Central Market and Russian Market: What to Buy

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Phnom Penh’s two best-known markets, the Central Market and the Russian Market, sit on opposite ends of the shopping spectrum — one an architectural landmark with jewelry and electronics, the other a sprawling, chaotic source of clothing and souvenirs.

Central Market (Psar Thmei)

A distinctive yellow Art Deco building from the 1930s, instantly recognizable by its central dome, housing jewelry, watches, electronics, and clothing vendors arranged in a cross-shaped layout. It’s as much an architectural sight as a shopping destination.

Russian Market (Psar Toul Tom Poung)

Named for the Russian expats who shopped here in the 1980s, this market is denser and less polished than the Central Market, known for clothing (including overrun and factory-second brand-name items, given Cambodia’s garment manufacturing industry), souvenirs, and a strong food stall section.

Bargaining

Bargaining is expected at both markets — starting around 40-50% below the asking price and settling in the middle is standard practice, the same as at Siem Reap’s markets.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the difference between the Central Market and Russian Market?

Central Market is a landmark Art Deco building known for jewelry and electronics; the Russian Market is denser and better for clothing, souvenirs, and street food.

Can I find brand-name clothing at the Russian Market?

Yes — overrun and factory-second items from Cambodia’s garment manufacturing industry are a well-known feature of the market.

Should I bargain at Phnom Penh’s markets?

Yes, it’s standard practice at both markets — starting well below the asking price and meeting in the middle.

Related guides

• Things to Do in Phnom Penh Beyond the History Sites
• Phnom Penh Nightlife Guide
• Day Trips from Phnom Penh: Oudong, Koh Dach and Beyond
• Phnom Penh Food Guide: Where and What to Eat
• Phnom Penh Riverside: What to Do Along Sisowath Quay

Central Market: what to buy

Central Market (Phsar Thmei), housed in its landmark yellow Art Deco dome, is the more tourist-accessible of the two — the outer wings sell clothing, souvenirs, and silverware, while the central hall has jewelry and watch vendors. Prices here start higher than Russian Market and bargaining is expected; aim to negotiate down 30-40% from the initial asking price on souvenirs and clothing.

Russian Market: better prices, more character

Russian Market (Psar Toul Tom Poung) earned its name from the Russian expats who shopped here in the 1980s, and it remains the go-to spot for genuine bargains — knockoff and overrun brand-name clothing, silk scarves, carved wooden crafts, and secondhand books are all sold at noticeably lower prices than Central Market. The market is a warren of narrow, hot, poorly-ventilated aisles, so mornings before 10am are far more comfortable than midday.

Bargaining tips that actually work

Start by offering roughly half the vendor’s first quoted price and expect to settle somewhere in the middle — a friendly, unhurried attitude gets better results than an aggressive one, since many vendors will simply hold firm if they sense a tourist is in a rush. Buying multiple items from the same stall often unlocks a better combined price than negotiating each item separately, and it’s fine to walk away if a price doesn’t feel right; vendors frequently call out a lower offer as you leave.

Getting there and best visiting hours

Central Market sits right in the city center and is walkable from most riverside hotels, while Russian Market is further south and usually reached by tuk-tuk ($2-3 each way). Both are busiest and hottest around midday — arriving before 9am or after 4pm makes for a far more comfortable browsing experience, especially at Russian Market’s cramped, poorly ventilated aisles.

Beyond shopping: food stalls worth a stop

Both markets have food sections serving cheap, authentic dishes for $1-3 alongside the shopping stalls — a good way to try local food in a low-pressure setting where portion sizes and prices are aimed at regular local customers rather than tourists.

Shipping larger purchases home

Both markets have vendors experienced in packing and shipping larger items like wood carvings or textiles internationally, though costs and reliability vary by vendor — get a specific shipping quote before committing to a large purchase, and consider that smaller, lighter items (scarves, small carvings) are simpler to just pack in your own luggage rather than dealing with international shipping logistics.

A note on authenticity claims

Some vendors describe items as antiques or genuine ancient artifacts; treat these claims with skepticism, since genuine antiquities are both rare in casual market settings and, more importantly, illegal to export from Cambodia without proper documentation — anything sold cheaply as an “antique” at a market stall is almost certainly a reproduction, which is fine to buy as a reproduction but shouldn’t be trusted as a genuine historical item.

How these markets fit into a broader Phnom Penh shopping trip

Beyond Central and Russian Markets, a handful of smaller specialty shops around BKK1 sell higher-end, fixed-price Cambodian design goods — textiles, ceramics, and home decor — for travelers who prefer set pricing over market bargaining; worth a stop if the negotiation-heavy market experience isn’t your preference, even at a moderate price premium over what you might negotiate down to at the markets themselves.

A practical note on carrying cash for market shopping

Vendors at both markets deal almost exclusively in cash, and while USD is widely accepted, having a mix of small-denomination USD and Cambodian riel makes both the transaction and any change-giving smoother — riel is the more practical currency for amounts under a dollar, which come up often given how cheap many individual items are.

A final note on realistic time budgeting

Plan for at least 90 minutes at Russian Market alone if you intend to browse thoroughly rather than just pass through, since its maze-like layout and sheer density of stalls take longer to navigate than first-time visitors typically expect — rushing through either market tends to produce buyer’s remorse rather than satisfying purchases.

Whichever market you prioritize, going with a specific shopping goal in mind — silk scarves, a particular souvenir, or simply an hour of people-watching and snacking — tends to produce a more satisfying visit than wandering without any plan through either market’s genuinely overwhelming density of stalls.

Both markets remain worth visiting even if shopping isn’t a primary travel interest, simply as an immersive slice of everyday Phnom Penh commerce that few other single stops in the city can match.