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Silver -

		The Betel Box is a good example of Khmer silver which is some of the most beautiful and interesting art objects in South-East Asia. These pounded silver containers were once used in ceremonies and everyday life to hold betel leafs. Nowadays the boxes are made for sale as souvenirs but are nevertheless hand crafted by local artisans. They take many different shapes.

Silk in Cambodia is still hand made using traditional ikat methods and styles. In ikat weaving the pattern is made from memory and is not written down. The pattern is dyed into the threads before the silk is woven. The process of dying and weaving a single piece can take weeks.

Old silks (pre-1970) are prized for their detail and quality but new silks now match that quality. In addition to the boutiques and curio shops there are a few shops around the Russian and Central Markets dealing in new silks and several stalls inside the Russian Market selling new and old silks.

For those brave enough to venture beyond the city take a tour of the countryside and buy direct from the people that weave it.
 
Gems are a tempting souvenir. Western Cambodia is a fertile source of colored stones, especially rubies, sapphires and emeralds, and there are plenty of gem dealers in Phnom Penh. Central Market carries an amazing display and Russian Market has its share of dealers as well. Be careful though, know something about gems and/or the seller before spending much.
 
Carvings and Statues are popular, distinctively Cambodian, though weighty souvenirs. Bronze busts of ‘The Leper King’ and carved wood apsaras are two of the more popular items. The quality of the carved wood varies considerably so look around before buying. High quality carved furniture, antique Chinese furniture and art deco furniture are sold at some boutiques. New furniture can also be found at a series of shops along Monivong Blvd. south of Street 466.

Where to Buy

The markets in Phnom Penh are much bigger than those in Siem Reap and there is a greater variety of boutiques and specialty shops in Phnom Penh. The Russian Market in Phnom Penh is the best traditional market for souvenirs, textiles and pirated CD/VCD/DVDs, though Central Market has a better selection of tourists items such as T-shirts, postcards and temple guides. Major hotels such as Cambodiana, InterContinental Phnom Penh, Le Royal and Sunway all have souvenir shops.

Several smaller local shops sell silver, wood carvings, silks and curios. They tend to focus on more traditional souvenirs. There are a few clustered along Street 178 and Sothearos near the National Museum, and on Monivong near Phsar Thmey.

Offering contemporary as well as traditional items specialty boutiques and art galleries often have higher quality items and are more specialized and sometimes a more sophisticated selection. Several galleries and boutiques are scattered along Street 178 and 240, many focusing on contemporary Cambodian art, fine silks and sculptures, and Euro-Asian designs and fashions.

 

Central Market (Psah Thmei) 

This unique, art-deco building is a Phnom Penh landmark. Prior to 1935 the area was a swamp/lake that received the runoff during the rainy season. The lake was drained and the market constructed in 1935-37. Wet season flooding in the area around the market of the market is a vestige of the old lake. The entrance to the market is lined with souvenir merchants hawking everything from T-shirts and postcards to silver curios and kramas. Inside is a dazzling display of jewels and gold. Electronic goods, stationery, secondhand clothes and flowers are also in ample supply. (Phsar Thmei means ‘New Market’, but ‘Central Market’ has caught on in English.) 

Russian Market (Psah Toul Tom Poung)

Like the Central Market, it has a good selection of silver, gold and jewels, but also carries huge selection of curios, silks, carvings, etc. The Russian Market offers the largest selection of pirated VCDs, DVDs and CDs of all of the traditional markets. Most of the CD vendors are located on the south side near the southeast corner of the market.

It’s also a good place to buy fabric for business and casual cloths to take to the tailor, however Psar Orussei may be cheaper. Most of what the visitor might want is in the same general area on the south side but the rest of the market is well worth exploring. Food and drink stands in the middle of the market for hygienically adventurous visitors.

Orussei Market (Psar Orussei)

Psar Orussei is a real local market, and although it is right on the tourist strip near the Capitol Guesthouse, you can wander around in here for days without seeing a Westerner. A market with a focus on fresh produce and household items does not cater much to tourists.

Those interested in locally produced fabrics or stoneware, though, will find that prices here are significantly cheaper than those at the better known tourist markets. Seamstresses on the first floor will turn out copies of your favorite shirts and skirts in 24 hours from about $2USD an item plus fabric.

Old Market (Psar Char)

Old by name and very run down, this street market has been under threat of closure by the Phnom Penh City Council for at least the past five years.

The jewelry stores and fresh produce which you will find here can all be found in a myriad of other locations around the city. Still this place does rate a mention, if only for the food stalls at the southern end of the market that serve steaming bowls of rice with tasty chicken curry and other hearty stews for just USD0.40 a bowl.

Rumors abound that this might be the site of a future night market.

Middle Market (Psar Kandal)

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