carving
This is one of the handiworks in Cambodia. On a small wood, the locals carved apsaras ( nymphs ), and a variety of other attractive and decorative wooden items, which can be shipped your home. But you need to think about your heavy baggage.

3. Cotton T-Shirts
The famous cotton T-shirt is patterned with the symbol of Angkor Wat. It is made as excellent small gifts or souvenirs to bring home after you end the Angkor Wat tour. Others are very cheap buy with amusing designs.

4. Stunning Paintings
In most tourist sites of Cambodia, you don’t have to go to galleries to get great paintings because you can find a stunning work in the streets. If you visit a Gallery, you will find original oil and watercolor paintings, created to add some bright colors to everyday life.

5. Gold, Silver and Gems
24k Gold is used for most pieces in the Chinese tradition with prices fluctuating with the daily market value. Jewelry tends to be simple and unsophisticated, and although locally mined precious stones, especially rubies, sapphires and emeralds, can be make excellent Gems, beware of the fakes.

With Cambodia’s tourism industry expanding, numerous silver shops have sprung up, selling carved decorative and practical items. The normal working material is an alloy which contains 70% – 80% of pure silver, and prices are based on a combination of weight and artistry.

Where to Shop in Cambodia ?

A. in Phnom Penh
1. Lucky Supermarket
Luchy is the largest supermarket chain in Cambodia, with several locations in Phnom Penh, and only one in Siem Reap. They provide a good selection of local and international brands.

Location: Sihanouk Branch – #160E Sihanouk Blvd., just east of Monivong Blvd.
Opening Time: from 08:00 to 21:00 every day.

2. Sorya Shopping Center
This 12-storey western-style mall is the first real mall in Phnom Penh. It is quite large, and contains many restaurants, and a variety of shops selling mostly clothes, shoes, jewelry, toys, and some electronics and appliances.

Location: Street 63, one block south of the Central Market
Opening Time: from 09:00 to 21:00 every day

3. Night Market ( Phsar Reatrey )
It is an open market like a local market, providing a wide selection of all usual tourist items, such as handicrafts, silks, art, T-shirts, curios, knickknacks and souvenirs, etc.

Location: Sisowath Quay between Street 106 and Street 108
Opening Time: 17:00 to midnight on Friday, Saturday and Sunday

4. Olympic Market ( Phsar Olympic )
It is a three-story market near the Olympic Stadium, and features mostly wholesale goods, such as fabrics, clothes, religious items and traditional Khmer dresses.

Location: south of Sihanouk Blv., on Street 199 and Street 193

B. in Siem Reap
1. Angkor Night Market
It is truly a fun and experience to explore, dine, chill and shop after dark. You can buy there clothing, silk paintings, traditional handicraft items, wood and stone carvings and so on.

Location: Conveniently located a few blocks away from the Old Market, off the Sivatha Blvd in Siem Reap
Opening Time: from 16:00 till midnight.

2. Khmer Ceramic Centre
The Centre aims to mitigate poverty with free training for young deprived Cambodians to master this art, thus opening up an avenue for them to derive solid income. Here provides a collection of top quality hand-made ceramic items reflecting Khmer art and culture, such as jars, cosmetic bottles, serving bowls, decorative bowls, tableware, oil burners and Khmer accessories.

Location: Vithey Carles de Gaulle, Khum Slorkaram, Siem Reap – Angkor
Opening Time: from 08:00 to 19:30 every day

3. Les Artisans d’Angkor
Artisans d’Angkor enjoys international recognition for the upscale artifacts that are the outcome of constant research, genuine materials and perfect colour as well as texture choices. Here provide not only lacquering and gilding, wood and stone carving and silk painting, but also bronze wares, traditional silver boxes, animal-shaped boxes, silver jewelry and silver boxes, and so on.

Location: Chantiers-Écoles, Stung Thmey Street, P.O Box 47, Siem-Reap

4. Angkor Gallery
This is now the gallery for the Cambodian artist known as Asasax. Paintings by the artist are on display and for sale in the small gallery.

Location: Achar Sva St., south of Wat Bo Bridge (east side of river)
Opening Time: from 08:00 to 21:00 every day

5. Siem Reap Night Market
The newest and smallest night market, it offers mostly souvenirs, but also has antiques.

Location: Sivatha Blvd

6. Angkor Market
With a large selection of imported food and groceries, it is still the best place to shop for international items that even the supermarket doesn’t stock.

Location: 1-2 Eo Sivatha Blvd., corner of Oum Khun St.
Opening Time: from 07:30 to 22:00 every day