Madame Hieng at Shop 9 Central Market is a convincing seller. She has to be. Selling ice to Eskimos has to be easier than selling Christmas trees in predominantly Buddhist Cambodia.
"These trees come from Vietnam," she says. "After Christmas, you can put them in the garden. No need to buy one next year. I guarantee."
Many expatriates find the tacky plastic Christmas trees not only less than authentic or aesthetic but less than environmentally friendly. Now there is a living alternative.
The 1-metre high pines may not be exactly what Europeans remember from home, but they do make excellent Christmas trees. Madame Hieng starts at $20 but prices are negotiable depending on the tree.
Christmas trees make an unusual addition to Central Market's busy but slightly expensive garden section. They are available at other garden centers around the country, including Prek Eng, Prek Leap and Takhmau. But it is difficult to go past the convenience of Central Market, or Psar Thmei.
Christmas decorations are available in abundance at the city's many department stores, but many expatriates find the tacky plastic Christmas trees not only less than authentic or aesthetic but less than environmentally friendly. In past years, people have even resorted to tinsel and baubles on palm trees to create some sort of yuletide spirit. Now there is another option
"At this time of year we sell two or three of these Christmas trees a day - mainly to foreigners, because they have money and care about the environment more - and they care about Christmas," admits Madame Hieng. But she has competition - all her neighboring vendors have impressive groves of pines in plastic pots just like her, and she admits she is more than willing to bargain.
"If I don't sell them, I have to keep them at my home in my garden until next year, so everything must go," she laughs.