A shopping tour in Cambodia makes sense primarily as a complement to sightseeing and beach vacations. The main shopping destinations are in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Items like shirts made of natural silk, bronze Buddha statuettes, natural coffee, and silver are among the main souvenirs you can bring back from this country. While you can find almost everything in the markets, the quality of those items may vary.
Many people advise to bring stones, but it is difficult to buy real, genuine gems here, there is a great risk to meet even beautiful, but fakes. You will not find any special sales in Cambodia. There are not many stores and boutiques here. The conditional season of sales can be considered the end of summer in Cambodia, when there are not many tourists.
The markets typically open around 06:00 and close by 17:00, with the best time to visit being in the morning. By midday, most of the stalls are closed, often reopening only around 15:00-16:00. Large shopping centers and supermarkets operate from 08:00-09:00 to 20:00-21:00, while small private stores are open from 07:00-08:00 to 17:00-18:00, covering the period from dawn to the end of daylight hours.
In any case, when in Cambodia, consider bringing back silk and silk products, exploring jewelry options, and selecting wooden and wicker crafts from local artisans.
