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Latest Phnom Penh hotel reviews
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More commonly referred by foreigners as Russian market. It was where Russians shopped during the 1980s.
Best place in town for souvenirs and clothes shopping. It has a large range of real and fake antiquities, including miniature Buddhas, wood carvings, betel-nut boxes, silk, silver jewellery, musical instruments and so on. Bargain hard as thousands of tourists pass through here each month.
This is also the market where all the western clothing made in garment factories around Phnom Penh turns up. Popular brands include Gap, Colombia, Calvin Klein, Quicksilver, Aigle and Next but more are coming to Cambodia all the time.
Also available are inexpensive DVDs, CDs and computer programmes, as well as a host of other goodies. This is the one market all visitors should come to at least once during a trip to Phnom Penh.
What to buy: There is a good range of trousers, skirts, shirts, T-shirts, boxer shorts and shoes.
What to pay: All at around 10% of the price paid back home.
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Address: South of Mao Tse Toung Boulevard
Phone: Nil
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I really like the Russian Markets, though they can be very hot and stifling.
You can buy everything you can think of here and the best part is clothing is in western sizes. They also now have a huge selection of winter clothing, jackets, jeans etc.
This is the place to buy all your pirated software, movies and cds etc. They were all $2 a disc.
Wander in further and you will find all the material stalls, it’s a great selection and most of it is around $2 - $3 a metre. Go a bit further and you will find the tailors. I bought 6 metres of fabric for $8, and then paid $16 to have 2 dresses made. (Copied from a dress I took with me). Picked them up 3 days later and they were perfect!
My very favorite shop here is a jewellery shop called Mrs Muny's (she has a little stall opposite the small enclosed air-conditioned jewellery shop).
There’s no bargaining here, her prices are good to start with and she comes highly recommended from people who live in Phnom Penh.
I ended up having my ring made here and it’s beautiful, a thick gold band with 7 small diamonds set in it.
I paid US$250 for the ring (I have since had it valued at $1000 Australian.
I also bought a lovely blue topaz pendant for US$120 which has been valued at $300 Australian.
So I’m very happy with those purchases.
There’s also a great place to have an icy cold drink here, they make the best ice coffees and freshly squeezed orange juice in Phnom Penh.
The shop use to be inside at the back of the markets but has now moved to outside next to the small car park.
The Russian Markets now have armed security guards to keep the beggars etc away!
What to buy: DVD etc $2
Men’s Khmer Shirts $6
Ladies Khmer Shirts $3
T-Shirts (Diesel, Billabong etc) I bought 3 for $5
Scarves/Kramas $1
Wrap around skirt/pants $5
Jeans $5
Wooden Buddha (Large) $13
Large silk bedspreads/tablecloths $6
Angkor Watt Car Shades $3
Material $2 - $3 metre
Singlet’s $2.50
Click here for lots more shopping prices and photos including handbags.,
Updated Mar 19, 2011
This market has been known by its English name since 1980s, probably because there were many Russians and Russian goods alike then at this covered market. Here you'll lots of tourist buying gifts and souvenirs.
Probably the city's best source of objects d'art. Items for sale include wooden and stone carvings, various ritual objects, silverware, and old Indochinese notes and coins. There is a large range of antiquities and curios for those prepared to ferret around the various stalls and there are also gold and silversmiths inside the market who can be seen custom making jewelry. This too is a good source of both Cambodian and Chinese Silk and Clothes. This is one of the most popular markets in Phnom Penh with foreign residents and tourists who can spend many an interesting hour browsing before choosing the perfect gift.
What to pay: Backpack - USD15
Pouch - USD5
Little souveniers - USD1 onwards
Shoes - USD5
Written Mar 12, 2011
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It is touted to be P.P's busiest market and I can well believe it. One could spend a day here if you could stand the heat and bustle .No A/C here!
What to buy: There are lots of knockoff's and cheap cothes and some nice looking sandles .Too many for me to think about with my small carry-on .
There is also some wonderful silk and wood carvings here. I couldn't pass up the silk and wish now I had bought more. If time permitted there were tailors there waiting to fit you on the spot.
There's a section devoted to food . It looked good but at this stage I didn't think my stomach could handle it.
What to pay: Bargaining is expected and necessary.
Updated Feb 17, 2011
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The Russian Market is an old market from the communist era in 1980's, where you could buy mostly Russian things. Today the market is a big square a lot of small shops under the roof. The reputation of the market is a bit puffed up, but you can buy different things real cheap.
What to buy: You can buy clothes, shoes, silks, bags, local crafts, CD's, DVD's, games, etc.
Don't buy anything without bargaining!
Written Apr 2, 2009
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This market has a larger and more varied selection of souvenirs, curios and silks than the Central Market. It has a good selection of silver, gold and jewels, but also carries huge selection of curios, silks, carvings, etc and offers the largest selection of bootlegged VCDs, DVDs and CDs of all of the traditional markets. It’s also a good place to buy fabric for business and casual cloths to take to the tailor.
What to pay: Whatever you can barter.
Written May 19, 2008
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Russian Market is not as interesting architecturally as the Central Market but it's main attraction would be the whole array of things made of silk - from party dresses, robes, bags.
Best of all, they're cheap and of good quality, even cheaper than those found in the markets of Ho Chi Minh.
They sell food items too but I didn't go to that part of the market. We bought 5 silk robes and that's enough for me to carry and put in the tuktuk.
What to buy: Silk robe - $5-14
Wooden business card holder and compact mirror - $ 1-2
What to pay: Cheaper than those in Central Market
Updated Jul 30, 2007
After reading Lonely Planet's review, we were quite excited. But besides limited quality of poor fake clothing, stuff only for interest for locals, dvd shops, there were only a few places you could buy souvenirs. Taking that into account and not comparing it with markets e.g. in Bangkok or Bali, you will enjoy.
Updated Jul 30, 2007
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The russian market is a great place to get your souveniers, also they have a great selection of knockoff books, so you dont have to give in to all the kids beggining you to buy from me!!!you can get really good DVDs there too, for 3 for $5. Make sure to ask if they are good...they will tell you the truth, be careful of the very new releases, they have a better chance of not working, when in doubt, most places that sell them have DVD players...ask them to play them for you to see if they work before you buy!
What to buy: Dvds, knock-off travel books , gifts to bring home, cheap backpacks
What to pay: $3-5 for books, DVDS 3 for $5
Updated Mar 11, 2007
Address: Russian market, in the center of town
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Not some olden Tsarist market, but the place where the foreign envoys shopped in the 1980s when aid was pouring in to the country from the Soviets, this is a rather claustrophobic market resembling a large lock-up garage.
Inside, its dimly lit corridors and passageways are crammed full of antiques and jewellery, both genuine and fake. You will also find lots of clothing, apparently shipped out the back door of the incredibly employee-focused factories where all the popular western brands are made, and not by 10 year olds, oh no!
Written Feb 22, 2007
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Russian Market tips and photos posted by real travelers and Phnom Penh locals.
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