Kandal Market — Attraction in Siem Reap

A terrific local market with most of what you need to get by. If it's not there, it won't be far away, because the market stalls seem to seep into the neighbouring streets. You can get your shoes repaired and your hair cut - both at the same time if you like - at the roadside stalls between Psar Kandal and Wat Ounalom to the south. The streets to the east have plenty of shops with mobile phones and accessories, both new and used.

Psar Kandal proper has everything from clothes, hardware and homewares to fresh meat, fish, poultry, eggs, fruit, vegetables -- and a whole lot of curiously inexplicable artefacts in between! It helps if you can speak a little Khmer, but if you can't, the market is a fun place to learn.

I've nver had any dramas with scammers or outrageously high "foreigner prices" at Psar Kandal.

There are plenty of Khmer eateries along the west side of the market, although the fare inside the labyrinth is generally a bit cheaper. But the streetside stalls are already cheap, eg. fried rice and seafood is about $1.50 - $2. Walk through the market to the east and you're on the riverside with its Western-friendly bars and restaurants.

If you're looking for authentic Khmer market that is not as tourist- and souvenir-oriented as Psar Thmei (Central Market) or Tuol Tom Poung (Russian Market) or a market with local prices, then Psar Kandal is well...

Kandal Market is a genuine local market that is located in the center of Phnom Penh close to Riverside. The Khmer name of the market is Phsar Kandal which translates to “market in the middle” or “central market”, not to be confused with the “real” Central Market, Phsar Thmei. Kandal Market does not look like much from the outside but when you get further in it is relatively clean and fresh, even though the walkways are small and narrow. The Market is filled with goods like clothes, jewelry, shoes, bags but the majority of it is fresh food for the locals. The Market is open from early morning until late evening but some of the stalls inside the market...

For tourists that want to smell and see how the people of Phnom Penh buy their daily food, it must be a must. I see many developments in Phnom Penh the last decade, some are not so nice like the boom in reconstructing the city. If this will go on, I am afraid that this marked will disappear in future. So go and see and smell ;-) But go also inside the centre of the market. You will find some small street food restaurants and small shops where the beauties becomes even more beautiful. Its really unique. To work on your beauty, you can try. To eat something, I would not recommend due to food safety....