Like in the United States, there are many different types of living situations in Cambodia. The most prominent types of housing in Siem Reap are either stilted houses or Western-style apartment buildings.
The stilted houses are traditional to Cambodian culture. They are built on tall wooden platforms in order to keep the living space high above the floods that drench the countryside during the wet season. These types of houses are most common outside of urban areas and near farmland. They often do not have windows, and the entire family sleeps together in one large room. Beneath the house is a shaded space, where most cooking takes place and where farm animals (like chickens and pigs) live.
Because of Western and Chinese influence on Cambodian culture, many living spaces within the city are in the style of large apartments, suburban-looking houses, and sometimes tall skyscraper buildings.
Throughout the city and along major roads there are farmer’s market-like food stalls that sell fresh produce to local buyers. Here you can buy any sort of vegetables, fruit, meat, fish, spices, etc. This is where locals can bargain for the best price on produce.
