For market vendors and taxi drivers, business is good as the Pchum Ben festival approaches.
“There are the best sales during Pchum Ben,” said vendor Um Chinda, who sells food in Phsar Tuol Tumpong. “I would like to have more festivals and holidays so people need to buy goods and other materials for the Khmer traditions.”
Mandatory offerings of food to dead relatives have driven market prices up, vendors say, creating a slight holiday boom. Taxi drivers are also cashing in on the festival, which sees more people than usual traveling to meet family and visit pagodas.
Pchum Ben, or the Festival of the Dead, will be officially celebrated Monday and Tuesday, though festivities have already begun as many people have started leaving early for their home villages.
“Usually I have clients only going one way a day and some days I have no clients,” said Chan Thorn, who runs a taxi between Phnom Penh and Battambang. “But on the days close to Pchum Ben I can go [between the two cities] and return in one day.”
Chan Thorn said he and other taxi drivers would be hiking prices during the holiday—taking advantage of the crowds mobbing taxi stands around the markets.
“It’s a good chance for taxi drivers and other businessmen to make good money,” he said.
Clothes vendor Taing Methany said she will make $200 to $300 this month at her Phsar Thmei stall—a vast increase over her usual monthly take of $100.
“I am happy during Pchum Ben because I can make more money,” she said.
Several other nearby vendors said they wished not only Pchum Ben, but Khmer New Year would arrive more quickly to boost their sales.
