With clean, orderly stalls, and all manner of merchandise that make great souvenirs or mementos, the Vientiane Night Market is primarily aimed towards tourists. This market all begins around sunset when directly on the riverside promenade, a small army of sellers start setting up their red-roofed stalls. Vientiane night market must attract your attraction. At the time when joggers and dog-walkers take advantage of the cooling breezes and the stunning backdrop of the sun lazily sinks into the Mekong River, the whole riverside area becomes alive. Travel to Vientiane with Tours indochina Laos
Experience Vientiane nightlife-source: Internet
Here, among these products on offer which are fairly typical of night markets throughout the area, you can easily find a predictable range of Beer Lao T-shirts, cheap sunglasses and Buddhist-inspired paintings and knickknacks. With fishermen pants and one-size-fits-all dresses and skirts, the clothes stalls tend to be geared towards the backpacker market. It is possible to pick up at least a couple of products here with only $US10 in your pocket, but, bargain hunters should know that at other markets, you can find everything on offer here at a slightly cheaper price. It is likely that the traders have whittled down all the best-sellers from the Morning Market and set them up in more convenient and attractive surroundings. Laos travel tours
An array of items on offer at Vientiane night market-source: Internet
Like at all tourist markets, in Vientiane night market, English is widely spoken but because initial prices are always inflated, and you should never accept the first price quoted, be prepared to test your bargaining skills. It helps to wander around to find the best price as most of the products can be found at several stalls. When it comes to the negotiation process, a little perspective is advised, however, when converted to foreign currency, the difference of a few thousand Kip is negligible. An enjoyable few hours can be spent browsing and people watching down by the river even if you have already stocked up on souvenirs and are not really planning to buy anything. It may be the favorite pastime of Laotians.
Vientiane night market-source: Internet
The lack of food stalls is the one noticeable absence from the market, but there is pretty much every kind of food imaginable only a stone’s throw away with Vientiane being so small. Return travelers may wistfully remember Vientiane before the construction of the promenade – named in honor of the last king of Laos, Chao Anouvong – when various ramshackle riverside restaurants and bars were propped up on stilts directly over the river, offering spectacular sunset vistas, fresh, grilled fish and cold beer. As the government decided to construct a flood wall to protect the city, move restaurants far away from the water’s edge to decrease the amount of trash being tossed into the river and generally make it a more communal area for everyone to enjoy, those days are long gone.
Most travelers coming to Vientiane spend time at Vientiane night market-source: Internet
Nowadays, replacing the riverside bars is an imposing statue of Chao Anouvong, pointing across the Mekong towards Thailand, a flower garden, a Chinese shrine and a children’s playground. It is all part of the transition from sleepy colonial backwater town to active modern capital city that is taking place in Vientiane. The Riverside Night Market is the best place to find some interesting clothes or gifts without breaking the bank and the most ascetically pleasing shopping experience to be found in Vientiane. It is probable that even short-stay visitors will spend some time here since all life seems to gravitate towards the market anyway.
Opening Hours: 18:00-22:00
Location: Riverside promenade, upstream from the imposing Chao Anouvong statue.
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