Luang Prabang's Morning Market

Southeast Asia's morning markets are much more interesting than the night markets. The night markets are mainly for tourists. Sure, you can find cheap t-shirts, knock-off backpacks, colorful paintings, and pretty lights. But you haven't really come all this way for those, have you?

It's at the morning markets that locals do their shopping. And it's there that you get a real flavor of the local culture. Unless you're in a major city, supermarkets are few and far between through much of the region. Which is a good thing. Markets are much, much better.

The morning market in Luang Prabang, lining a couple of quiet streets near the Royal Palace, starts early and is over by mid-morning. It sets up along a couple of side-streets next to one of the city's many Wats. A butcher and some of the more touristy stalls have actual tables for their wares. But most of the vendors, selling anything from rice, to fresh vegetables, to steamed fish, frogs, and anything else that might be the day's catch, just set up on the ground. It's an elegant solution--cheap, simple, and effective.

Vendors stream in before dawn by foot. Others come from across the Mekong by riverboat, hauling their wares up the steep, muddy riverbank. By mid- to late-morning, they're gone again until tomorrow.

If you're after fresh fruit and vegetables, Mekong river fish, seaweed sheets, rice and grains, or fish wrapped in banana leaf ready to throw on the steamer, this is the place. And if you happen to have a craving for barbecued bamboo rat, you're in luck!

Photos of Luang Prabang's Morning Market

A small shrine overlooking the market. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Fish in bamboo steamers. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Dried and salted fish and squid. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Small chili peppers known as Prik Ki Nu (Thailand) or Mak Pet Ki Nuu (Laos). Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Fish wrapped in banana leaves for steaming to make Mok Pa. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Sacks of rice. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Vendors up against the gate of the monastery. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

What to Know Before You Go

• Go early.
• It's not primarily catering to tourists. There are a handful of stalls with souvenirs like woven bags, but it's mostly a food market.
• There's no refrigeration for meat and fish. If you're planning to buy anything perishable, know what you're buying.
• No, the vendors do not take credit cards--just cash.

License Photos of Luang Prabang Morning Market

If you'd like to download any of my photos from Luang Prabang Morning Market, you can license them directly from Alamy here. It includes most of the photos displayed on this page, as well as others. Pricing depends on the type of use, and there are licenses for various types of uses, including personal use and editorial publication.