Tips for shopping in Vientiane- Vientiane travel guide

Tips for shopping in Vientiane

Considered as the commercial centre of Laos, Vientiane has a lot of shopping places for you to choose, from traditional markets to big commercial malls. You will be completely impressed by the diversity of items that are sold in Laos. If you are a slave of fashion, you can easily to get a suitable item of clothing, or if you like to purchase a keepsake, you are able to get handicraft or silk. There are thousands of cool things that you can buy in this beautiful city.  adventure Indochina travel

Here are some of the best places for shopping experience in Vientiane and some tips you should keep in mind when go shopping there.

Talat Sao (Morning Market)

Like other cities in Laos, morning markets are quite popular. One of the best market that I want to recommend you is Talat Sao Morning Market, which is opened at 7:00 in the morning and stays open till around 4:00pm daily. This market is located at Lane Xang Ave, at Khu Vieng street so you can walk in about 15 minutes to get there from the town center. The items that are sold here are so diverse, from T-shirts to silk scarves, from antiques to jewellery. Besides, they also include traditional Lao bags and cushion covers.

A corner of the Talat Sao Morning Market

A corner of the Talat Sao Morning Market – Source: naphavongguesthouse.com

When shopping at Talat Sao, you should keep in mind that vendors usually quote higher prices, so you should haggle. You also should dress comfortably because of the hot and humid atmosphere in the old market. Coffee and food are available so don’t miss the chance to try it.

Vientiane Night Market

For experience of shopping at night, you should go to Vientiane Night Market, which is so impressive with sprawling line of red-roofed stalls. The market lasts from 6:00 PM until midnight so you can spend up to 4 hours exploring the area if you like. Tours in Laos

Vientiane Night Market looks pretty with red-roofed stalls

Vientiane Night Market looks pretty with red-roofed stalls – Source: wordpress.com

The items here are quite cheap but it doesn’t mean that you cannot buy it at cheaper price in somewhere else so you should bargain or shop around first. There are fewer food joints than in Talat Sao, however you can walk around to watch the city under light.

Phaeng Mai Gallery

Some silk products are displayed at Phaeng Mai Gallery

Some silk products are displayed at Phaeng Mai Gallery – Source: textiletrails.com.au

If you are lovers of silk shawls and hangings, Phaeng Mai Gallery will be an ideal place for you. Phaeng Mai Gallery is situated at 117 Nongbouathong Tai Village, Sikhottabong District. Almost of the silk weavings are hand made items in variety of different designs. The coolest thing is you can observe the process of creating silk products in the workshop, how the staff reel, dye them and weave them into the beautiful products. You see, you can not only see a lot of amazing silk shawls and hangings, get a silk item for you but also acquire more knowledge of Laos cultures so it’s worth the visit.

The visitor is inrested in weaving

The visitor is inrested in weaving – Source: blogspot.com

Talat Sao, Phaeng Mai Gallery and Vientiane Night Market are some shopping places that you cannot miss when travelling to Vientiane. There is nothing more fascinating than walking under the red roofs of the stalls at Vientiane Night Market or feel the exclusive beauty of the silk weavings at Phaeng Mai Gallery.

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