Fodor's Expert Review Russian Market

This popular covered market earned its nickname in the 1980s, when the wives and daughters of Russian diplomats would often cruise the stalls on the lookout for curios and antiques. Today the market has a good selection of Cambodian handicrafts and produce for sale. Wood carvings and furniture abound, as do "spirit houses" used for offerings of food, flowers, and incense. Colorful straw mats and hats, as well as baskets, are in high demand. The market is one of the city's best sources for art objects, including statues of the Buddha and Hindu gods; you can also buy old Indochinese coins and paper money printed during different periods of Cambodia's history—though note sometimes these are just replicas. A jumble of stalls concentrated at the market's south side sells DVDs, videos, and electronics. It's also a great place to buy overstock clothes from Cambodia's numerous garment factories at a fraction of their official retail price.