Luang Prabang Night Market: Shop & Eat Guide

Wondering if Luang Prabang night market is worth the visit amongst all the other attractions in Luang Prabang? Read on to find out.

I love the charm of night markets in Asia. The ever buzzing food carts, the local handicrafts, ethnic outfits and locally grown spices and herbs all come together to form a pleasing experience that no air-conditioned mall can provide.

I love that assault on my senses wherein I am at the centre of everything local and trying to get the best of all. It is an experience to be lived and what a fantastic time I had at the Luang Prabang Night Market. It is one of the best things to do in Luang Prabang for sure!

What makes Luang Prabang Night Market different from other Asian cities is this market offers authentic and locally-made goods by the locals. Even the refrigerator magnets sold here are not ‘Made in China’ so you get an idea of the authenticity of the merchandise sold here. Here is my Luang Prabang Night Market experience and guide on shopping.

Luang Prabang Night Market Information

About the Night Market

A straight street is cordoned off for traffic and visitors can see four lines of vendors selling local food, handicrafts, merchandise, jewellery and souvenirs. Approximately 300 sellers set up their mats on the road under. The set up is in such a way that there is one way in and one way out and the vendor’s stalls face each other on both sides. 

Although visitors want to shop authentic products from the night market, cheap Chinese goods have flooded the market. These goods are lookalike of original Laotian products and present vendors with reliable profits. Shoppers need to beware and look for Handmade in Luang Prabang tags which are helping the local artisans and vendors. This sticker tag can be found on most merchandise, including pottery, jewellery, lacquerware, silks and cotton scarves. The sticker’s presence assures the buyer of the item’s high quality and authentic make.

Location of Luang Prabang Night Market

I was dropped at the junction of Kingkitsalat Road near the post office by my Hotel shuttle. The market is set upright in the middle of town at Sisavangvong Road. Even if you don’t take a tuk-tuk or shuttle to the city centre it is super easy to find it on Google maps. Just input Luang Prabang Night Market or Avani hotel and it is pretty much a straight walk from there. 

Luang Prabang Night Market Timing

The night market set up begins at 4 pm by the locals while the market officially opens for business at 5 pm every day. The market is open till 10 pm. The otherwise busy Sisavangvong Road is blocked for traffic for this duration. Even bikes are not allowed. 

Shopping in Luang Prabang Night Market

Lanterns and Handicrafts

The local Laos community makes paper and silk lanterns which are extremely beautiful and colourful. I almost had Hoi An feeling while going across the lantern stalls and I almost bought one to give the Vietnamese lantern some company but decided otherwise.

Other handicrafts include hand-carved wooden products and toys, hand-sewn slippers and many many others.

I was especially surprised to see jewellery being made from aluminum of the bombs and crashed planes during the Vietnam war. The villagers were taught to recycle the metal into cutlery and jewellery.

Fabrics and Outfits

Luang Prabang Night Market has many stalls selling cotton and silk fabrics. There are many eye-catching cotton cushion covers with many designs that it is difficult to resist buying it for back home. There are even bed covers and pillows in a wide assortment of beautiful designs!

The night market also sells elephant printed pants which are extremely popular all over Asia as well as all ‘I Love Laos’ t-shirts.

Something more eye-catching in this market is the Indigo dyed outfits and purses. There are shorts, t-shirts, blouses, pants with lovely dyed prints.

Souvenirs

Visitors will find typical souvenirs like keychains, fridge magnets, shot glasses, bags, toys and postcards in the Luang Prabang Night Market. The best part about these souvenirs is that they are all locally made. Even fridge magnets and keychains are hand painted which is such a respite from ‘Made in China’ tags on its rear side!

Lao Coffee and Tea

As much as I fell in love with Vietnamese coffee, I would be lying if I told you that I found Laotian coffee better than Vietnamese!

Yes, the Laotian coffee is a premium quality Arabica, organically grown in the mountains of Northern Laos, hand-picked, processed, and hand-sorted to give the best coffee experience. There are an ample number of cafes lined on the Mekong river proposing for a charming coffee experience. I may write about visiting Saffron Coffee later but picking up Lao coffee is non-negotiable!

Lao Lao Whiskey

Like most Southeast Asian countries, Laos also has a tradition of adding reptiles or insects to their alcoholic beverages. Few vendors at the Luang Prabang Night Market sell “Lao-Lao” rice liquor, poured from bottles with snakes and scorpions pickling in the liquid. Sellers offer visitors to try some before selling you the whole bottle, something very similar to Snake Whisky of Vietnam.

Luang Prabang Night Market’s Food

How can we forget food when we are talking about the Night Market?

Food vendors are situated at the start of the market, perfectly positioned for visitors who want to start their evening with a meal and then shop, or for the shoppers looking for a bite just before going back to their hotels.

There is a lot on offer at these stalls which sell cooked food a la carte, and buffet-style meals, all served on makeshift tables and benches along the street. You stand and eat or pack it and eat along as you shop, depending upon what you are eating. I am a vegetarian but still giving non-vegetarian options based on my friend’s suggestion who visited with me. There are plenty of vegetarian options across Luang Prabang whether it is street food or in hotels.

Meat Barbecue

The traditional way of barbecuing meat in Lao is the meat is either skewered or clamped between bamboo sticks over burning charcoal. Most preferred meat is ping kai (roast chicken) and ping pa (roast river fish).

Sausages

Lao sausages involve a healthy helping of fatty pork and sticky rice flavoured with herbs and chilies.

Baguettes

Thanks to French influence, baguettes are easily available and super tasty. With the options of toppings such as tofu, avocado, cheese, tomato, etc lettuce, baguettes are available here during the day too.

Coconut pancakes

A healthy, delicious and soul-satisfying plate of freshly-cooked and piping-hot coconut pancakes served on a banana-leaf plate is the answer to the much-required sugar rush after shopping through Luang Prabang Night Market.

Salads and Fruit shakes

There are vegetarian stalls that sell all-you-can-eat buffet options which include many varieties of salads.  There are ample varieties of fruit shakes being sold such as mango, dragonfruit, and limes.

FAQs about Luang Prabang Night Market, Laos

Is shopping and eating at Luang Prabang Night Market affordable? 

All the merchandise sold at Luang Prabang Night Market is extremely affordable. Do remember that you are paying for the artist’s hard work and time spent in making the product. 

Currency exchange at Luang Prabang Night Market

Did you run out of local currency while shopping and eating at Luang Prabang Night Market? Fret not. Just at the starting of the market, there are a couple of currency exchange shops and you can easily exchange US Dollars, Thai Baht and Vietnamese Dong to Lao Kip. Do compare exchange rates in all 3 shops located and go for the best rate.

I had bought something from a vendor and was short of a few Kip. He saw me scrambling through my wallet and happened to see Thai Baht in my hand and offered to take it. I had no immediate trips to Thailand so I chose to give it.

Is shopping in Luang Prabang Night Market safe?

Luang Prabang as a town is super safe as it is frequented by a lot of tourists. And similarly, the night market is safe with negligible incidences of pickpocketing.

Where to stay in Luang Prabang

Luxury: Sofitel, Luang Say Residence, Rosewood

Mid-Budget: Villa Phathana Boutique Hotel

Low Budget: Sunrise Riverside Pool Hostel, Chill Riverside Hostel & Cafe

Sustainable tips for Shopping at Luang Prabang Night Market

• Don’t bargain: The prices are anyway very affordable so don’t bargain too low or don’t bargain at all. As I mentioned earlier, the local community benefits from the sale and every sale by a visitor helps in making their ends meet. Bargaining reduces their profit margins. Thankfully the vendors are not rude when you bargain like in Thailand and will simply smile. Walk away if the price doesn’t match and don’t haggle too much. 
• Say no to Plastic Bags: Luang Prabang is the most sustainable tourist place but there is still use of plastic bags in the night market. It is best to carry your own shopping bag and say no to plastic bags. 
• Use trash cans for disposing of leftover food or plates.

Read More Laos Articles here:

• Kuang si waterfalls, Luang Prabang
• Nong Khiaw Viewpoint
• Ethical cheese

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