Cambodia's central market relaunches after makeover

Robert Carmichael

Last Updated: Wed, 25 May 2011 13:20:00 +1000

Cambodia's iconic Central Market, or Psah Thmay, in Phnom Penh is being reinaugurated on Wednesday after seven years of renovations.

This is the first time the market has been renovated since it was built in 1937, when the country was under French colonial rule.

The French Development Agency's Eric Beugnot Radio Australia's Connect Asia program the building is seen as an important economic hub for the people of Phnom Penh.

"There are more than 3,000 merchants in this market. It is a central place and it is important to recreate as some economic environment to stimulate the economy in the centre of this town, this capital," he said.

"And then have some side effects with tourism, as tourism is one of the four pillars of economic development of Cambodia."

The Central Market sells a vast array of products - from fruit and vegetables to meat and rice, clothes, pirated DVDs, books, stationery, electronics, and tourist trinkets.

Mr Beugnot says the market was renovated in stages.

He says a key challenge for the $US6 million project was to convince the stallholders that they would get their stall space back once work was finished.

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/03Cs59Z1LJ4BK/610x.jpg

An elegant dome is seen atop French style Centeral Market "Phsar Thom Thmei" as it reopens Wednesday, May 25, 2011, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, after seven years of renovations. Central Market is a large market constructed in 1937 in the shape of a dome with four arms branching out into vast hallways with countless stalls of goods.

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/03Cs59Z1LJ4BK/610x.jpg

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0g5T22B4sY4Pe/610x.jpg

A vendor with a child waits for customers at her silver shop at French style Central Market "Phsar Thom Thmei" as it reopens Wednesday, May 25, 2011, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia after seven years of renovations. Central Market is a large market constructed in 1937 in the shape of a dome with four arms branching out into vast hallways with countless stalls of goods.

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0g5T22B4sY4Pe/610x.jpg

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0efu12KfGx4Tg/610x.jpg

Shoppers choose scarves at a store in French style Central Market "Phsar Thom Thmei" as it reopens Wednesday, May 25, 2011, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia after seven years of renovations. Central Market is a large market constructed in 1937 in the shape of a dome with four arms branching out into vast hallways with countless stalls of goods.

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0efu12KfGx4Tg/610x.jpg

Cambodia's central market relaunches after makeover

Robert Carmichael

Last Updated: Wed, 25 May 2011 13:20:00 +1000

Cambodia's iconic Central Market, or Psah Thmay, in Phnom Penh is being reinaugurated on Wednesday after seven years of renovations.



So what exactly changed? After seven years?



This is the first time the market has been renovated since it was built in 1937, when the country was under French colonial rule.



How long did it take the French to build this at the first place.

He says a key challenge for the $US6 million project was to convince the stallholders that they would get their stall space back once work was finished.

So did all of them get the stall back, I recalled news related to this, I think last year.

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/03Cs59Z1LJ4BK/610x.jpg

An elegant dome is seen atop French style Centeral Market "Phsar Thom Thmei" as it reopens Wednesday, May 25, 2011, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, after seven years of renovations. Central Market is a large market constructed in 1937 in the shape of a dome with four arms branching out into vast hallways with countless stalls of goods.

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/03Cs59Z1LJ4BK/610x.jpg

THe black roof of the extension doesn't looks good, the green and blue that join the main building and the sorrounding looks terrible, both on top and under.

THe black roof of the extension doesn't looks good, the green and blue that join the main building and the sorrounding looks terrible, both on top and under.

I agree. I hope they paint the black roofing to match the rest of the building.

The green areas on top of the building look like construction mesh. I think they will take that off eventually.

So what exactly changed? After seven years?
How long did it take the French to build this at the first place.

So did all of them get the stall back, I recalled news related to this, I think last year.

Yes I agree it takes such a long time to rebuild the market
Some of the stall owners get a not so well-position stall in return

Good thing is the number of stalls increased at least 30% after the market rebuild :)

I agree. I hope they paint the black roofing to match the rest of the building.

The green areas on top of the building look like construction mesh. I think they will take that off eventually.

The green mesh allow sunlight to comes in, yet, blocks the harmful sun, but it does not block rain, the place is restore as new, but will get very dam and dirty in the rain season,

I hate walking into shops that are wet.

Good thing is the number of stalls increased at least 30% after the market rebuild :)

That is strange, the internal area is not getting any bigger?

That's a shame they increased the number of stalls. I was hoping for a reduction in the number of stalls and the restoration of the garden out the front:

http://cambodiamuseum.info/image/information_visitors/images/phsar_thmey_big.jpg

That's a shame they increased the number of stalls. I was hoping for a reduction in the number of stalls and the restoration of the garden out the front:

http://cambodiamuseum.info/image/information_visitors/images/phsar_thmey_big.jpg

this looks heaps better, 7 years of work and it turn an icon into a stupid looking place.

That is strange, the internal area is not getting any bigger?

I am not exactly sure, that's what someone told me. Referring to the newspaper there are 3000 vendors inside the market.

^^ that will include everything outside the complex, compareing the 2 pictures above, it is getting bigger, not the architectual compelx itself, but the area outside.

If it has more stall, then each stalls must be getting smaller.

I have no idea if each stalls are getting smaller

Everything is re-arranged after renovation, it may end up being more organised than before

I have no idea if each stalls are getting smaller

Everything is re-arranged after renovation, it may end up being more organised than before

The middle has lots of open spaces, the wing is fairly packed like other markets.

For me, it's much better then before because this market now very clean and tidy.

When I say it looks ugly from under, this is what I mean,

http://img863.imageshack.us/img863/5264/290520115784.jpg

http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/3369/290520115797.jpg

http://img848.imageshack.us/img848/5672/290520115798.jpg

Remember, this is not Psar Russie, Psar Depo, this is meant to be a reasonly renovated Psar.

this part looks alright (referring to the ceiling feature, not the stalls), but maybe should have used a glass ceiling of some sort, so it is rain proof.

http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/505/290520115785.jpg

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/8823/290520115786.jpg

When I say it looks ugly from under, this is what I mean,

http://img863.imageshack.us/img863/5264/290520115784.jpg

http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/3369/290520115797.jpg

http://img848.imageshack.us/img848/5672/290520115798.jpg

Remember, this is not Psar Russie, Psar Depo, this is meant to be a reasonly renovated Psar.

^^Damn.. that thing is ugly!

It's really not perfect but not bad, only the west side look a bit ugly due to this side food store, fish, fruit....and maybe have some bad smell too...

something you don't normally see in Phnom Penh, a decent garbage disposal facility

http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/3347/010620115827.jpg

all those beach umberra around the area also makes the places looks like a old market.

http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/6578/010620115822.jpg

Inside the market, still looks beautiful as the original!!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3325/5745569685_6b0e7c7722_b.jpg
Photo by lightmeister

Thekh is back with nice photo again, thanks!

anyone got original photos of the inside, before the renovation, or b&w photos soon after it was built.

anyone got original photos of the inside, before the renovation, or b&w photos soon after it was built.

Here(2007)!

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1216/1092619944_71437293e9_o.jpg

so what else has change inside, besides adding some light fittings, fans, and security cameras?

and this is a 2007 pictures, wasn't renovation 7 years, as stated in an earlier post.

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/9045/psarthemi03.jpg

anyone got original photos of the inside, before the renovation, or b&w photos soon after it was built.

The construction started from the outside(the front side) first then inside the dome and later on round the market! but people were still selling stuffs in the area that no construction.

http://theharvestisplentiful.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/april-2009-025.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xe_4UwSJDAQ/Stljf6HkUXI/AAAAAAAAAAk/UAe_YXKrc4U/s320/Psah+Thmei.jpg
An old picture from when it was first built.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xe_4UwSJDAQ/StljhWctS0I/AAAAAAAAAA8/FQu3etzGAtQ/s1600/PhotoAeriennePPHlB.jpg
This aerial shot shows an empty site just before construction began.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xe_4UwSJDAQ/Stljg7kXu5I/AAAAAAAAAA0/ldjI1yDa3iE/s1600/aerialcity-copyweb%2B(1).jpg
a nice old shot, you can see there was little development on Monivong or to the west then, I think this is from 1941.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xe_4UwSJDAQ/Stlku_aRJxI/AAAAAAAAABM/o7NvdqDXy_s/s1600/PT3.jpg
The market in 1961.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xe_4UwSJDAQ/StlkudSrB4I/AAAAAAAAABE/Y1DOFVetGCs/s1600/psahThmei1960.jpg
Again in 1961.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xe_4UwSJDAQ/Stlk6zIIfTI/AAAAAAAAABs/l91nY45eE80/s1600/central_market.jpg
1974.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xe_4UwSJDAQ/StmrRNlpudI/AAAAAAAAACk/6y6VICKBefQ/s1600/Central%2BMarket.jpg
Looking quite run-down in 2005, you can see the mess of umbrellas and tarpaulins around it.


From: http://phnompenhplaces.blogspot.com

Here's a picture of the market in 1993, looking quite fresh after a paint job:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y267/houndogboy/pp-93police.jpg

Picture by Serge Corrieras

^^ Is that you in the picture? lol

Here's a picture of the market in 1993, looking quite fresh after a paint job:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y267/houndogboy/pp-93police.jpg

Picture by Serge Corrieras
See this picture remind me...how p-penh developing so fast since everywhere gun gun no one feel safe...from 199_ till nowaday Cambodia really change a lot.

^^ Is that you in the picture? lol

:rofl:...

^^....wow...I kinda like the garden that came with the market....so why they didn't save the garden?

^^....wow...I kinda like the garden that came with the market....so why they didn't save the garden?

gadren don't collect rents.

Market makeover boosts business
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2011080550896/Special-Supplement/market-makeover-boosts-business.html

RECENT renovations to the capital’s Central Market may have received architectural plaudits, but what of their effect on business? Has the new look brought increased success for the hundreds of traders who depend upon it for their livelihood?

Nhem Sydara, 43, has sold noodle soup at his stall on the western side of the market since 1989. For him, the renovation works have had a positive impact on trade.

“If we compare it with the old stall, it’s up by 50 per cent,” Nhem Sydara says. Working from 6.30am to 11.30am, he has as many as 80 customers on a good day.

And it’s not just custom that has improved. “The hygiene is very good,” Nhem Sydara says. “Before, it was dark. Now it is light.”

Khut Sina, 27, agrees.

“They used to throw rubbish on the floor, and it looked dirty,” she says.

“Before, I wouldn’t allow my son to run around here because it was dirty. Now I do.”

Khut Sina has just had breakfast with her young son at one of the row of food stalls on the western side of the market.

The market trader makes the trip to the Central Market once a week.

“I don’t come here often, because my home is far away,” she says. “I’ve come to buy products to sell near the airport.”

Like Nhem Sydara, Khut Sina is a big fan of the changes.

“It looks good. Before, it was never like this,” she says. “Also, the food is more delicious than before, and it’s the same price.”

Inside the market’s central dome, Mouy Rung, 44, joins the consensus of those who back the improvements.

“It looks better,” she says unreservedly. “And it’s more comfortable to work here.”

Mouy Rung has been selling jade and jewellery at the Central Market for 10 years.

Her only complaint concerns the disruption to trade during the renovations that forced her to temporarily relocate just outside the market.

“We lost some customers because they could not find us,” Mouy Rung says, adding that she did not receive any compensation for the loss of business during this period.

Like Nhem Sydara, Mouy Rung says business has picked up.

“Now more tourists come here, especially Vietnamese,” she says.

Despite this, most of Mouy Rung’s customers are Chinese people who come for her jade.

“Chinese people believe that when they wear jade, they have greater luck,” she says.

The renovations to the Central Market certainly seem to have brought an upturn in luck for its traders.

Obviously, when the places looks new, more people enjoy visiting, when people feel more comfortable, they stay longer, and likely to consume more.