Siem Reap Shopping Tips by AlbuqRay Top 5 Page for this destination

Angkor Trade Center: Air-Conditioned Indoor Shopping Center

The Angkor Trade Center is a small but modern air-conditioned mall with escalators, a supermarket, shops (clothing, cosmetics, perfumes, jewelry, souvenirs, accessories, electronic and IT products), beauty salon, and a food court (including The Pizza Company, Swensen's and a Blue Pumpkin). It is open 9 AM to 9 PM daily.

Directions: On Pokambor Avenue 1.5 blocks north of the Old Market Bridge

Phone: +(855) 63 766 666

Theme: Other

Phsar Chas (Old Market): Higher Prices for Tourists

I tried shopping at the Old Market a couple of times. Like any market you need to bargain. However, what I found was that the vendor's starting price was higher (once absurdly higher) than at the Old Market Annex (see another shopping tip) or in the market at Western Baray. This was true even though the souvenir selection was essentially the same in all three markets.

The example I give is the "ping pong paddle bird toy." In two Old Market booths (both facing Pokambor Avenue), the starting price was $3 and $20. I thought I had misunderstood the $20, so she punched it into her calculator. It was $20 but she lowered it to $15 right away. LOL, what a deal. The same toy in Tek's booth in the Annex started at $3 and I bought it for $2. A similar toy at the Western Baray market started at $2 and I paid $2. Hey, I needed two for my twin granddaughters. I did buy four "seys" (hack-a-sack with feathers) for $1 each at a booth near the north corner.

Directions: Essentially two blocks along Pokambor Avenue on the southeast side and one block deep. Hospital Street is the northeast side and Street 11 the southwest side. It is split into quarters by walking passages.

Theme: Local Craft

Tek's Booth in Old Market Annex: Reasonable Souvenir Prices

Tek has a booth inside the Old Market Annex (passage on northwest side). I had been looking for toys for my grandkids and had seen one I liked in the Old Market. It was like a ping pong paddle with moving chickens on top. One booth in the Old Market wanted $3.00. Another absurdly wanted $20.00 but would "give" it to me for $15.00 when I offered $1.00. Tek's price was $2.00 which is about right. It was Sunday when my guide, Penh Thai, and I stopped by her booth. The electricity was off in most of Siem Reap (scheduled maintenance), so she had only candles for light. It was hard to see but her selection was good and her prices were reasonable. I ended up buying several things. BTW, even Peng Thai bought something.

Directions: Inside the annex of the Old Market (northwest side) on Street 11 near Pokambor Avenue

Theme: Local Craft

Artisans d'Angkor: High Quality Souvenirs and Artwork

Artisans d'Angkor is the retail outlet for Les Chantiers Ecoles, a school that teaches wood and stone carving. Artists were one of the groups targeted and murdered by the Khmer Rouge. This school is helping to preserve the knowledge of those artists that survived for students that would not be able to afford such training otherwise. It is a good cause and the quality is high, but the artwork is really expensive. Many tour buses were there when I visited and the store was very crowded. It is definitely a place to go see since admission is free, but buying is another story.

Directions: In southwest Siem Reap about two blocks west of Sivatha Boulevard

Theme: Art