Monster in Houay Xai Market (Monster in Laos)

Monster in Houay Xai Market: The Monster in Laos at Houay Xai

Hello, I am mr.hotsia. Today, I will take everyone to experience the Houay Xai Market in Bokeo Province, Laos, a place that many may not know well yet. For me, this market is like a small window reflecting the lifestyle of the Lao people along the Mekong River clearly. And of course, I’m not just here for a regular market stroll, but on a special mission — to find the monster in Houay Xai Market!

Houay Xai is a border town located opposite Chiang Khong District, Chiang Rai Province. I arrived early at dawn because I knew the morning market here would be lively and full of fresh and unusual items that you wouldn’t know unless you see them yourself. The morning market is about 2 kilometers south of the town center. The locals call it “Lak,” which is a hub for fresh vegetables, fruits, and ingredients used daily by the nearby villagers.

Walking past the fresh green vegetable stalls, I caught the fragrant scent of local herbs like culantro, mint leaves, and Lao napa cabbage. Then my eyes caught a bag of freshwater seaweed freshly caught from the Mekong River. This is one of the ingredients the locals proudly offer. This freshwater seaweed has a sweet and soft taste, and it’s a specialty I liked so much that I bought several bags to take home. (For those who want to see the full atmosphere, I have a video for you to watch.)Monster in Houay Xai Market (Monster in Laos))

But what makes this market more memorable than just fresh ingredients is the “monster” I found while walking through the market. When I reached the aquatic animal section, I encountered an unusually large fish that the locals call the “monster” because its shape and size are unlike ordinary fish. Although it is a Mekong River fish, because Houay Xai is near the deep forest along the Mekong that remains abundant, this fish is large and has a shape different from any fish I have seen before.

I spoke with the market vendors who told me this fish was caught from the Mekong near the city of Hongsa, an area still rich with nature and diverse wild aquatic animals. If anyone is interested in river cruises and fishing for large netted fish in Laos, I recommend my articleMekong River Trip Laos 3: The Thrill of Catching Large Netted Fish Deep in the Forest at Hongsa Mekongthat I wrote, which clearly shows the exciting traditional fishing methods.

Evening Market Atmosphere at Houay Xai

After exploring the morning market and encountering the Mekong River monster fish, I didn’t miss the evening market of Houay Xai, located north of town about a 10-minute walk from the morning market. The evening market is just as lively, offering a variety of foods from grilled chicken, Lao papaya salad, to hot sticky rice with an aroma that fills the air. I ordered a spicy Lao papaya salad paired with hot grilled chicken and sat eating in a circle with the locals at the evening market, which made me truly feel immersed in the real lifestyle of the Lao people.

The Houay Xai evening market is no different from other local markets I have visited in Laos, such as the Kha Mu local market deep in the forest along the Mekong River, which I wrote about inMekong River Trip Laos 2: Raw and Unmatched - Kha Mu Local Market Deep in the Forest Along the Mekong River in Laoswhich is also full of fresh produce and authentic local flavors.

Friendliness and Traveling to Houay Xai

Traveling to Houay Xai Market from the town center is very convenient. I chose to use a tuk-tuk minibus service that is affordable and fair-priced. You can be assured that prices are not inflated because the locals understand that tourism helps generate income for the community. I saw smiles and friendliness from the Lao people throughout the journey. If anyone worries about prices, I recommend asking clearly before getting on the vehicle about the fare and whether it is per person to avoid misunderstandings.

After experiencing both the morning and evening markets here, I, mr.hotsia, want to say that visiting fresh markets like this is the heart of truly traveling in Laos because it allows us to deeply understand the local way of life more than just passing by in a car or reading general travel books.

If you want to truly experience life along the Mekong, I recommend planning a trip to Houay Xai. Don’t forget to prepare your camera or phone because the monster in this market is one of a kind in the world and will amaze you just as much as the food flavors and the warmth of the Lao people here.