Ban Lung Market Market
Regional market for local indigenous goods.
Banlung Market in Ratanakiri functions as a provincial trading hub for hill‑tribe produce, gemstones and handicrafts. Travelers visit for ethnic crafts, fresh tropical fruit and the daily market atmosphere.
Ban Lung Market at a Glance#
Address: Banlung town center, Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia
Hours: Daily early morning to around 18:00 (exact hours depend on stalls)
Admission: Negligible local market prices; entry to covered market area free
About Ban Lung Market#
Ban Lung Market is the principal open market in the town of Banlung, Ratanakiri province, northeastern Cambodia, serving the local population and surrounding rural areas. It functions as the commercial and social hub of the provincial capital.
The market has grown alongside Banlung town, developing as the main trading place for local farmers, traders and indigenous communities in Ratanakiri province.
Located in the centre of Banlung town, the market sits in the provincial capital of Ratanakiri in northeastern Cambodia and is accessible from the town’s main roads.
- Best time to visit: Early morning is best for fresh produce and for seeing the market busiest, when local farmers and sellers arrive with vegetables, meat and fish.
Exploring Ban Lung Market#
Ban Lung Market underwent a serious upgrade in 2010. Until 2009 it was a rather dirty and decrepit place selling “fresh” meat and vegetables, traditional medicines such as the dried pelts of the loris (the world’s smallest primate), and gold and gemstones.
The loris pelts are no longer offered, hopefully thanks to education and enforcement rather than over-hunting. In other respects it is a typical Cambodian market, but it remains home to a number of jewellery artisans and gem cutters and setters, and anyone with an interest in the gem and jewellery trade will find it worth a look.
How to Get to Ban Lung Market#
Banlung is reachable by bus from Stung Treng or by overland minibus from Phnom Penh and Siem Reap (long journeys). The market is a short walk from the town’s main bus drop-off; motorbike taxis are available for surrounding village runs.
Tips for Visiting Ban Lung Market#
- Arrive in the late afternoon when fresh produce, coffee and prepared foods are busiest and most colorful.
- Bring small change; vendors expect cash and will not always accept cards.
- Look for local Ratanakiri specialties like hill-tribe handicrafts and smoked fish-ask vendors about provenance.
- Be wary of motorbikes weaving through aisles; keep valuables close.
Best Time to Visit Ban Lung Market#
Visit during the dry season for easiest travel and the fullest variety of stalls; mornings and late afternoons are peak market activity.
Weather & Climate near Ban Lung Market#
Ban Lung Market's climate is classified as Tropical Savanna - Tropical Savanna climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round. Temperatures range from 19°C to 32°C. Heavy rainfall (2512 mm/year), wettest in July with a pronounced dry season.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Ideal | 19° - 27° | 23° | 2 mm | some cloud | 62% | 1.7 m/s | 1.9 very high | 11.3h |
| February | Ideal | 20° - 29° | 24° | 6 mm | mostly sunny | 57% | 1.7 m/s | 2.2 extreme | 11.6h |
| March | Ideal | 21° - 31° | 26° | 24 mm | some cloud | 55% | 1.9 m/s | 2.2 extreme | 11.9h |
| April | Excellent | 23° - 32° | 28° | 45 mm | partly cloudy | 56% | 1.7 m/s | 2.3 extreme | 12.3h |
| May | Good | 23° - 32° | 29° | 272 mm | overcast | 66% | 1.7 m/s | 2.2 extreme | 12.6h |
| June | Good | 23° - 31° | 30° | 377 mm | overcast | 72% | 1.8 m/s | 2.1 extreme | 12.8h |
| July | Good | 23° - 31° | 30° | 570 mm | overcast | 75% | 1.8 m/s | 2.1 extreme | 12.7h |
| August | Good | 23° - 31° | 27° | 523 mm | overcast | 78% | 1.8 m/s | 2.0 extreme | 12.4h |
| September | Good | 23° - 30° | 26° | 446 mm | overcast | 79% | 1.4 m/s | 2.0 extreme | 12.1h |
| October | Very Good | 22° - 29° | 25° | 192 mm | partly cloudy | 74% | 1.4 m/s | 1.9 very high | 11.7h |
| November | Excellent | 21° - 28° | 24° | 44 mm | partly cloudy | 70% | 1.7 m/s | 1.7 very high | 11.4h |
| December | Ideal | 19° - 27° | 23° | 11 mm | partly cloudy | 66% | 1.9 m/s | 1.7 very high | 11.2h |
