 Shopping in Sihanoukville
Sihanoukville does not offer shopping comparable to Phnom Penh or Siem Reap, but there are a few souvenirs and unique T-shirts to be had. With the exception of two or three convenience stores in town, the traditional markets are geared toward the locals, making them more interesting but also a bit more difficult to negotiate. There are a few local souvenirs available, including sea shells and sea shell sculptures, model boats, products from local NGOs, 'cool clothes', as well as trinkets from other parts of Cambodia. Ana Internet and Travel, Shell Shop and MASH all carry limited selections of souvenirs. CD World and the Boom Boom Room both offer reasonably priced music CDs. Boom Boom Room and Mick and Craig's offer cool clothing and accessories. Holy Cow, Starfish Café, Geckozy and other places carry products produced and marketed by disadvantaged women under the 'Mother Under the Tree,' Snardai project of the local NGO M'Lop Tapang.
One souvenir that is exclusive to Sihanoukville are scale model, handcrafted Cambodian fishing boats made by a local French shipwright. The models are highly detailed, wooden scale miniatures of the various types of Cambodian fishing boats used along Cambodia's southern coast. The boats are accurate copies of the actual fishing boats inside and out. Each model boat is a unique piece and is uniquely numbered. To purchase a boat contact Daniel on 012-826104. French, English and Khmer spoken.
Traditional Markets
Phsar Leu (Upper Market) When people refer to 'the market', they mean this one. There is a particularly good selection of fruit and flowers in the back section. Traveler's sundries such as shampoo, toothpaste, razors, etc. are available on the central aisle. Opens and closes with the sun. On 7 Makara near Omui.
The night market is made up mostly of noodle soup, sandwich, and fruit and drink stands. Sets up in the evening along Ekareach through the center of town and near Phsar Leu. Slowly shuts down from 1AM-4AM.
Convenience Stores
There are really only four shops specializing in imported foods and drinks.
Samudera Good stock of foreign foods, drinks, spirits, cigarettes, imports. Good business connections. Visa services. Air tickets. Foreign exchange. On 7 Makara. Open 7:00 - 20:00. Tel: 034-933441 Visa/MC
Shell Shop Cold drinks, beer, spirits, soda, canned good, soft drinks. Foreign exchange. Visa services. Boat/bus tickets. Sitting area with cable TV, snacks, hot dogs. Located is the Shell station in the center of town. Open 24 hours. Tel: 034-933882 Visa/MC
Sovann Phoum Beer, soft drinks, spirits, sundries, snacks. On Ekareach Street in the middle of town. 7:00AM - 11:00PM Tel: 034-9334780
Star Mart Caltex convenience store offering drinks, ice cream, chips, hot dogs, etc. Ekareach Street in the center of town. Open till midnight.
Bakeries
Like most of Indochina, local bread comes in the form of baguettes, freshly baked each evening. Bread is sold from sandwich carts and by 'bread boys' who roam the town calling "num-paan" and hawking baguettes from oversized baskets.
Aux Delices French bakery, restaurant, pizza. On Ekareach in the middle of downtown.
Starfish Bakery Cafe Excellent, fresh baked, western style breads and pastries. Rave reviews.
7 Jan Bread Shop Cambodian style baguettes and cakes. Next to the Phnom Meas Hotel on 7 Makara.
Sokha Beach Resort Freshly baked, finely prepared desserts, pastries, cakes, pies and more.
Photographic Shops
Not the highest quality film processing in Cambodia but it will do in a pinch. Fresh film, disposable cameras.
Ana Internet and Travel Digital camera to CD or print. On Ekareach St. 034-933596
CD World Digital camera to CD or print. Opposite Phsar Leu. 012-840455.Konica Photo Express Film processing, photocopies, film sales. Opposite Phsar Leu.
Lucky Web Digital camera to CD or print. Three locations: downtown opposite Bamboo Lights, Seaview Villa on 'Serendipity Beach', and on Weather Station Hill.
Books, Newspapers & Magazines
Mr. Heinz bookshop on Ekareach opposite the Caltex station downtown offers the largest selection of used books in town with over 5000 books in stock - buy, sell or trade. Casablanca at Mick & Craig's has a pretty good selection of Cambodia related titles, travel guides and fiction. Other places offering smaller selections of books include The Shell Shop, Starfish Bakery and Mash/Melting Pot. The Cambodia Daily and the Phnom Penh Post can usually be found at stands in front of Phsar Leu. Some guesthouses have the Bayon Pearnik.
What NOT to Buy
You may notice stands along the roads selling seashells and coral. The harvesting of coral and shells is destroying reefs, damaging the ocean environment and is illegal. Further, those shells are so shiny and beautiful because they contained living animals when they were collected - animals now dead to provide such perfect specimens. Please do not encourage this trade. |
