Locals call the Russian Market “Psar Tuol Tom Pong,” and it offers a vibrant, bustling shopping experience in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
A walkthrough the Russian Market in Phnom Penh
Shopping in Psar Tuol Tom Pong, The Russian Market in Phnom Penh – Housed in a sprawling mall-like space, this is the place to come if you want to lose your legion of adoring tuk-tuk fans. It is a complete maze selling everything you can think of.
Haggling at the market requires peering over mounds and mounds of clothing and quality kramas (chequered silk scarf worn around the necks, shoulders and waists of nearly every Khmer). Locals often call it the Russian Market (Psar O Russei) because, back in the 1980s, Russian shoppers preferred it as their go-to retail outlet. It is the best place for souvenir T-shirts, Old CDs, DVDs and miniature carvings.
It’s however, fun and free wander the stalls and see what each vendor has to sell. It’s a haven for supposed designer purses and high end electronics of somehow, but it’s still evident that the products just aren’t the same as the real deal. Bargain works well, its just depending on your negotiating skill.
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Why’s called “Russian Market”
Back in communist time and the name “Psar o Russei” is what Khmer started to call due to the fact fact that a big number of Russian lived around the market and many of Moscow’s communist era goods and products were stocked up here. Additionally, this once a little street side market, the Psar Tuol Tom Pong, was just one of the Phnom Penh’s many market where locals go for shopping, however, the name Russian Market gained popularity among Soviet who lived in Phnom Penh back in early 1980s.
And then, it’s slowly its popularity and become a regular on the Phnom Penh things to do. The covered market place is a huge complex of busy corridors dedicated to a one top place for all your souvenir shopping.
Then what is Psar Tuol Tom Pong?
That’s how Khmer call it, if you ask the locals, they may not familiar with the term Russian market, so, it is good to learn the local name.
This must go for shopping market in the heart of the Phnom Penh Capital of Cambodia offer everything a tourist would want to buy as a gift or something to remember Cambodia. There are discounted copy-brand t-shirts and clothes everywhere. Try to visit the Russian market around the late after time as it is less crowded and tour buses are not around.
Explore the Russian market of Phnom Penh
The market is include a series of stalls that sell fancy, high quality silk clothing and anything related to this, stone and wooden artifacts for home decoration, pottery and a whole range of other handcrafted items, all made in Cambodia. The market is huge and you’ll need at least an hour or more to navigate through different section.
What to buy at the market?
Tourists can buy anything from anywhere, this sweltering market is the one place for all visitors, you should come to at least once during a stay to Phnom Penh. It is the place to shop for souvenirs and discounted Western name-brand clothing. We can’t vouch for the authenticity of everything, but along with plenty of knock-offs you will find genuine products stitched in local factories. You’ll pay as little as 10% of the price you’ll pay back home in US or Europe, for brands like Banana Republic, Billabong, Calvin Klein, Colombia, Gap, North Face, and Next.
Things to buy at the market – so-called by foreigners because the predominantly Russian expat population shopped here in the 1980s – also has a large range of handicrafts and antiquities (many fake), including miniature Buddhas, woodcarvings, betel-nut boxes, silks, silver jewellery, musical instruments, Communist era posters and many more.
Highlights of the Russian Market
The market includes nearly 400 shops and stalls and forms an antique labyrinth. Within this setting, one may acquire a range of items, including gongs, ancient bronze Buddha statues from Cambodia and Laos, pottery, statues of the Indra Elephant, bas-reliefs of the Apsara, as well as vintage weapons from Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
Numerous traders visit the Phnom Penh’s market to acquire rare goods for collection or resale, as certain antiques found there are exceptionally difficult to obtain elsewhere in the world. Furthermore, the market features sidewalk stalls that display a large number of Buddha sculptures along with statues of deities’ heads, as described in local mythology.
The market offers a range of other distinctive items, including functional tools, paper money, oil lamps, and antique clocks. These goods undoubtedly offers tourists a unique and memorable shopping experiences. Alongside antiques, gold- or silver-plated jewellery, silk, and traditional Cambodian souvenirs are also highly sought after.
Photos of the market
A walkthrough video of teh market
Map location of teh Russian market
- Location Address: Corner of, St. 163, St 440, Phnom Penh 12310, Cambodia
- GPS Coordinates: 104º54’52.73″ E, 11º32’25.44″ N
Area map of the market
The market caleld by so many different name among locals, Phsar tuol tompong, tuol tompoung market, or few others. The famous market is located in the center of Phnom Penh, accessible by walk from your hotel, yo can also take a metered taxi and or Tuk-Tuk, but remember to negotiate the ride haul price.
- Here is the printable map
