Luang Prabang Night Market, Luang Prabang (2024) - Images, Timings

Luang Prabang Night Market, Luang Prabang Overview

The night market is located in the heart of the city of Luang Prabang in Laos. Every evening about 300 to 400 local shopkeepers set up shops on the street of Sisavangvong in the evening. It is one of the top attractions in the city for tourists to shop for local souvenirs and try delicious local street food. The night market was set up for the first time in 2002 during Christmas for a few weeks to buy and sell traditional gifts. The fair ran in candle lights as there was no electricity at that time. It grew trendy instantly and became a daily night market and now attracts vendors from all over Laos.

Shopping at Luang Prabang Night Market

The night market is famous for handicrafts made by local ethnic groups. You can shop for ceramic products, antiques, oil paintings, handmade lamps, shoes, quilts, embroidery, and arts on bamboo paper.
Clothes are popular among buyers. Different types of handmade cotton clothes, attires belonging to northern Laos ethnic groups and replica of world-wide fashion brands can be found here. Silk scarves, cotton t-shirts, colourful trousers, sarongs, and tops are popular items.
You can also shop for Buddha portraits, statues and paintings made of wood, clay and stone and even symbols of Buddhism.
Jewellery includes mainly silver ornaments like earrings, anklets, bracelets and necklaces, most of which are handmade.
Unique items found in the market are local liquors which are made from extracts obtained from snakes, scorpions and crabs. There has been a protest to buy or sell these owing to the threat to these local animals.

Local food at Luang Prabang Night Market

Unlike other markets in SE Asia, the night market here is very famous for street food. You have many sit down stalls serving a wide range of cuisines that are cheap and delicious. At the intersection of the Sisavangvong and Kingkitsalat roads is the food street - a narrow road consisting of food stalls.

You can try smoothies, homemade cakes, pastries, BBWQs of chicken, pork, beef, fish and seafood. The street is known for buffet-type shops, where you pay per serving after selecting from a wide variety of dishes available including types of noodles, appetizers and rice dishes.
You should also try large baguette sandwiches which are priced based on the filling, which can range from veggies to meat. Iced coffee and iced tea, milkshakes, beers and other cocktails are very cheap, including the food, which makes the market the top stop among tourists as well as locals.
Other exciting things to try in the market include sticky rice, steamed fish in a banana leaf, papaya salad and grilled chicken.

How To Reach Luang Prabang Night Market

Luang Prabang night market happens at the centre of the old town on Sisavangvong Road. The best way to reach is on foot. It takes less than 20 minutes. If you are based away from the centre, you can get there by hiring a tuk-tuk for about 2 USD per person for a one-way ride. You can also reach by renting a motorbike for about 5 USD per day.