Shopping · Siem Reap · Cambodia
Shopping in Siem Reap
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Peazapata, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Shopping runs from bargaining at the Old Market and night markets to fixed-price boutiques in Kandal Village and social enterprises that train young artisans. Silk, krama scarves, Kampot pepper and carvings are the main buys. Best souvenirs: Cambodian silk, Krama and Kampot pepper.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 3
- Markets
- 3
- Top souvenir
- Cambodian silk
Where to shop
Kandal Village (Hup Guan Street)
Design boutiques selling Cambodian-made clothing, homeware and jewellery, plus cafés.
Artisans Angkor
Fixed-price stone and wood carvings, lacquerware and silk made in its own workshops near the Old Market.
Pub Street and Old Market lanes
Souvenir shops, bookshops and boutiques around the market, open late.
Markets
Psar Chas (Old Market)
Silk, krama, silver and spices in the outer stalls, local food stalls inside; bargaining expected.
Angkor Night Market
Evening market off Sivatha Boulevard with souvenir stalls, massage huts and bars.
Phsar Leu
The main local market east of the centre, for fresh food, household goods and a non-touristy atmosphere.
What to buy
Cambodian silk
Scarves and fabric woven from Cambodian golden silk; buy from workshops if you want to be sure it was made locally.
Krama
The checked cotton scarf used by Cambodians as a sunshade, towel and wrap; inexpensive and useful at the temples.
Kampot pepper
Black, red and white pepper from Cambodia's south coast, sold in sealed bags and gift boxes.
Palm sugar
Blocks or packets of local palm sugar from the stalls on the road to Banteay Srei.
Stone and wood carvings
Apsara figures and Buddha heads; check export rules for anything that looks antique.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Market · Old Market and Pub Street
Old Market (Psar Chas)
Siem Reap's old covered market by the river sells everything from krama scarves, silk and silver to dried fish, spices and Kampot pepper.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
Experience · Old Market and Pub Street
Artisans Angkor
A training enterprise near the Old Market where young Cambodians learn traditional stone and wood carving, lacquerware, silver plating and silk painting.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Rainy day
- Shopping
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Bamboo sticky rice, Palm sugar sweets and Cambodian iced coffee. Roadside stalls in the countryside around Siem Reap, including the roads out towards Banteay Srei and the Tonle Sap. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Old Market and Pub Street | $$ | The tourist core: Psar Chas market, bar-lined Pub Street and dozens of Khmer restaurants |
| Kandal Village | $$$ | Hup Guan Street's design shops, cafés and boutique hotels, a few minutes from the Old Market |
| Wat Bo | $$ | Guesthouses, pool hotels and local restaurants east of the river around Wat Bo pagoda |
| Royal Gardens and Riverside | $$$$ | Colonial-era hotels, the Royal Residence and shady gardens along the Siem Reap River |
| Road to Angkor (Charles de Gaulle Boulevard) | $$$ | Large resort hotels with big pools on the avenue leading to the temples |
| Sok San Road | $ | Hostels, cheap guesthouses and late bars west of Sivatha Boulevard |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in KHR. Tipping is not traditional but has become common in tourism. A dollar or two for good restaurant service is appreciated; tuk-tuk drivers and guides who spend a full day with you are usually tipped a few dollars more.
- Avoid giving money or sweets to children selling souvenirs, and do not visit orphanages as a tourist activity; child-protection groups advise against both.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in September; the busiest months are December–January.
- September: Pchum Ben — 15-day festival honouring ancestors, with busy pagodas (September or October)
- November: Water Festival (Bon Om Touk) — boat races on the Siem Reap River (usually October or November)
Staying near the shops
$$$ · Best for couples, shopping and food lovers
Kandal Village
Hup Guan Street's design shops, cafés and boutique hotels, a few minutes from the Old Market
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Siem Reap?
Cambodian silk, Krama, Kampot pepper and Palm sugar.
+Where is the best shopping in Siem Reap?
Kandal Village (Hup Guan Street): Design boutiques selling Cambodian-made clothing, homeware and jewellery, plus cafés.
+What are the best markets in Siem Reap?
Psar Chas (Old Market), Angkor Night Market and Phsar Leu.