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Luang Prabang Night Market
The Luang Prabang Night Market is one of the must visit markets when staying there. A few local markets are found in the UNESCO town of Luang Prabang including the famous Hmong Night Market, Day Market, Dara Market and also the general local market. The night market is also known as the Hmong Handicraft Market and this place is open daily from 5.00pm till about 11.00pm at night. This amazing market is located at the corner of Sisavangvong Road and Kitsarat Road in Luang Prabang town.
Luang Prabang Night Market
Luang Prabang's Night Market is easily accessible by foot and about 5 minutes walk from the main town area. Just head towards Phu Si Hill and you will see the market. The Hmong tribe people usually start bringing their wares at about 4.00pm onwards where they start erecting tents and laying mats to display the various handicrafts and souvenirs here.
Luang Prabang Night Market - Snake wine or whiskeys
When I stayed in Luang Prabang, I practically visited the market every evening as they had just so many interesting items for sale. Compared to the other markets I have been to, the Luang Prabang Night Market is my personal favourite. You see Hmong vendors selling all sorts of things including the famous Lao Snake Wine in bottles of various sizes and shapes. Prices of these snake wines or whiskeys range from US$3 to US$25 depending on the size and contents.
Luang Prabang Night Market - Silverware, bags and t-shirts
Once night falls in Luang Prabang town, you see the Hmong Night Market come alive with yellow lit bulbs streaming across stall by stall. Hmong vendors sit by their goods on the ground and wait for eager customers. One thing I must say is that the Lao people are not pushy or fussy. They are actually easy going, friendly and speak decent understandable English.
Luang Prabang Night Market - Hmong vendor selling aprons
When you inquire about the prices at the markets, they will gladly tell you and you can bargain with them. If you think it is too high and walk away, they would not chase after you to make that sale like in Bangkok or other countries. In kmost times when I was bargaining, the vendor and me came a a mutual agreement of the items purchased. However, beware of the China-Lao traders that sell so-called antiques. These are not authentic antiques as you think. They may look old, but they are skillfully made to look like antiques and are mainly brought in from China.
Luang Prabang Night Market - Interesting items for sale
At the Hmong Night Market, you will also see a lot of Lao fabrics, scarves, bed comforters, pillows, blankets, lamp shades and even aprons in the traditional Lao Hmong design. Most of them are beautiful and hardly seen in other countries so they are a good buy if you ask me.
Luang Prabang Night Market - Lao Fabrics
I must have spent at least US$500 on the items I purchased at these markets. From paintings, fabrics, pillow cases, bags, silverware and even a comforter which miraculously fit into our luggage bags. The prices after conversion are so cheap that you cannot resist Trust me, once you are there, you will know how cheap they can go.
One of the things that I enjoyed buying were the local paintings sold at the night markets here. I bought about 20 paintings and they are sold frame-less. So you need to buy a hand-made holder (US$3) for the paintings where they roll it up and you carry it back. Paintings here were really a bargain as they are priced from US$3 to US$20 depending on the sizes.
Night Market - Lao Coffee souvenir packets
Among the many interesting items sold at the Night Market, the Lao Coffee is one of the items which you should buy as souvenirs or for own consumption. Lao has one of the best coffees in the world if you are a coffee lover.
One thing I did not take pictures of was the silver vendors at the night markets. There were a number of them where each had their own individual designs so going from stall to stall, you would find different designs for earrings, necklaces and bracelets. Silver lovers beware, you will end up buying more that you budgeted.
My conclusion to the Luang Prabang Night Market - A must visit! No two ways about this unless you dislike markets. Child friendly and spacious, located near to main town.
Luang Prabang Night Market Luang Prabang's Night Market is easily accessible by foot and about 5 minutes walk from the main town area. Just head towards Phu Si Hill and you will see the market. The Hmong tribe people usually start bringing their wares at about 4.00pm onwards where they start erecting tents and laying mats to display the various handicrafts and souvenirs here.
Luang Prabang Night Market - Snake wine or whiskeysWhen I stayed in Luang Prabang, I practically visited the market every evening as they had just so many interesting items for sale. Compared to the other markets I have been to, the Luang Prabang Night Market is my personal favourite. You see Hmong vendors selling all sorts of things including the famous Lao Snake Wine in bottles of various sizes and shapes. Prices of these snake wines or whiskeys range from US$3 to US$25 depending on the size and contents.
Luang Prabang Night Market - Silverware, bags and t-shirtsOnce night falls in Luang Prabang town, you see the Hmong Night Market come alive with yellow lit bulbs streaming across stall by stall. Hmong vendors sit by their goods on the ground and wait for eager customers. One thing I must say is that the Lao people are not pushy or fussy. They are actually easy going, friendly and speak decent understandable English.
Luang Prabang Night Market - Hmong vendor selling apronsWhen you inquire about the prices at the markets, they will gladly tell you and you can bargain with them. If you think it is too high and walk away, they would not chase after you to make that sale like in Bangkok or other countries. In kmost times when I was bargaining, the vendor and me came a a mutual agreement of the items purchased. However, beware of the China-Lao traders that sell so-called antiques. These are not authentic antiques as you think. They may look old, but they are skillfully made to look like antiques and are mainly brought in from China.
Luang Prabang Night Market - Interesting items for saleAt the Hmong Night Market, you will also see a lot of Lao fabrics, scarves, bed comforters, pillows, blankets, lamp shades and even aprons in the traditional Lao Hmong design. Most of them are beautiful and hardly seen in other countries so they are a good buy if you ask me.
Video of my partner bargaining with a trader at the night market
Luang Prabang Night Market - Lao FabricsI must have spent at least US$500 on the items I purchased at these markets. From paintings, fabrics, pillow cases, bags, silverware and even a comforter which miraculously fit into our luggage bags. The prices after conversion are so cheap that you cannot resist Trust me, once you are there, you will know how cheap they can go.
Luang Prabang Night Market walk through video
One of the things that I enjoyed buying were the local paintings sold at the night markets here. I bought about 20 paintings and they are sold frame-less. So you need to buy a hand-made holder (US$3) for the paintings where they roll it up and you carry it back. Paintings here were really a bargain as they are priced from US$3 to US$20 depending on the sizes.
Night Market - Lao Coffee souvenir packetsAmong the many interesting items sold at the Night Market, the Lao Coffee is one of the items which you should buy as souvenirs or for own consumption. Lao has one of the best coffees in the world if you are a coffee lover.
One thing I did not take pictures of was the silver vendors at the night markets. There were a number of them where each had their own individual designs so going from stall to stall, you would find different designs for earrings, necklaces and bracelets. Silver lovers beware, you will end up buying more that you budgeted.
My conclusion to the Luang Prabang Night Market - A must visit! No two ways about this unless you dislike markets. Child friendly and spacious, located near to main town.
Great buys on:
- Silverware (Most are 50%-80% purity)
- Lao Design Bags, pillow cases, aprons
- Lao T-Shirts, Beer Lao T-Shirts (Men and Women sizes available)
- Paintings (frameless)
- Antiques (Especially the China ones)
- Lao artifacts (Strict rule on taking out Lao antiquities)
- Hmong Day Market
- Dara Market
- Handicraft Night Market
- Shops along Sisavangvong Road
- Between October and March
- May till October - Rainy Season
- March till May - Tempreture of 90 to 100 degrees F
My other Laos and Luang Prabang blog postings:
Luang Prabang Town Part 1
Whisky Village in Luang Prabang
Pak Ou Buddha Caves in Luang Prabang
Phu Si Hill in Luang Prabang
Talat Sao Morning Market in Vientiane
Food in Vientiane
Patuxai Arch in Vientiane
That Luang Stupa (Golden Stupa) in Vientiane
Buddha Park (Xieng Khuan) in Vientiane
~ David Jr
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8 comments:
I like visiting local markets in the places I travel to. One should not give it a miss.
Mei, I agree with you. Sometimes, I love going to the local markets where I can see the locals going about their normal day.
Regards,
David
By looking at the photo.. my mind start thinking which 1 to buy already...hahahhah...
is the fabric cheap?? I definitely shop for fabric.. ;-p
Do they sell food in the night market?
Cath, the fabrics are really beautiful and they are average price. In other words, cheap compared to other places.
Kelvin, sorry to say, there was no food bring sold. The local food is available at another part of town area.
David
You'd be hard pressed to find a vendor at the Night Market that stays until 11pm. Some of them wrap it up by 9:45pm and most pack it up by 10pm. Luang Prabang closes early.
I've had Laos coffee... and it's an acquired taste, certainly. But I like it! :D
LaoLao, thanks for the tip on that. Probably when I went late, some f them were open so I assumed they stayed open late.
LfB - After trying Vietnamese Coffee, there's a tough fight for the acquired taste spot but still, both are top 5.
David
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