What souvenirs to buy in Cambodia? — 11+ best gifts & best souvenirs from Cambodia

When coming to a new land, any visitor, especially foreign tourists, want to get typical and signature gifts of the destination as souvenirs of their trip or gifts for friends. Traveling to Cambodia, almost foreign travelers are very interested in souvenirs and people’s daily life here. Let us introduce to you meaningful Cambodian souvenirs that are loved by almost all visitors. We hope this article will help you choose the most suitable gifts to bring back.

So, what to buy in Cambodia and what souvenirs to buy in Cambodia? Let’s check out our suggested 11+ must buy in Cambodia, best gifts from Cambodia, best souvenirs from Cambodia and best things to buy in Cambodia as follows!

Cambodian Silk (# what souvenirs to buy in cambodia)

Cambodia has a rich history of silk weaving, with evidence found on some of the inscriptions that adorn the walls of Angkor Wat temple. Made by people using traditional handmade methods. You can buy silk at markets or go to Koh Dach island, 15km from the capital Phnom Penh – a place known as the paradise of silk. Here you can witness with your own eyes the process of weaving a silk product with many unique and sophisticated motifs and patterns as well as choose to buy a suitable souvenir for yourself from this island.

Recycled bags (# best souvenirs from cambodia)

Trash is an issue globally, and in Cambodia it is no different – tourists are encouraged not to use unnecessary plastic bags on their travels. Thankfully, there is a team of NGOs and organizations that utilize underprivileged communities to convert trash into a collection of wallets, bags, purses, passport holders and other interesting accessories.

Arts (# best gifts from cambodia)

Investing in art will never disappoint you anywhere, and it’s the same in Cambodia. In Phnom Penh, the stretch of Road 172 between Monivong Boulevard and Sothearos Boulevard is home to many art shops and galleries. While the majority sell traditional landscape paintings depicting resplendent scenes of Angkor Wat or the pristine Cambodian countryside, a growing number of galleries are popping up displaying an exciting range of works from the country’s emerging modernity.

Stone and wood carvings

Cambodia has a rich history of carving, both in wood and stone. Just look at Angkor Wat and other ancient temples where intricate carvings decorate the walls, visitors can see carvers across the country handling over blocks of wood and stone as they carve and create beautiful works of art from these materials. Therefore, when you come to this kingdom, you should bag these works of art to display in your home.

Kampot pepper

You can’t leave Cambodia without a bag of Cambodian pepper in your suitcase. Used by top chefs in kitchens around the world, premium pepper is grown organically in Kampot – where the soil is super fertile – with green, black, white and red varieties. As the popularity of peppers has increased, there has also been an increase in the sale of fake Cambodian pepper, so be careful when buying it. The best way to make sure it’s a real deal is to go straight to the source and visit one of the many farms found in Kampot and Kep provinces.

Palm sugar

The Cambodian countryside is covered with sugar palm trees – they are so common that they are the country’s national tree. To collect produce, men climb tree trunks to cut fruit from the tree tops. The sap is then extracted and heated in a large metal pot until it turns into a thick paste, which is then left to solidify into palm sugar blocks; It is then used like sugar, or turned into a variety of other items. Confirel (Address: 138 Bis, 110, Prey Chisak, Chom Chao, Por Sen Chey, Phnom Penh, Cambodia) is one of the Cambodian companies that has sweetened ingredients, also creating candles and wine from these palms.

Krama

If you’re looking for something quintessentially Khmer, look no further than Krama (khmer scarf – a symbol of national identity in Cambodia). They can be found everywhere throughout the country, this cotton or silk scarf is traditionally red and white, with many other modern versions available today. You can find krama at every corner in this country with an affordable price.

Jewelery

Silver jewelry is especially popular in Cambodia, Angkor Bullet jewelry is one such example. Made up of a group of disabled Cambodians called AMMO Jewelry Design (Address: CRAFT ALLEY, Wat Bo Road, Siemreab Siem reap, 17254, Cambodia/Hours: 9 AM–5 PM; Saturday, Sunday: 1–4 PM) who living on the outskirts of Siem Reap, they create unique jewelry crafted from recycled bomb casings left over from the war. They design rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings and other accessories.

Silverware (# best souvenirs from cambodia)

From large plates with intricate designs to a variety of ornate boxes, ornaments and other trinkets, this is another great souvenir to pack in your suitcase before leaving Cambodia.

Lacquerware

The ancient art of lacquer is another perfect piece of Cambodian art. The Cambodian artisans are creating a range of stunning works that seamlessly combine traditional techniques with modern designs. They range from decorative lacquer boxes and Buddha statues to bowls and ornaments. Тheam’s Gallery (Address: Veal Village, Phum Kokchack district, 50m on the right of, Street 30, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia/Hours: 8 AM–5 PM) in Siem Reap has a range of lacquer products for sale, as well as a workshop that visitors can walk around to see the process firsthand.

In addition to above souvenirs, you can also buy more meaningful gifts such as keychains, wind cure oils, rainbow coconut bowls, Buddha statues, foods (dried snake, dried beef jerky, dried snakehead fish, dried seafood, dried insects), fresh fruits (salak – snake fruit, durian)…

Read more: What to buy in Cambodia? — 29+ best souvenirs from Cambodia & best things to buy in Cambodia

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in and from Phnom Penh you can refer to

• Shared Bus Transfers from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh, Kampot, or Kep by Giant Ibis
• Phnom Penh Airport Transfers (PNH) for Phnom Penh
• Shared Bus Transfers between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville by Giant Ibis
• Private City Transfers between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh
• Shared Bus Transfers from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh by Mekong Express Bus Limousine
• Shared Bus Transfer between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh by Giant Ibis
• Private Phnom Penh International Airport Transfers (PNH) for Phnom Penh
• Phnom Penh City Day Tour
• Phnom Penh Half Day City Trip with Shared Van
• Phnom Penh Half Day Cycling Tour
• Hidden Phnom Penh City Tour
• Phnom Penh Heritage Tour
• Phnom Penh Past and Present Half Day Tour

Read more: Phnom Penh shopping — Top 8 best shops, markets & shopping malls in Phnom Penh you must visit.