The attractive Luang Prabang night market in Laos is one of the must-visit places to stay here, and this will surely excite anyone who loves local shopping.
There are a few local markets in the UNESCO town of Luang Prabang, including the famous Hmong night market, Hmong day market, Dara Market, and the general local market.
This night market is also known as the Hmong Handicraft Market, which is open daily from 5.00 pm till about 11.00 pm.
Luang Prabang Night Market
This fantastic and exciting market is located at the corner of Sisavangvong Road and Kitsarat Road in Luang Prabang town.
There are a few local markets in the UNESCO town of Luang Prabang, including the famous Hmong night market, Hmong day market, Dara Market, and the general local market.
This night market is also known as the Hmong Handicraft Market, which is open daily from 5.00 pm till about 11.00 pm.
Luang Prabang Night Market
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| Unique items sold at the market. |
This fantastic and exciting market is located at the corner of Sisavangvong Road and Kitsarat Road in Luang Prabang town.
It is accessible on foot and about 5 minutes from the main town area. Just head towards Phu Si Hill, and you will see the market.
The Hmong tribe usually bring their wares at about 4.00pm onwards, where they erect tents and lie mats to display the various handicrafts and souvenirs here.
The funny thing about me was that when I stayed here in Luang Prabang, I practically visited the market every evening as they had so many exciting items for sale. Compared to the other markets I have been to, the Luang Prabang Night Market is my 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.
Once night falls in Luang Prabang town, the Hmong Night Market comes alive with yellow-lit bulbs streaming across stall after stall.
Hmong vendors sit by their goods on the ground and wait for eager customers. The Lao people are not pushy or fussy. They are actually easygoing and friendly and speak decent, understandable English.
When you inquire about the prices at the markets, the traders will gladly tell you, and the best part is that you can bargain with them.
If you think it is too high and walk away, they will not chase after you to make that sale like in Bangkok or other countries.
In most cases, whenever I was bargaining, the vendor and I mutually agreed on the items purchased.
However, beware of the China-Lao traders that sell so-called antiques. These are more authentic antiques than you think.
They may look old, but they are skillfully made to look like antiques. They are mainly brought in from China and passed off as local antiques. So, knowing your antiques before buying anything from here is best.
At the Hmong night market, you will also see a lot of Lao fabrics, scarves, bed comforters, pillows, blankets, lamp shades and even aprons made in the traditional Lao Hmong design.
Most of these fabric souvenirs are beautiful and can be seen hardly in other countries, so they are a good buy if you ask me.
I must have spent at least US$500 on the items I purchased at these markets, including paintings, fabrics, pillowcases, bags, silverware, and a comforter that miraculously fit into our luggage bags.
The prices after conversion are so cheap that you cannot resist them, and trust me, once you are there, you will know how affordable they can be.
Luang Prabang Art & Paintings
One of the things that I enjoyed buying was 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 handmade holder (US$3) for the paintings, where they roll up, and you carry it back. All the market paintings here were bargains, priced from US$3 to US$20, depending on the sizes.
Lao Souvenirs at the Night Market
Lao Coffee: Among the many exciting items sold at the night market here, Lao coffee is one of the items which you should buy as souvenirs or for your own consumption. Laos has one of the best coffees in the world, and if you are a coffee lover or aficionado, you will easily relate to this.
Lao Silver: I should have taken pictures of the silver vendors at the night markets. Many silversmiths were selling their handmade accessories at the night market. Each had its designs, so going from stall to stall, you would find different designs for silver earrings, necklaces, and bracelets.
Silver lovers, beware, you will buy more than you budgeted as the prices are so affordable here.
The Hmong tribe usually bring their wares at about 4.00pm onwards, where they erect tents and lie mats to display the various handicrafts and souvenirs here.
 |
| Lao Snake wine or snake whiskey is commonly sold here. |
The funny thing about me was that when I stayed here in Luang Prabang, I practically visited the market every evening as they had so many exciting items for sale. Compared to the other markets I have been to, the Luang Prabang Night Market is my 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.
 |
| Silverware, bags and t-shirts. |
Once night falls in Luang Prabang town, the Hmong Night Market comes alive with yellow-lit bulbs streaming across stall after stall.
Hmong vendors sit by their goods on the ground and wait for eager customers. The Lao people are not pushy or fussy. They are actually easygoing and friendly and speak decent, understandable English.
 |
| Hmong vendor selling handmade aprons. |
When you inquire about the prices at the markets, the traders will gladly tell you, and the best part is that you can bargain with them.
If you think it is too high and walk away, they will not chase after you to make that sale like in Bangkok or other countries.
In most cases, whenever I was bargaining, the vendor and I mutually agreed on the items purchased.
However, beware of the China-Lao traders that sell so-called antiques. These are more authentic antiques than you think.
They may look old, but they are skillfully made to look like antiques. They are mainly brought in from China and passed off as local antiques. So, knowing your antiques before buying anything from here is best.
 |
| Many items are offered at the night market here. |
At the Hmong night market, you will also see a lot of Lao fabrics, scarves, bed comforters, pillows, blankets, lamp shades and even aprons made in the traditional Lao Hmong design.
Most of these fabric souvenirs are beautiful and can be seen hardly in other countries, so they are a good buy if you ask me.
Bargaining at the Night Market
 |
| Lao Fabrics are sold at the night market here. |
I must have spent at least US$500 on the items I purchased at these markets, including paintings, fabrics, pillowcases, bags, silverware, and a comforter that miraculously fit into our luggage bags.
The prices after conversion are so cheap that you cannot resist them, and trust me, once you are there, you will know how affordable they can be.
Luang Prabang Night Market Video
Luang Prabang Art & Paintings
One of the things that I enjoyed buying was 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 handmade holder (US$3) for the paintings, where they roll up, and you carry it back. All the market paintings here were bargains, priced from US$3 to US$20, depending on the sizes.
 |
| Lao Coffee souvenir packets. |
Lao Souvenirs at the Night Market
Lao Coffee: Among the many exciting items sold at the night market here, Lao coffee is one of the items which you should buy as souvenirs or for your own consumption. Laos has one of the best coffees in the world, and if you are a coffee lover or aficionado, you will easily relate to this.
Lao Silver: I should have taken pictures of the silver vendors at the night markets. Many silversmiths were selling their handmade accessories at the night market. Each had its designs, so going from stall to stall, you would find different designs for silver earrings, necklaces, and bracelets.
Silver lovers, beware, you will buy more than you budgeted as the prices are so affordable here.
Must Buy Souvenirs at Luang Prabang Night Market:
- Silverware (Most are 50%-80% purity)
- Lao traditional design bags, pillowcases, aprons
- Lao T-Shirts, Beer Lao T-Shirts (Men and Women sizes available)
- Paintings (frameless)
- Antiques (Especially the Chinese ones)
- Lao artefacts (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 - Temperature of 90 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit
Other Places of Interest in Luang Prabang
While you visit Luang Prabang, many other things can be done here. During my trip to Luang Prabang Town, I also visited a local Lao village called Whisky Village in Luang Prabang.
As the name says, you will find local whiskey being brewed here, but tours not only take you for this but also take you on a walk around to see the local Sa Paper being made and some other Lao fabric weaving.
That village is a stopover on the way to the amazing Pak Ou Buddha Caves, one of the top three places to visit in Luang Prabang.
Those exploring the Luang Prabang town area can also visit Phu Si Hill, which is near the night market and museum. The best time to visit this hill is in the evening, and once you are up there, check out the amazing sunset.
As the name says, you will find local whiskey being brewed here, but tours not only take you for this but also take you on a walk around to see the local Sa Paper being made and some other Lao fabric weaving.
That village is a stopover on the way to the amazing Pak Ou Buddha Caves, one of the top three places to visit in Luang Prabang.
Those exploring the Luang Prabang town area can also visit Phu Si Hill, which is near the night market and museum. The best time to visit this hill is in the evening, and once you are up there, check out the amazing sunset.
Conclusion
My conclusion to this night market is that you cannot visit Luang Prabang and not visit this market because this is truly one of the cultural experiences offered by the locals and is not another commercial market.
The Luang Prabang night market is child-friendly and spacious, located near the main town, and is open nightly. This was indeed one of my main highlights when I visited here.
The Luang Prabang night market is child-friendly and spacious, located near the main town, and is open nightly. This was indeed one of my main highlights when I visited here.