Trip to Siem Reap: The Night Market and The Pub Street

angkor wat, siem reap, cambodia

Cambodia is among the top destination of tourists in South East Asia. It's main attraction is the Angkor Wat in Siem Reap. We had a chance to visit this ancient place even for just half a day. Read on how our trip went...

We accompanied a friend, who was going home to the Philippines, to Siem Reap where her flight was departing from. A one way mini van ride from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap costs 10$ and the trip took 6-7 hours. We departed on a Saturday afternoon and got to Siem Reap at night. Surprisingly, Siem Reap is so so so cold and it was like 16 degrees celsius that night! It was freaking cold and it reminded me of my hometown back home.

Upon arrival at the bus station in Siem Reap, we were surprised a tuktuk (motor driven cart) was waiting for us with the driver holding up a paper with my name on it. Which is normal because the ticketing office we booked our trip with set it up. Given only a short weekend to be there, we just dropped into the Mekong Angkor Hotel to leave our stuff then rushed out for the night life.

It's ironic Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia but I find Siem Reap to be more beautiful and flocking with foreigners. Because it was the Christmas Season when we went there, Siem Reap night was colorful and bright. The streets are clean, too and there's still a lot of people around and about in each corner even until late at night. Shops, markets and establishments are still open. Unlike here in Phnom Penh, shops and stores close as early as 7pm, 5pm even sometimes. And most residents stay shut indoors after 8pm.

infront of the art center night market

colorful dating bridge infrom of the art center night market

Siem Reap is also known for it's Night Market and Pub Street, where travelers would never miss to go. We strolled around the Night Market and were marveled with all the souvenir goodies, clothes, items and other products only you can find in Cambodia.

art center night market

Beautifl lamp post along the night market

We bought some of their loose dress and pajamas with the traditional Cambodian prints and designs. Every people we meet and around us wore the same kind of clothes and it's like it has become uniform attire to every tourists coming in to Siem Reap.

with le friends

We met up with some of our friends and spent half of the night in the Pub Street. Pub Street is a must go when your in Siem Reap. As the name suggests, it's a street of pubs, clubs, coffee shops, restaurants, KTV and bars. 

the Pub Street

We went into this bar with a not so good live band, had dinner, a few bottle of drinks and a bunch of fun. Not really, my friends had fun but I was just in the corner trying to steal some sleep amidst all the loud noise around because my head was pounding.

Read my next blogpost for our temple visit in Angkor Wat.