Riding the Laos High-Speed Train #5/10: Luang Prabang Morning Market 2022

Riding the Laos High-Speed Train #5/10: Luang Prabang Morning Market 2022

Hello, I'm mr.hotsia. Today, I will take you to experience the atmosphere of Luang Prabang's morning market, a World Heritage city full of charm and traditional lifestyles that remain deeply natural. The Luang Prabang morning market starts at dawn around 5:30 AM. Vendors have already prepared fresh goods. Anyone who has visited fresh markets in Laos knows that this place focuses on selling fresh items like vegetables, fish, frogs, toads, and local foods that are rare in the modern world.

This morning market is not just a place to buy fresh goods but is like the heart of the Luang Prabang community where people come to meet, talk, and exchange daily life stories. I have visited here many times, but this time is special because I arrived by the Laos high-speed train, which is a new experience and allowed me to see the city rapidly changing while still impressively preserving its unique identity.

Upon arriving at the morning market, I walked past stalls of fresh vegetables lined up in bright colors, including local vegetables rarely seen in big cities. These vegetables are grown by villagers around Luang Prabang. Some are local herbs used by villagers for cooking or medicinal purposes. I enjoy strolling through this market because I can smell the freshness and feel like I am traveling back in time when fresh markets were truly the center of community life.

Besides fresh vegetables, the market also sells live fish and aquatic animals. I saw large frogs and toads caught by villagers for sale, a sight rarely seen in Thai markets due to modernization and convenience. But Luang Prabang still preserves this traditional way of life well.

For breakfast, I recommend tryingKhao Jeewhich is the local breakfast of Luang Prabang people. Khao Jee here differs from other places by offering a variety of seasonings and side dishes. Some vendors add eggs, grilled pork, or fresh seasonal vegetables. The taste is rich and fragrant. I often rely on Khao Jee as my breakfast here because it is a perfect way to start the day.

After walking around the market, I talked with local vendors. They said that although Luang Prabang attracts many tourists, the morning market still maintains its traditional atmosphere and is an important fresh food source for locals who do not have large shopping malls like in the capital. Walking through this morning market is a genuine way to experience the local lifestyle.

If you have time after the morning market, I recommend walking to seethe affordable food alley and Luang Prabang Walking Streetwhich offers many delicious local foods to try. It is also a great opportunity to observe the daily life of Luang Prabang people at different times of the day. I have written before that this city is a popular destination among Thai travelers because of its tranquility, beauty, and preserved culture.

For traveling to Luang Prabang, if anyone is interested in bus services, I have recommended in the articleSouthern Bus Station Luang Prabangwhich has buses to many provinces and important cities in Laos, including air-conditioned buses. This makes traveling much more convenient compared to the past.

While I was riding the Laos high-speed train to Luang Prabang, I recorded a video that you can watch hereRiding the Laos High-Speed Train #5/10: Luang Prabang Morning Market 2022which helps to see the market and Luang Prabang city atmosphere from a fresh perspective.

Finally, I want to say that walking through the Luang Prabang morning market is not just shopping but learning and experiencing the real life of Lao people in a small city full of charm and warmth, just as I, mr.hotsia, feel every time I visit here. This trip is another memory I want everyone to experience for themselves.