El Kingdom of cambodia is a small country that is south of the Indochina peninsula and is one of the most tourist destinations in Southeast Asia.
If it comes to shopping, we must know that Cambodia It is not a shopping center like Thailand can be, for example, but we can still bring home many souvenirs and gifts. The question is what to buy and where so take note of these tips.
Buy in Cambodia
Cambodia it is not a shopping mecca because it lacks the infrastructure that some of your neighbors have. You won't see many large malls or skyscrapers with stores inside, but it does have many markets so when it comes to buying handicrafts, it is a great destination.
The second thing you should know is if you want go shopping like a tourist or like a local. If you like the adventure of discovery then the local markets and small shops are the best, if you prefer the modern then head to the shopping centers.
The difference between the two destinations is the price: in shopping centers the prices are higher and you can't haggle anything. For a great cultural experience my advice is not to miss the markets.
What to buy in Cambodia
From the 80s onwards, governments and certain organizations have encouraged the people of Cambodia to rediscover their talents as craftsmen and weavers.
Many rehabilitation programs have been developed and thus have been able to develop national crafts such as cotton or silk textiles, rattan, bamboo, clay or wood fabrications.
These incentive programs for local crafts have resulted in the objects that we see in markets and shopping centers: furniture, clothing, bags, wallets, paintings and more.
To this are added the antiques, wicker baskets, the adorable betel boxes, precious stones, rice paper decorations, silver objects, reproductions of classical Buddha sculptures and scarves krama which are woven by the Khmer people.
Where to buy in Cambodia
It depends on what city or region you are in in the country: in the capital or Siem Reap, basically.
Let's start with the capital. Is named Name Pen but you can also find it written as Phnom Penh, . At the time of the French occupation it was considered one of the most beautiful cities in Indochina.
Shopping is a diverse activity. There are three main markets and then several smaller markets and other traditional markets where things for everyday consumption are sold. There's also various shopping centers, mini markets, Great markets, silk shops, souvenir shops, boutiques and commercial premises of all kinds.
Prices are usually in US dollars and today many stores accept credit cards. Anyway it is always advisable to change money because haggling is present in small stores.
El Night Market of Name Pen It is on the bank of the river and is a great place to buy souvenirs, handicrafts, clothes and various curiosities. Open on Fridays and weekends from 5 pm to midnight (Sisowath Quay, between 106 and 108).
El Olympic market It is close to the Olympic Stadium and wholesales so it's a local favorite. You can find good discounts so it is recommended.
El Russian market It sells a little of everything: crafts, electronics, antiques, wood carvings, silk things and clothes at good prices. It also sells jewelry but you have to know how to differentiate the fake from the good ones.
With respect to shopping centers there is the Lucky Supermarket, the largest chain in the country. National and foreign brands is what you will find in all its branches.
El Mall Sorya It is a huge twelve-story western-style building with restaurants and many shops. It is on 63rd Street, one block from the Central Market, and opens from 9 am to 9 pm
With regard to the stores there are many and it is impossible to talk about all of them, but I will tell you that most of the shops are located around the Central Market, in the area of 178, 240, 51 and 282 streets.
They concentrate the offer for the tourist in the matter of Buddhist carvings, silk, jewels, souvenirs and statues: Coffer Artisan, kashaya Silk, Bliss, The Lizard Blue and Mulberry Shop are some of the stores that you can visit.
If you want to help in addition to buying then you can go to Rehab Craft Cambodia which is a non-profit organization that belongs to Cambodians with disabilities.
They make silver jewelry, wood carvings, clothing, silk clothing, and much more. You can even visit the workshop. It is at 322, 10A Street and there is also a retail store on 278 1A Street. Open from 8 am to 5 pm
But how is Get out of shopping You reap o You Called out? It is the capital of the province of Siem Riep and is only eight kilometers from ancient Angkor. That is why there are always tourists.
Here are art galleries, fashion boutiques, souvenir shops and a good range of jewelry, silver objects, lacquered figures, stone and wood carvings, ceramics and more.
The best markets are concentrated in the centerThey open every day and sell everything. These are open-air markets that include food stalls and performances by buskers. Haggling is official.
There is the Street market of Angkor with its 200 bamboo stalls that sell what is produced by local communities and non-governmental organizations: clothing, paintings made in silk, puppets, bags made of recycled materials, wood carvings and silver.
El Old Market or phsar Chas It is the oldest of all and sells everyday things and food, from clothes and jewelry to soups, rice, bread and fried frogs. Open from 7 am to 8 pm
On the other hand, every Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday it opens an outdoor market called Made in Cambodia. There are local artisans so the quality of clothing, jewelry, paintings and toys is higher than in other markets. Also the prices, but it's worth it because you buy quality.
-photo handicrafts of siem reap-
Finally, if you like handicrafts but want to buy them directly from the artisans, you can visit the Artisan Association of of Angkor. It offers workshops and a fair with 20 stalls in which sales go 100% to artisans. It is within the village of Training, on Route 60.
Of course, there are more places to go shopping in Cambodia, but these are the most basic and recommended in its two most touristic cities. Remember to always haggle, do not stay with the first price that the seller tells you and never buy jewelry if you do not know how to recognize the true ones from the false ones. Later, shopping in Cambodia is a pleasure.