Talat Sao (Morning Market)

Talat Sao (Morning Market) Review

To truly immerse yourself in Vientiane, visit this vast indoor bazaar that is, despite its name, actually open all day. The bright, orderly emporium holds everything from handwoven fabrics and wooden Buddha figures to electric rice cookers and sneakers. Most of the shops cater to locals, but there's still plenty to interest travelers: handicrafts, intricate gold-and-silver work, jewelry, T-shirts, and bags and suitcases to accommodate all your extra purchases. Many products are imported from abroad. Fruits, confections, and noodle soups are sold at open-door stalls outside, where Vietnamese shoemakers also ply their trade. The market, which is near the main post office, is made up of three Lao-style buildings, each with two floors. The funding of the construction (1989-91) came mainly from the market traders themselves.