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Most visitors to Luang Prabang only see the famous night market on the main street.
When I walked in for the first time, I realised I was the only foreigner in sight, surrounded by local families, teenagers on dates, and kids running between rides and game stalls.
This guide is for travellers who want to step out of the tourist bubble, especially families with small children who’d love a place to play with local kids.
I’ll explain where Thatluang Night Market is, what you can actually buy there, how to use it to keep your Luang Prabang trip affordable, and what to expect if you visit in the evening.
When I walked from the museum to the square, it felt like crossing an invisible line—from touristy Luang Prabang into the everyday city where local life actually happens.
That means it’s an easy after-dinner outing: come after the heat of the day, wander, let the kids play, and head back before it gets too late.
If you come by motorbike, there is a parking area where motorbike parking costs about 10,000 kip per bike .
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Why is this big night market almost tourist-free?
Thatluang Night Market is surprisingly large – in fact, it’s bigger than the famous night market on the main street – but you will still see almost no foreign visitors.
The simple reason is that everything sold here is meant for locals .
There are no rows of handicrafts, “Luang Prabang” T-shirts or obvious souvenir stalls.
For local people, this is a practical place to shop and hang out, not a tourist attraction.
Because of that, you’ll hardly see any other foreign tourists here, even though the market is larger than the main night market on the main street.
You’re surrounded by the kind of everyday scenes you rarely see if you only stay in the old town: mothers choosing pyjamas for their kids, teenagers comparing outfits, families picking toys.
Thatluang Night Market is also a popular date spot for local young couples and a relaxed evening destination for families.
Just standing there and watching people, I really felt that “blending into local life” sensation you rarely get in highly touristic areas.
ADVICE ADDED
If your time in Luang Prabang is very short and you mainly want souvenirs and street food in one place, the main night market may suit you better.
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What can you buy at Thatluang Night Market?
Because this is a local-first market, the products are everyday items rather than typical “travel souvenirs”.
You’ll see stalls selling things like:
Clothing Shoes Bags Sunglasses Toys Cute and “fancy” accessories for teenagers
Since it’s also a date spot for local young people, many stalls focus on trendy clothes and fun accessories for young men and women.
At the same time, it’s very family-friendly, so there are lots of stalls selling children’s clothes, pyjamas and toys.
For travellers, the smart way to use this market is to top up your travel wardrobe :
Simple T-shirts
Thin, loose trousers
Cheap sunglasses for the strong Luang Prabang sun
Buying these locally lets you pack lighter from home, and you don’t have to worry too much if something gets damaged during your trip.
Prices are noticeably lower than in the main tourist night market, and many stalls show clear price tags, so you can shop without bargaining.
Can you buy souvenirs here for people back home?
There are no typical tourist souvenirs at Thatluang Night Market – no postcards, magnets, or packaged “gift” snacks.
However, you can find a few things that work as casual souvenirs, especially for close family:
Local snacks and sweets that look like they might keep for a little while
These are usually not individually wrapped and often don’t show any expiry date , so they are not ideal if you need formal souvenirs for colleagues or for bringing into countries with strict food rules.
For family or close friends, though, they can still be fun.
You can share them at home, and you’ll probably end up talking about how snacks back home taste different – it becomes part of the story of your trip.
ADVICE ADDED
If your time in Luang Prabang is very short and you mainly want souvenirs and street food in one place, the main night market may suit you better.
Is Thatluang Night Market good for kids?
Yes – especially for small children , this market can be a highlight of a Luang Prabang trip.
After dark, a mini amusement park appears inside the night market.
The attractions are simple – mainly a large slide and a merry-go-round – but the atmosphere is full of excitement.
Character balloons are sold nearby, and the whole space feels like a small travelling fair.
There are also more than ten game stalls, much like you’d see at a small local fair or festival:
Shooting games
Lotteries
Target-throwing games
Stalls selling cotton candy and popcorn
For kids, it’s basically like a festival that appears every night.
Watching local children shout with excitement as they ran between the rides and game stalls, I felt how precious this place is in a city that doesn’t have many specifically child-focused attractions.
If you are visiting Luang Prabang with small children, this is one of the few places where they can simply play and be noisy alongside local kids.
It’s a rare chance for them to mix with local children in a natural way, not just “look at” local life from the outside.
It’s not flashy entertainment — it’s the quiet kind of happiness where you stand with a simple snack in your hand and feel like you’ve slipped into everyday local life for a while.
＼ Lots of unique tours! Check them out now!／
Can you eat dinner at Thatluang Night Market?
Like the main night market on the tourist street, Thatluang Night Market does have some food stalls.
However, the food area is small – only about five stalls tucked away at one corner of the market.
You can grab something to eat there, but there isn’t a big selection, and it’s not really a place to sit down and enjoy a full meal.
The focus of this market is clearly shopping and playing , not food.
From live-music food spot to today’s more local market
Live music at That Luang Night Market before the pandemic Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Thatluang Night Market was more of a place to eat and drink with live music .
Food and alcohol were the main attraction, and the other stalls were just a small corner.
The atmosphere felt more lively back then, and personally I liked that version a lot.
Clothing stalls at That Luang Night Market before the pandemic—fewer stalls, a quieter feel. These days the balance has flipped: everyday-goods stalls cover most of the space, and the food area is much more modest.
ADVICE ADDED
Don’t come here expecting a full night-market-style dinner; think of Thatluang as a place to shop and snack after you have already eaten.
＼ Taste Luang Prabang in one evening — Check availability!／
Why you should visit now, while it’s still local-only
Right now, Thatluang Night Market is completely focused on local people .
Almost everything on sale is something locals genuinely need or enjoy.
But that may not stay true forever.
As more tourists slowly discover the market and start to visit, stalls that target visitors are likely to appear.
A mixed “local + tourist” market could be fun in its own way—but when that happens, the special feeling of “I’m completely surrounded by local life” will probably fade.
Right now, Thatluang Night Market still feels like a place “for locals, by locals” – and that feeling may not last once more tourists discover it.
The market is not very far from the main street, so it’s easy enough to add to your evening even if you are staying in the centre.
For families with small children, it’s especially valuable: in a city with very few child-focused attractions, this night-time amusement area is a rare chance for your kids to play and meet local children.
If you’re the kind of traveller who enjoys quiet, everyday moments —watching local kids on the slide, choosing a cheap T-shirt, drifting through a crowd where nobody is trying to sell you a tour—this market will make you happy.
ADVICE ADDED
If you want colourful souvenir stalls, Instagram-famous food and everything within a five-minute walk of your hotel, the main night market will probably suit you better.
Tabilus – Go Travel, Go Missing
Tabilus – Go Travel, Go Missing
Tabilus – Go Travel, Go Missing
＼ There are many attractive hotels! Check availability first!／
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