Eating Water Centipede at Sam Neua Market

Taking you to eat water centipede at Sam Neua Market, Houaphan Province, Laos

Hello readers, I am mr.hotsia. I had the chance to travel to Sam Neua city, Houaphan Province, Laos, a small town known for its simple lifestyle and beautiful nature. At about 1,200 meters above sea level, the atmosphere here is cool all year round. Although it is a new town relocated from Vieng Xai just a few years ago, it is full of charm and unique local culture. I want to share my unusual experience trying “water centipede,” called “Kan To” by the Lao people.

This water centipede, Kan To, is not the ordinary centipede we see on land but one that lives only in clean water. The Lao people use Kan To to make a dish called “Mok Pla Pan,” a popular food among the people of Sam Neua and Houaphan Province. Mok Pla Pan is made from carefully prepared water centipedes, a rare dish nowadays because these centipedes must live in clean, natural water sources. Nowadays, it is almost impossible to find this type of water centipede in Vientiane, but Sam Neua still preserves this eating tradition firmly.

I had the chance to try Mok Water Centipede at Sam Neua Market, located by the Nam Sam River. This market is, in my opinion, the most colorful market I have ever visited. It’s not just an ordinary market but full of smiles and friendliness from the locals selling their goods. They are cheerful, and even the children who saw me walking by either asked to take photos or ran away adorably.

Sam Neua Market is clearly divided into different zones. There is a vegetable and fruit section where they weigh produce using an old Chinese scale, which I found truly charming and authentic. There is also a section selling whole chickens, ducks, and pigs neatly arranged. Not to be missed is the local food section selling Sam Neua sausages. This market has dozens of sausage vendors lined up, creating a festive atmosphere that anyone passing by must stop to taste.

Sam Neua sausage is another dish I highly recommend trying. I bought some and had the vendor fry it hot. The flavor was perfectly balanced. Although it looks simple, it is a rare taste to find in other cities. I guarantee that if you come to Sam Neua and don’t try the Sam Neua sausage, you will miss out big time.

Back to the Mok Water Centipede, I was initially hesitant because I was bitten painfully by a land centipede as a child, which left a lasting impression. But seeing the locals eat it, I had to try. Although the meat was a bit tough and the taste not very distinctive to me, I could feel it was a rare local dish still loved by many who would do anything to keep it from disappearing from Sam Neua Market.

I found Mok Water Centipede at the bus station in Vieng Xai city while preparing to visit Tham Than Phu Lead cave. They also sell Mok Kan To there. People from Vientiane who have tried this dish said they are hooked and seek opportunities to taste the authentic version in Sam Neua. This shows the water centipede’s fame and popularity are quite remarkable.

Traveling to Sam Neua is not as difficult as you might think. If interested, you can find travel information in the articleSam Neua Transport, Houaphan Provincewhere I have detailed all the airlines and buses that reach here. If you want to stroll around Sam Neua city and the market atmosphere, I recommend the articleWalking Around Sam Neua City, Houaphan Provinceto capture the local lifestyle and the charm of the people completely.

Sam Neua Market is located by the Nam Sam River, a small river flowing peacefully through the city. The market stretches along the riverbank, creating a very relaxing shopping and eating atmosphere. I walked around seeing fresh local produce, traditional snacks, and fruits and vegetables I had never seen in any other market. I also secretly tasted pho at a stall here, which sells the cheapest pho in Laos for only 5,000 kip (about 20 baht), very cheap compared to the usual price of 10,000 kip. I found the pho here fresh and decent, although you need to add some seasoning yourself. It was a very good dinner in Sam Neua.

I also saw the use of an old Chinese scale to weigh vegetables and fruits instead of modern scales, which are hardly popular here. This shows the preservation of traditional ways of life untouched by modernity, keeping Sam Neua Market’s unique and rustic charm intact.

For anyone planning to visit Sam Neua, don’t forget to try Mok Pla Pan or Mok Water Centipede at this market. Although I, mr.hotsia, may not be a die-hard fan of this dish, I admit it was a rare experience and gave me a deep insight into local life. Also, don’t miss trying Sam Neua sausage and the cheap pho at Sam Neua Market to get a full taste of food and culture in one place.

If you enjoy cave exploration and nature in Houaphan Province, I recommend reading the articlesTham Than Nu Hak, PhoumsavanandTham Than Kaisone, Phromvihanewhich are interesting tourist spots in this area.

My journey and stories in Sam Neua also include photos and video clips available in full on the websitemr.hotsia.comIf you have unique travel experiences or find interesting things in Laos, please send them to me. I will follow up and share real travel stories from the field as I always do. Thank you all for following and emailing me.

See you on the next journey. Goodbye.
mr.hotsia