Laos Travel Guide: Best Places to Shop in Vientiane
Shopping in Vientiane (Laos) is of the most exciting wander-trips for many travelers visiting the capital city. From river-side contemplating stores to tiny street boutiques round the quarters, Lao shops offer that quaint and amazing experiences as one of a kind in Southeast Asia! If you are into the culture, heritage and artifact vibe, consider several shopping suggestions in Vientiane from Sens Asia Travel.
NIGHT MARKET
As Laos’ largest bazaar, the Night Market attracts flux of visitors daily. The spot lines up a red straddling row (color of the roofs) near Mekong River and creates fascinating picturesque scene. Herein, visitors can freely enjoy their late promenade, grab and bargain for favorite items, eat up Lao street food culture or soak in the relaxing atmosphere, Southeastern wind and city night lights.
Vendors usually come early to set up their stalls around sunset. Souvenirs, clothes, accessories, paintings and even electronic devices are separately displayed and selected. Furthermore, an array of street-side eating options is visible at every corner as you cannot get starved or tired after a long shopping session.
Address: Mekong River Bank, Quai Fa Ngum, near Chao Anouvong Park
Opening Hours: 5.00 PM – 10.00 PM
Best Buy: Grilled food, traditional clothes, handbags
LAO DISABLED WOMEN’S DEVELOPMENT CENTER SHOP
LDWDC is a place of great beings, devoted working and quality shopping for any who comes to Laos. This center was built to help the disabled, especially women with disadvantaged abilities. The foundation and the stories out of this center are extremely uplifting and inspiring as they enable the possibilities that can be done with little resources.
Here, you can find lovely handicrafts and gifts with exquisite made and fairly priced to buy. Each of the items, table runners, scarves, napkins, key chains for example, reflects meticulous produce from the makers.
Address: Thadeua Road Hadsayfong District
Phone: +856 20 56 137 282
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri | 9.00 AM – 5.00 PM
Best Buy: Handmade handbags, knitted boxes, woven carpets
TALAT SAO
Open from early daylight to mid-afternoon, the morning market Talat Sao is a common place for locals and worth-paying-a-visit site for travelers coming to Vientiane. The location combines two distinct shopping experiences in just one medium, where traditional goods and modern retails are stuffed, displayed, mixed and sold really well.
Bargaining here is acceptable. There is great chance that you can find good products, second-hand to freshly polished Buddhism statues, handicrafts, clothes, shoes and accessories on an average budget.
Address: Talat Sao Mall, Lane Xang Avenue
Phone: +856 21 285 001
Opening Hours: 7.00 AM – 5.00 PM
Best Buy: Silverware, Buddhist items, traditional cloths, lacquer furniture
HOUEY HONG VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTER
The founder of the Centre is Ms. Chanthasone Inthavong, a Vientiane native, recently living in Tokyo, Japan. In 1982, she set up Action with Lao Children (ALC), a literacy non-governmental organization, now with offices based in both Japan and Laos. Whilst working, she still actively supports Houey Hong Centre and ALC from faraway, with many exchanges between the two countries. Aiming at sustainable objectives, the center has been striking to revive and widespread the essence of Lao’s traditional crafts, for instance, natural dyeing and traditional weaving. The items for sale are available at their gift shop with reasonable price.
Address: Lane 19, Houey Hong Village
Phone: +856 21 560 006
Opening Hours: 8.00 AM – 4.30 PM
Best Buy: Woven carpets, traditional cloths, dyed scarves
Web: http://www.houeyhongvientiane.com/
T’SHOP LAI GALLERY
This gallery might bring you a ware store/ body shop vibe as everything is set up with handmade wooden furniture, from gorgeous tables, symmetric stools to boxed cabinets. The whole area is covered by stylish displays of natural products, body oils, perfumes, organic soaps and charming trinkets with little pieces stuffed inside. All are fair-trade and made from locally sourced ingredients.
Venturing upstairs, visitors eventually find wide range of art collection with local artwork on sale lining the walls.
Address: Th In Paeng
Opening Hours: 8.00 AM – 6.00 PM
Best Buy: Paintings, soaps, handmade goods
ELEGANT BOUTIQUE
Located in the town center, nearby Nam Phou, Elegant Boutique offers guests with quality authentic handmade clothes, well-designed and manufactured by the owner, a professional Lao stylist.
If you are looking for traditional Lao fabrics to make a formal suit for parties or events, Ms Tamong (the owner) will help you with her fascinating fashion taste and insightful talent in designing. In addition, for those who are time-limited, the made-to-measure cloth here is ready to pick up after your half day order!
Address: No. 103, Pangkham Street
Phone: +856 20 55702223
Opening Hours: 9.30 AM – 8.00 PM
Best Buy: Traditional clothes, woven dresses, embroided suits
SAOBAN
Saoban is a member of PADETC, a Lao NGO that integrates socially sustainable programs in education, agriculture, microfinance, handicrafts, and community leadership. They represent a dynamic and promising new opportunity for preserving ancient crafts and techniques, an important cultural tradition among the diverse ethnic population of Laos. Saoban’s products come straight from the village, where they are made by hand, using traditional materials and techniques that have been passed on for generations.
Buying from Saoban, you will help provide employment and training for artisans, which also create a stable, sustainable livelihood for rural families and communities.
Address: Chao Anou Road, 97/1 Ban Watchan
Phone: +856 21 241 835
Opening Hours: 1.00 PM – 8.00 PM, closed Sundays
Best Buy: Lao textile items, Hmong clothes, handmade pillows, Cama scarves
CAROL CASSIDY’S LAO TEXTILES
The Carol Cassidy store is a workshop and gallery specialized in traditional Lao textile weaving with a strong emphasis on patterns and motifs. Using age-old techniques, this American designer works alongside local artisans to produce beautiful pieces of woven art. Items have been displayed in museums across the USA including at The New York Fashion Institute. Her wall hangings are renowned, but with a price tag to match her notoriety.
The studio/atelier/showroom is located in a beautiful old French Colonial house. You can see the weavers working, the dyed silk drying and the finished wall hangings, scarves and pillows etc. There are a range of textiles for interiors and the woven silk scarves make great lightweight gifts for both men and women.
Address: Ban Mixay
Opening Hours:
- Mon – Fri: 8.00 AM – 12.00 PM | 2.00 – 5.00 PM
- Saturday: 8.00 AM – 12.00 PM
Phone: +856 21 212 123
Best Buy: Lao textile dresses, woven scarves, dyed cloths
Web: http://www.laotextiles.com/
INSPIRED BY SENS ASIA TEAM