ไทย
English
Travel Laos Luang Namtha Luang Namtha Market (Luang Namtha market)
Project gen by hotsia
Luang Namtha Market (Luang Namtha market) http://www.hotsia.com > Mr.Hotsia Trip to Luang Namtha: Muang Sing, Muang Long, Chiang Kok, visiting Luang Namtha city, evening market, dark market Luang Namtha, delicious food in Luang Namtha, Luang Namtha bus station, delicious Pho restaurant in Luang Namtha, Luang Namtha Market 2013, Sing city morning market, Sing city evening market, authentic Lue fermented rice, Sing city bus station, traveling to Laos when I visited the evening market of Huay Sai
I have already introduced the first part of the Bat Man story featuring the big hen bat. When I arrived at the fresh market of Luang Namtha, I found small ordinary bats being sold at two baht each. This is "Bat Man story part two." I still remember my childhood when I hunted various birds to eat and recalled that bats and swallows tasted bitter and were not delicious. So when I encountered bats in Luang Namtha, I was surprised that Lao people must have some good way to prepare them.
Regarding how they prepare bats to eat, which leads to the demise of many bat men, the sellers told me that they make 'mok' with the bats to make them tasty (mok means cooking and wrapping in banana leaves then grilling). I observed that the bat market here did not sell well. There were 4-5 sellers, and even near dusk, sales were slow. When I took photos, they offered discounts and giveaways, indicating that Lao people do not commonly eat bats. When I asked about the source, the sellers said
they use nets to trap bats in caves, catching several bags at a time, then sell them wholesale to shops in Luang Namtha market. Most fresh markets in Laos are run by villagers selling fresh vegetables and fish, unlike markets in Thailand where spaces are leased or reserved like large markets. So when we visit Laos and stroll through markets, we get to see the real village lifestyle. Besides the bats I encountered, most of Luang Namtha market sells fresh vegetables
naturally gathered from forests and mountains at very cheap prices because they are easy to obtain, unlike fish or meat which are usually more expensive than normal. Sometimes in Laos fresh markets, you may find wild animals. Actually, Laos has laws punishing wildlife traders. From my inquiries with Lao people, examples of penalties and fines in Laos are as follows: selling elephants is fined about 300,000 baht and imprisonment; anyone trading or selling tigers is fined
200,000 baht and imprisoned for 2 years; anyone trading or selling deer is fined 6,000 baht. Bats are sold in bunches for 10 baht. Since some wild animals in Laos still exist in large numbers, smuggling is sometimes found in markets but has decreased significantly recently. The Hotsia.com website does not support wildlife trade and does not encourage trying or eating such animals. Any mention is only to inform, with no other intention. We are independent travelers.
When staying, accommodations usually do not have kitchens for cooking. Walking through markets and wanting to eat this or that is normal, but it doesn't mean you can't eat. I have a tip: if you stay in a town for one or two nights, find a restaurant that looks good and chat with them to have a few meals there. Then ask if you can buy pork and have them fry it for you. Most are kind and willing, and you can offer a small frying fee. When I went,
I mostly ate pho, pho, and pho until bored, wanting full protein because pho has only a little meat. So I bought half a kilo of pork from the market and had the restaurant fry it for me, ordered another dish, and bought rice there. That was enough for a very delicious meal. Feel free to try it :) Bat Man story The highlight of Luang Namtha market, which I almost forgot to mention, is that this market is a village market where people come down from the mountains and forests to sell real products. From conversations and clothing, you can feel the naturalness.
Some people still cannot speak Lao well. Visiting Luang Namtha fresh market has its own charm. Just walking around, looking at goods, greeting and chatting with sellers is worth the visit to Luang Namtha for me. Another market I recommend is the Night Market, or as Lao people call it, the Dark Market. Their dark market is not an illegal market but a market from afternoon to night. This market sells all kinds of food: grilled chicken, pork, fish, fried items, and there are food shops selling portions in bags for 3-4 baht.
The prices are affordable. Luang Namtha people like to buy food to eat at home. Besides food shops, there is a dessert shop where I tried coconut milk lod chong (pandan jelly) which was quite delicious. Next to the dessert shop is a noodle shop. Besides food, the dark market also sells fruits at prices locals buy. The coconut milk lod chong at the night market is at the dessert shop in the dark market. On this first day of touring Luang Namtha, I walked for exercise, went up to the Luang Namtha stupa, and walked back to town.
On the second day, I rented a bicycle for 10 baht for over an hour, almost two hours, riding around Luang Namtha including both markets. Luang Namtha has old houses, genuine wooden houses by nature. The city is very clean, the air is cool and comfortable. Wherever I went, people smiled brightly, invited me to eat, and offered drinks, like Thailand’s 'Land of Smiles' 30 years ago.
I really like Luang Namtha and will definitely come back to visit again... Mr.Hotsia mr.hotsia recommends hotels in Luang Namtha, map of fresh and other markets. Luang Namtha also has karaoke called Red Pub Karaoke. Most old houses like these in Luang Namtha, fresh market area also has clothing and daily goods markets. Luang Prabang fresh market villagers bring vegetables to sell. Freshwater seaweed is delicious. They tie bamboo sticks like this. This is the one I used for a large photo. In the evening, vegetables are still not sold out; sellers outnumber buyers. Small cattle can be cut.
Highly popular dessert, coconut milk lod chong which I like. Everyone stared at me because tourists like me rarely come here. Papaya salad is sold by the plate. Fruit sellers smile brightly. Luang Namtha dark market. Food at Luang Namtha evening market.
