The Day Market in Luang Prabang, Laos

Luang Prabang is well known for its extensive night market, with stalls selling everything from bamboo straws to handmade Laotian blue indigo scarves. The main street shuts down at 5 pm for several blocks, the tuk tuks and motorcycles disappear and very quickly bright red canopies are thrown up to completely fill in the roadway. It’s actually quite pretty, especially with the gold temple at the former royal palace in the background.

Luang Prabang Night Market 

Lesser known is the day market where locals go to buy food for their daily needs. Unlike the Night Market, which is really for tourists, this market really does cater more to the community and the average Laotian consumer. Many of the vendors come from the surrounding countryside very early in the morning to sell their fresh goods. The market is open from 5 to 11 a.m.

Luang Prabang Day Market

No grocery stores here, no vegetables in tightly sealed plastic clamshells and no lineups at the cashier. They don’t exist. Life here isn't sanitized and aseptic. This is life in Asia in all it’s gritty, fascinating and sometimes shocking raw glory. 

Bougainvillea Flower Petals

What you'll find is everything from colourful bougainvillea flower petals and spices to fresh caught fish and BBQ’d bamboo rat (yes, its a thing). You'll find items that you didn't know you could eat and some things that you'll really want to try for breakfast.  It's also a great place to photographer the vibrant colours of Laos. 

Red and green chili peppers and fruit

Take a stroll with me and Carolann through Luang Prabang’s day market. The market is definitely a must see when you're in Luang Prabang. The day market is on a side street that runs parallel to the main street that hosts the night market and is just up from the Mekong River. It's right in the heart of Luang Prabang and is close to many of the hotels.

Dried Fruit Coated in Coconut

Edible Banana Pods

 

The local "butcher" shop

The Morning's Fresh Catch

Live Frogs

Frog legs appeared on quite a few menus in Luang Prabang and we often saw them on the roads at night. We didn't try them and I think the way they were sold live in the market was very inhumane.

BBQ'd Bats

You could find pretty much everything in the Day Market, including grilled Bamboo rat and bats. But why anyone would want to eat a bat is beyond me--it's all skin and bone! Bamboo rats are  nocturnal, slow moving rodents that live in burrows and feed on bamboo underground. They weigh about one to two pounds and reminded me of the South American Cuy or Guinea Pig.

BBQ'd Bamboo Rats