Phnom Penh Russian Market (Toul Tom Poung Market)
The basics
The sights and sounds of the Russian Market can be overwhelming for first-time visitors; get your bearings and overcome the language barrier by exploring alongside a guide. Phnom Penh Russian Market (Toul Tom Poung Market) is a staple of PP sightseeing tours, which typically also cover the Royal Palace, the National Museum of Cambodia, and Wat Phnom. Thanks to its variety of street food, the market is a common feature of food tours.
Things to know before you go
- None of the market vendors accept credit cards so take plenty of cash in small denominations.
- Though the market is generally flat, narrow spaces and large crowds can make exploring with wheelchairs and strollers difficult.
- Haggling is both acceptable and expected at stalls in the market.
How to get there
Phnom Penh Russian Market (Toul Tom Poung Market) is three miles (five kilometers) from Wat Phnom on the corner of Streets 440 and 163. No public transport services the market so its best to arrive in a taxi or as part of a tour.
Trip ideas
When to get there
The market is open from early morning until early evening daily. To get a more authentic glimpse of local life, visit in the early morning when locals and vendors are at their most active.
Shopping for Bargains at the Russian Market
As factories for big-name Western brands such as Levi’s, Calvin Klein, and Ralph Lauren are located in Phnom Penh, the stock that’s deemed unfit to be shipped abroad due to some flaw is then sold at the Russian Market. Stick to the eastern side of the market for clothing; the northern side sells a utilitarian mix of tools and household goods, while the other two sides are a mixture of jewelry and watches, antiques and not-so-antiques, pirated videos, and various crafts.
- Phnom Penh Central Market (Phsar Thmey)
- Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21)
- Phnom Penh Independence Monument
- Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Monument
- Silver Pagoda (Wat Preah Keo)
- Royal Palace
- National Museum of Cambodia
- Wat Ounalom
- Kandal Market (Phsar Kandal)
- Sisowath Quay
- Choeung Ek Genocidal Center (Choeung Ek Killing Fields)
- Wat Phnom
- Silk Island (Koh Dach)
- Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center (PTWRC)