Strolling Through the Colorful Night Market in Luang Prabang

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Most tourists who visit the market end up buying a few souvenirs to take home, both because of the exquisite handicrafts and because the friendly, gentle Lao vendors are so good at persuading you to open your wallet.

Visitors enjoying the experience of browsing and shopping for local products. (Photo: Collected)

Stepping down from Phousi Mountain (meaning “Colorful Mountain” in the local language) feels like entering a lively night market filled with countless tempting souvenirs: simple, neatly folded paper lanterns decorated with pressed bodhi leaves, Buddha hands, silverware and silver carvings, scarves, charming woven bags, colorful traditional Lao skirts, intricately embroidered purses, and graceful rattan or handwoven bags.

The Luang Prabang Night Market opens daily at around 6:00 p.m. and stays bustling until it winds down at around 11:00 p.m. (Photo: Collected)

I began wandering around the market, drawn in by the countless lights and stalls spread along the streets. There were so many things I wanted to buy, and everything looked adorable, with plenty of choices that would make perfect souvenirs.

The paper lantern stall glowed brightly, displaying lanterns that could be folded away neatly and used both as decorations and sources of light. At a stall selling fish-shaped bags, a little girl of about five years old sat with her mother. Her bright black eyes were constantly chatting away with her mother, who was busy arranging the merchandise while answering her daughter’s endless questions and, at the same time, greeting passing customers. There were Buddha hands and simply yet beautifully painted images of monks. The scarves came in countless styles and colors.

I wandered from one stall to another, going around the market and returning to the same places several times. Shopping is certainly one of the great pleasures for women, and they can spend days simply browsing a particular item. The market stalls were lively, yet there was very little haggling.

The night market is always crowded, especially after 9:00 p.m. (Photo: Collected)

During my days in Luang Prabang, I went to the market every night. Sometimes I went simply to take photographs; other times, I went looking for something to buy. Eventually, I came home with quite a collection of interesting things. Among them, the scarves became the items I used most. They later traveled with me to many places, served me in all kinds of weather, and eventually became colorful curtains that now shade the bedroom window at home.

With our arms full of shopping bags, we cycled beneath the moonlight along the peaceful river. The city felt remarkably safe, with little sense of violence or theft. People in Luang Prabang regard stealing as a serious crime, and those caught can face severe punishment. Perhaps this is partly influenced by the Buddhist atmosphere that surrounds people from an early age. We could leave our bicycles outside temples or in front of the market without worrying.

In the cool night air, we wandered through the streets, occasionally hearing prayers blending with the fragrance of flowers. I hoped that this sense of peace and gentleness would remain with Luang Prabang forever, so that even after leaving, travelers would long to return to this tranquil, meditative place. It felt as peaceful as the threads tied around our wrists by an elderly abbot, accompanied by his simple wish: May you find peace within yourself.

The quickest way to communicate prices is by using a calculator. (Photo: Collected)

After that wonderful trip, I returned to Luang Prabang once again, and my love for the place grew even stronger. I still hope to return, but I have not had the chance because flights are too expensive and traveling by road takes too long. For now, I will leave this place on my waiting list and return as soon as the opportunity arises.

In Luang Prabang, I want to spend days living slowly, gently and simply. I absolutely love the houses covered in greenery and the cool, refreshing breeze that flows through the city. I love the light, peaceful and meditative atmosphere, as well as the simple and gentle nature of the Lao people.

Daily life and livelihoods at the market. (Photo: Collected)

I remember meeting a Vietnamese man selling ice cream. He told me that the room he rented cost only a few hundred thousand dong, while he could earn tens of millions of dong from selling ice cream around the city when he worked hard. He said it was because Lao people tend to take life slowly. That was his observation, and I found it to be true as well. Here, people do not rush or compete aggressively. The busiest place may be the market, but even there, it is never excessively noisy.

The night market is one of the must-visit attractions when traveling to Luang Prabang. (Photo: Collected)

Perhaps this slow and carefree way of life is a form of happiness. We rush, make noise and constantly chase after things, only to find ourselves longing for moments of peace. Yes, I long for a life like that here. Gentle like the blossoms of the golden shower trees, like the soft footsteps of monks walking on alms rounds, like the quiet murmur of Buddhist prayers mingling with the fragrant smoke of incense as it drifts through the fresh, green air.

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