Cambodia — Siem Reap Night Market, Cambodia

Not a real night market

September 2015

Siem Reap has a Night Market — or so it claims.

Photo by Author — Siem Reap Night Market, Cambodia
Photo by Author — Siem Reap Night Market, Cambodia

On the night I visited, I found it not to be a night market but a tourist market. It was more of a tourist trap than a market. I saw nothing on sale a local would buy — no food, no household goods etc. The market was full of tourist souvenirs such as T-shirts, paintings, watches (all genuine!), scarves and mementoes.

The market was covered and well-organised. It was not on the street.

Photo by Author — inside Siem Reap Night Market, Cambodia
Photo by Author — inside Siem Reap Night Market, Cambodia

The market was also very quiet, and I was one of a handful of tourists wandering around.

Photo by Author — inside Siem Reap Night Market, Cambodia
Photo by Author — inside Siem Reap Night Market, Cambodia
Photo by Author — watches on sale at Siem Reap Night Market, Cambodia
Photo by Author — watches on sale at Siem Reap Night Market, Cambodia
Photo by Author — paintings at Siem Reap Night Market, Cambodia
Photo by Author — paintings at Siem Reap Night Market, Cambodia
Photo by Author — more paintings at Siem Reap Night Market, Cambodia
Photo by Author — more paintings at Siem Reap Night Market, Cambodia
Photo by Author — more paintings at Siem Reap Night Market, Cambodia
Photo by Author — more paintings at Siem Reap Night Market, Cambodia
Photo by Author — more paintings at Siem Reap Night Market, Cambodia
Photo by Author — more paintings at Siem Reap Night Market, Cambodia
Photo by Author — and even more paintings at Siem Reap Night Market, Cambodia
Photo by Author — and even more paintings at Siem Reap Night Market, Cambodia
Photo by Author — tourist souvenirs at Siem Reap Night Market, Cambodia
Photo by Author — tourist souvenirs at Siem Reap Night Market, Cambodia
Photo by Author — carved mementoes Siem Reap Night Market, Cambodia
Photo by Author — carved mementoes Siem Reap Night Market, Cambodia
Photo by Author — tourist souvenirs at Siem Reap Night Market, Cambodia
Photo by Author — tourist souvenirs at Siem Reap Night Market, Cambodia
Photo by Author — scarves at Siem Reap Night Market, Cambodia
Photo by Author — scarves at Siem Reap Night Market, Cambodia

As with Pub Street, I had the same problem of ‘offers’ — tuk-tuks, drugs, “special massage”, and a “girl for the night?".

My advice on Siem Reap Night Market? Avoid it.

If you want a real market experience in Siem Reap, the best market to visit is the Old Market | Psar Chaa on the corner of Street 11 and Hospital Street.

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