PHNOM PENH MARKETS WALKING TOUR

 If Phnom Penh remains the obligatory passage for travelers visiting Cambodia who wish to go to the different provinces, once they have toured major tourist attractions such as the Royal Palace and the National Museum, once made a pilgrimage to the places Witnessing the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge regime, all that remains is to stroll through the streets, sometimes noisy and increasingly crowded, to soak up local life and the daily life of the inhabitants of the capital. The markets, activity and entertainment centers that provide food and basic products for the almost three million Phnom Penhois daily represent a good familiarization ground where it is not impossible to do some good deals!

CENTRAL MARKET OR PHSAR THOM THMEY

Phnom Penh Central Market

The emblematic Central Market, a magnificent art deco building designed and built in 1937 by the architect Chauchon of the Indochinese company of studies and construction of Saigon and whose renovation orchestrated by France and AFD was completed in 2011, has regained its former splendor, while benefiting from notable improvements in terms of layout and cleanliness of sales areas (especially throughout the food section), toilets, etc.

Under the dome, jewels and precious stones shine under the neon lights that sellers never fail to light as potential buyers pass by. There are also a number of stalls offering clothing and other hardware products. Outside, in the main alley, souvenirs are offered to tourists who are sure to be hailed. All around the market, there is a succession of flower vendors, food stands where you can have a quick meal, a traditional market, with market garden products, butcher's and fish.

This market is renowned for offering the best seafood in the city - and moreover, is positioned among the most expensive markets in Phnom Penh. You will find a whole area offering succulent fish, crustaceans and shellfish straight from the coast.

RUSSIAN MARKET OR PHSAR TOUL TOM POUNG

The Russian market is an almost compulsory passage for visitors passing through Phnom Penh. This market, located in the south of the city, near the Toul Tom Poung pagoda, is indeed the place where you can find many souvenirs at interesting prices, as long as you manage to negotiate well ... The negociation ! Crowds of souvenirs, however, are imported from neighboring countries, Thailand or Vietnam, and it will be necessary to have a well-trained eye to spot products made in Cambodia ... among the pile of trinkets and objects offered for sale.

The market offers a wide choice of clothing often from local manufacturers, for unbeatable prices. Inside the tailors market will be able to make clothes, curtains or even household linen in a few days and for very low sums. In recent years, shops have settled around, there are some brands that are sold abroad for good prices.

Souvenirs and clothes certainly attract tourists, but the Russian market remains a lively place, also offering the products that can be found in all the markets of the city, market garden products, tools, hardware stores and food stalls, which allow working people around having breakfast or lunch for a few thousand riel.

At the end of the afternoon, a little before the market closes, food stalls set up outside the market, on the west side. Bobor Moan - chicken rice porridge, Cambodian sweets, eggs and other snacks will be sold until around 10 p.m.
On the north side, outside, there are fruits, vegetables, fish and meat stalls for sale in the evening. Purchases are made without getting off the motorcycle, which causes some excitement, to say the least backfire!
 

O'RUSSEY MARKET