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April 26, 2024
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The Luang Prabang Night Market is a highlight for any traveler visiting Laos, providing a unique experience for shopping, dinner, and insights into the local Laotian lifestyle. With its sprawling selection of food, gifts, and souvenirs, the Luang Prabang Night Market is a must-see when visiting this beautiful city. In this post, I will tell you about my experience, which items are for sale at the night market, and where, in my opinion, the best food stalls are located. Let’s dive into it!
Streets of Luang Prabang, Laos
Luang Prabang is the most scenic town in Laos and for good reason. As a UNESCO World Heritage site, it is known for its unique and exceptionally well-preserved architecture, especially the Fresh Colonial influences from the 20th century.
The town is located at the confluence of the Mekong River and the Nam Khan River which gives the city an open and airy feel. A few (wooden) bridges over the Nam Khan connect the peninsula with further lying parts of the city for instance with the Saa paper village where you can witness traditional Laotian paper making.
Aside from handicrafts, the waterfalls around Luang Prabang are a major draw for tourists, with the Kuang Si Falls and the Tat Sae Falls being the most spectacular ones. Furthermore, the city also boasts some of the most beautiful temples in Southeast Asia.
Night Market Luang Prabang, Laos
The Luang Prabang night market is one of the coziest ones in the whole of Southeast Asia. While it’s often very busy in other cities like Chiang Mai or Siem Reap, the Luang Prabang night market is characterized by a laidback and friendly atmosphere.
At the Luang Prabang night market, you don’t have to worry too much about pushy vendors or big scams. There seems to be little competition between them, which makes visiting the night market a relaxed and enjoyable experience.
Also, one of the best things about the night market is to go when the sun is setting. The sky is turning to a beautiful red color at that time, creating a magical feel.
The Luang Prabang Night Market is located on Sisavangvong Road near the Royal Palace. It’s a one-kilometer stretch of stalls selling local handicrafts, decorations, clothes, and local specialties like tea and whisky.
The food market takes place on a square at the intersection of Sisavangvong Road and Kingkitsalat Road and on a little alleyway across the street.
You can find the location of the night market easily on Google Maps.
Visiting Luang Prabang Night Market is a treat for your taste buds as well as for finding beautiful souvenirs, clothing and things like tea and even whisky!
As a conscious traveler, you will be delighted by this market. While a lot of the souvenirs sold at night markets across southeast Asia are actually made in China, At the Market in Luang Prabang, you can mainly find locally handcrafted items that are simply sublime.
It’s also a good place if you are in need of a new pair of trousers (yes, also the famous elephant pants) or T-shirts.
I will first start with the food options that you can find at the night market and afterward, I’ll get into the souvenirs, clothing, bags, and more.
Woman selling fruit and sweets at Luang Prabang Night Market
You will not go hungry at the Luang Prabang night market, not even if you are a vegetarian or a vegan in Laos! If you are a plant-based traveler, do be aware that there will be many BBQ stalls, selling meats and fresh fish, so it’s a good idea to look for a spot where you don’t get overwhelmed by the smells of these stalls.
I found the corner near the children’s playground and the toilet the most comfortable to sit and that is also where a large collection of plant-based stalls are located.
There are a few buffets on offer at the night market for which you fill up your plate yourself to an insanely cheap amount of money.
Buffets at the Luang Prabang Night Market
For only 15 000 to 25 000 kips you can fill up your plate with tasty Laotian dishes, ranging from noodles and rice to vegetables and a few meat and fish dishes.
For vegan travelers, there is a vegan buffet at the corner of the square near the toilets and you can find two more in the little side street in between the BBQ stands.
Luang Prabang Night Market food
Smoothies are one of the best ways to get your vitamins in Southeast Asia! you can opt to take a fruit shake consisting of just one kind of fruit but the best ones are a mix of different kinds of tropical fruit. My favorite mix is banana, mango, and pineapple.
Laotian noodle soup
If you have just flown into Laos and it’s your first night out in the beautiful country than the night market is a good place to get acquainted with the local Lao cuisine.
Luang Prabang Night Market, Laos
Various food stalls are offering Lao dishes like Pad Lao, fried water spinach, or Mekong seaweed crackers. There’s also a variety of curries, soups, and noodle dishes on offer, and of course fried rice.
Fresh Spring Rolls
Fresh spring rolls van find throughout Southeast Asia and some of the best I tried were at the Luang Prabang food market. Fresh spring rolls contain rice noodles and fresh lettuce and herbs and are often paired with meat, fish, or egg.
You can find vegan ones in the little side street across the square. At the time of writing (April 2023) a package of 6 spring rolls cost 15 000 kip.
Khanom Krok, a sweet naturally vegan dessert
Sweetthooths won’t be disappointed when visiting the Luang Prabang Night Market. At the start of Sisavangvong Road, there’s a bakery selling delicious goods out on the street. Unfortunately, they were not vegan, but they looks delicious.
I heard from another traveler I met that the chocolate bombs are the bomb. You will know what I mean when you see it!
Cakes at Luang Prabang Night Market, Laos
Luckily, there are also a few options for vegans at the night market. In the little side street opposite the square, you can find one of my favorite vegan Laotian dishes, Kanom Krok, which are little pancakes made from coconut milk and rice flour.
furthermore, you can also find vegan cookies made from coconut.
While not as common as in Vang Vieng, there are a few stalls selling fresh roti at the Luang Prabang Night Market. Fillings can seem endless, ranging from eggs and onion to banana and pineapple.
While Roti is vegan in general, be sure to ask about the ingredients of the dough in advance and if the cooking oil is vegan.
BBQ at the Luang Prabang Night Market, Laos
BBQ food stalls are not my cup of tea as a vegan but, if you’re not a vegan traveler and reading this article, there are plenty of them at the Luang Prabang Night Market.
→ PRO TIP: Read my complete packing list for Laos for conscious travelers!
Souvenirs are plenty at the Luang Prabang Night Market and range from art and silk to tea and whisky. If you are wondering what to buy in Luang Prabang, the night market is the best place to get an idea of all the handicrafts and artisan goods that are produced in the region.
I heard that, previously, a certain amount of questionable items (whisky with snakes inside the bottle, animal teeth and horns,…) were sold at the night market but at the time of my visit, I haven’t seen any of those things.
Here are the items I adored the most at the night market!
Art at the Luang Prabang Night Market, Laos
At the night market, you can find the most gorgeous paintings depicting local Lao life. They are painted on Saa paper, which is made from Mulberry bark.
Mulberry trees are indigenous to Laos and mature really fast (6 to 12 months) which makes it a sustainable way to produce paper.
You can find a variety of other items on the market made from Saa paper like lanterns, lamps, and notebooks.
At the night market, you can find various stands selling wonderful jewelry. A large selection of these items is made by local craftswomen using the metal shells from bombs that were left on Laotian grounds after the Vietnam War.
Jewelry @ Luang Prabang Night Market, Laos.
Not only jewelry is crafted from these bombs. Aside from bracelets, rings, and earrings, you can also find items like chopsticks, bottle openers, and keychains.
Clothes at the Luang Prabang Night Market, Laos
A large array of clothing is available at the night market ranging from elephant pants and locally handcrafted tops to simple Leo tourist T-shirts and even locally-made slippers.
T-shirts at the Luang Prabang Night Market, Laos
The most beautiful pants to look out for are the silk ones that are locally produced. They are more than triple the price of the other pants on the market but it’s a unique item that you won’t regret buying.
Luang Prabang souvenirs
Weaving is one of the main handicrafts in Laos and locals come to the Luang Prabang Market every night to sell their goods. Most of the textiles are made from silk.
The silk fabrics are produced locally so if you buy a product, you support the local economy. But unfortunately, silk is not vegan. Silk is produced from the cocoons of silkworms. To obtain the silk, the worms are cooked alive.
Alternatively, you can look for ahimsa silk but I don’t think they produce it without killing the worm in Laos. Luckily, you can also find cotton textiles at the market but they are not as soft as the silk ones.
locally crafted purses and bags are a sight for sore eyes at the night market. What is great about this type of purse it that it’s flat. It’s so easy to carry in your luggage while backpacking and it almost doesn’t take up any space.
Souvenirs at the Luang Prabang Night Market, Laos
Souvenirs at the night market are abundant and range from money pouches to slippers, magnets, and lanterns to a wide array of bamboo items like rice baskets, floor mats, hats, and placemats.
Souvenirs at the Luang Prabang Night Market, Laos
Bamboo weaving is a fun activity and there are multiple classes and tours in Luang Prabang in which you can learn the weaving techniques yourself.
You can find a few classes that you can book through Get Your Guide or, when in Luang Prabang, pay a visit to the Ock Pop Tok, a living crafts center where you can learn more about Leo handicrafts and textiles.
Tea at the Luang Prabang Night Market, Laos
If you’re looking for a great souvenir to take home from Laos then locally-produced tea or coffee is a great idea! Not only are these teas a great gift thanks to their subtle but flavorful aroma but they are also wrapped in beautiful handmade wrappers.
Whisky (luckily without snakes and scorpions inside!)
Aside from tea and coffee, you can also find a variety of whisky at the night market. There are various local brands selling whisky and the flavors can range from brown rice to honey and even pineapple.
Here are the websites I personally use whenever I travel to Laos:
Booking.com: For the best cheap guesthouses, homestays or small hotels
Hostelworld: To find the best hostels located in the cities
Homestay: For a unique immersive homestay experience in Luang Prabang
12GO and Bookaway: The best transport websites for long-distance buses and train travel in Laos
Loca: Uber and Grab don’t operate in Laos but Vientiane has its own ride-hailing app called Loca!
Skyscanner: For affordable flights to Vientiane or Luang Prabang
Viator and Get Your Guide: book all kinds of activities from a Kuang Si waterfall cruise to a private cave and jungle trekking in Vang Vieng!
Get your Visa for Laos online through the Evisa website. Do note that you cannot enter just any border with the Evisa. You can fly with an Evisa into Vientiane, Luang Prabang, and Pakse and cross three borders with Thailand. They don’t accept the Evisa when you want to cross a land border coming from Vietnam, Cambodia, or China. It’s best to contact the Laotian embassies in these countries to obtain a visa.
If you’re looking for travel insurance, the one with the best benefits online is without a doubt Heymondo! It’s very easy to ask for a quote on the website and if you book with this link you’ll get 5% off!
Get access to mobile data straight away when entering the country with a Laos E-sim or an Asialink E-sim when traveling through multiple countries.
The night market is open every day from 5 P.M. to 10 P.M.
7 P.M. is the busiest time of the evening in peak season and it’s wise to secure a table at the square before that time, otherwise it’s possible you will need to walk around with your plate in your hand.
Luang Prabang is home to a large array of fantastic homestays, guesthouses, and eco-conscious stays. Here are a few accommodation options that I can highly recommend!
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Although the best one to visit in town, the Luang Prabang Night Market is not the only one you can visit in this wonderful city.
For an early start, visit the Morning Market located centrally, just behind the Tourism Information Center. Here you can indulge in local cuisine or purchase authentic ingredients from 5 am to 11 am.
Local woman selling food at the morning market in Luang Prabang
The market features an assortment of products, ranging from fresh produce like vegetables, herbs, and fruits to more unique offerings such as Mekong seaweed crackers and fried bamboo chips.
Where: Location
This a good local market where no tourists venture out to. If you are looking for some local life and get great deals on food this is the place to be. They have fresh produce, dried goods, household supplies, hardware, and clothes.
This market is on the way from the center of Luang Prabang to Tad Sae and Tad Thong waterfall and a great place to stop by to buy some snacks. It is open every day from 8 A.M. to 6 P.M.
Where: Location
Situated on the way to the Kuang Si Waterfall, Phosi Market stands as Luang Prabang’s largest market. Open from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m., this is where you’ll find some of the most affordable clothing and textiles.
While you hunt for bargains, stay alert as this market has a reputation for pickpocketing activity.
Where: Location
Unio is another night market in Luang Prabang. It doesn’t sell goods like souvenirs and clothes but is more like a food court and a great local alternative to the famous food court of the Luang Prabang Night Market.
Although only frequented by locals, the prices were not cheaper here than at the food court at the Luang Prabang Night Market. It was also very hard to figure out what dishes were suitable for vegans because there were no English menus available.
However, this is e great place to soak up the atmosphere, have a Beerlao, and listen to Laotian music.
In the vicinity of the TAEC Museum, you’ll come across Dara Market, an indoor bazaar. At the time of my visit, not that many of the shops were open for business. It felt a bit like a deserted place.
There is however a Western-style supermarket next to it if you are looking for things like oatmeal or cornflakes.
Where: Location
If you want to visit a market in a rural area around Luang Prabang, you can take a boat at the river ferry crossing and have a look around the Ban Xieng Man Local Market.
It’s nothing special, but a good place to stop for snacks if you are on your way to visit the temples on the other side of the Mekong River.
Luang Prabang Night Market, Laos
There you go! I hope you enjoyed this guide to the Night Market in Luang Prabang. I have to say that this is by far one of my favorite spots in the whole of Southeast Asia!
If you have any questions, please drop them below or leave me a message through my contact page!
Also, don’t forget to check out my resources page with my favorite booking platforms and tips to start planning your trip. Additionally, have a look at my favorite travel gear if you want to pack more consciously!
ENJOY!
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Hi! I am Annelies and this is Travelers & Dreamers, a blog about conscious travel which means traveling in a more mindful way, with a positive impact on the world and yourself!
On this website, I cover different topics like slow travel, plant-based food guides, responsible travel, sustainable packing, eco-travel, and more!
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