Top Things to do in Tokyo

Admire the plastic food display in Tokyo

As soon as you land at the airport, you will start observing the food display. I was intrigued and went close enough and thought ‘wow, they make these every day just for the display’. I was corrected by a fellow colleague who convinced me that it is actually made of plastic. I had to touch one of the displays to believe it. I however got used to it. I actually loved the idea of such a display as you know what you are going to eat. Hence I had to feature it in my things to do in Tokyo list.

Photograph the Tokyo tower

Situated in the business area Shimbashi, you cannot miss the orangish-golden glistening tower. Photograph it from your hotel, nearby walk bridges or under the tower. You can climb up the tower to get a bird’s eye view of Tokyo. Going up the tower has entry fees and I decided against it. For me, it was definitely one of the top 15 things to do in Tokyo.

Visit Tokyo Disneyland and be a part of the Disney parade

I just had to feature Tokyo Disneyland in the most popular things to do in Tokyo. How can anyone miss this childhood bucket list while in Tokyo? Yes, visitors will be spoiled for choice between Disneyland and Disney sea but visit one or both if time permits.

Since I was on a business trip to Tokyo, I only had an evening to spare. Thankfully there was an evening pass available and not a huge queue. I took the 6 pm to 10 pm pass and was able to tick off some of the popular rides and even the evening Disney parade. If you have a day, here is how to optimize the Tokyo Disneyland visit.

Visit Sensō-ji shrine

Tokyo’s most visited temple enshrines a golden image of Kannon (the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy) and is reportedly the most widely visited spiritual site in the world with over 30 million visitors annually. Be blessed by visiting this temple and drink water from one of its fountains (there is a particular way to do it and there are instructions for you to follow). You may also make an offering by drawing a wooden stick from the box, and pick up a fortune-telling paper strip in the drawer that bears the number indicated on your stick. If your fortune is good, you can keep it; but if it’s bad, it is custom to tie the strip of paper to one of the wires on the temple grounds so the bad omen will stay there and not stick to you.

Go Souvenir shopping

Well, you have to do this to take home gifts for friends and family. A shopping street called Nakamise leading to Sensō-ji temple will fulfill all your souvenir demands. From refrigerator magnets to keychains, Japanese dolls, chopsticks, fans, kimonos, and even Japanese confetti and cookies everything is available here. Carry big bags, I tell you!

Visit the Odaiba beach

Odaiba is a waterfront area built on reclaimed land in the Tokyo Bay area where you can gaze on both – hearth of the city and ocean while you dine and shop; overlooking the rainbow bridge, the statue of liberty, and Tokyo TV tower. This is definitely one of the amazing 15 things to do in Tokyo and you should not miss it.

Experience Tokyo Food

Visitors are certainly spoilt for choice with the variety of food available. Since I am a vegetarian I got some amazing veg food with local drinks. I had sticky rice, fresh raw vegetables with 9 types of sauce, Japanese tofu soup, veg sushi, fried vegetables, sake, and the unending supply of green tea.

Talking about food, Tokyo has some of the most unique themed cafes and they are must-try, some for the decor, some for the overdose of cartoon, and some for its delicious food.

Shop till you drop at Ginza street

Ginza is definitely one of the must visit places in Tokyo. Ginza is a market for luxury goods and reportedly the best to shop in Japan. Ginza is also of interest for its architecture, dining, tea rooms, entertainment, and attractions. The area glitters with lights and if you are up for high lifestyle shops you can shop from any brand in the world you want whether fashion, cars, or diamonds. There are of course affordable shopping options too or just window shopping!

Photograph the Cherry Blossom

The cherry blossom (also known as sakura) is Japan’s popular symbol. The flower holds a very prominent position in Japanese culture which makes it special for the locals as well as the tourist who especially travel in spring to see them bloom. White or pale pink, sometimes dark pink or yellow, there are over a hundred varieties of cherry trees.

There are many dozens of different cherry tree varieties in Japan, most of which bloom for just a few days in spring. The seasonal spectacle is celebrated with hanami (cherry blossom viewing) parties under the trees.

Japan celebrates the Cherry Blossom festival every year. Depending upon the weather conditions the dates are announced and tourists can plan their visit accordingly. Tokyo, Kyoto, Nagoya, Hiroshima, Osaka, and Fukuoka is where the festival takes place.

Since I visited Japan in November, I only managed to click the cherry blossoms embossed on these manholes.

Experience the traditional Japanese tea ceremony

Experiencing this tradition was one of the main highlights of my trip as it was so touching and rich. The Japanese tea ceremony is a choreographic ritual of preparing and serving Japanese green tea, generally served with Japanese confetti so as to balance the bitter taste of the tea. Preparing tea in this ceremony means pouring everyone’s attention into the predefined movements and the whole process is not about drinking tea but is about aesthetics – preparing a bowl of tea from one’s heart and placement of tea utensils at right angles. This is called ceremony for a reason – it makes you feel special and part of something important.

Experience Tokyo Waterways

Tokyo’s waterways have few takers but according to me, one must ride the waterways at least once. The options are aplenty – from the water bus to cruise ships, from party boats to Himika there is one for everyone.

The water bus is the most common way to experience the waterways, also affordable. It is a boat ride from Odaiba to Asakusa to experience the change from fast-paced city life to a slow old life. Watch the city from the river ride overlooking some beautiful and weird buildings. It covers all city landmarks such as Tokyo Skytree, Rainbow Bridge, and Asahi Group Headquarters Building.

Yakatabune or the party boats are unique to Japan and a lovely reminder of the olden days with the lighting of traditional paper lanterns. These boats are available for private rental and shared tours.

Dinner cruise ships set sail along the Sumida River and out to Tokyo Bay for views of the glittering skyline. There are a variety of cruises and operators, but dinner cruises tend to be popular and will need to be reserved in advance.

Walk across the small alleys in the centre of old Tokyo

Discover what these alleys have to offer and the way they display it. I personally love discovering any new place on foot. It is great to get a local flavor, engage in a dialogue with a local, try some food stuff, find a cheap bargain on accessories or simply photograph something interesting.

Buy a beverage from the Vending machines

Japan has the highest number of vending machines per capita with a reported 5.1 million vending machines. This is exactly why it is called the vending machine heaven.

The authorities want everybody to be well hydrated and have overdone installing the vending machines every few meters. There are vending machines in Tokyo for everything you can imagine – from dried fish to fermented soybeans, from fresh fruits to ready-to-eat noodles, from popcorn to milk, Tokyo has it all. There are vending machines for bizarre things selling idol photographs – dedicated to Japan’s popular idol bands Nogizaka46 and Keyakizaka46 as well vending machines selling umbrellas.

Look out for the expiry date as these beverages are also put up on 50% or 80% discounts before 2-3 days of expiry.

Use the ultra-modern toilets of Tokyo

This has to be one of the bizarre experiences in Tokyo! After using a toilet when you want to flush, it takes a few seconds to understand the signs on the panel, and then you realize the instructions are in English and Braille as well.  Welcome to the world of ultra-modern toilets of Japan!

I was never surprised in my life to use the various functions of a simple toilet. There are many buttons each with a great utility, promising to give a wonderful experience. Yes, using a toilet in Tokyo is no less than a memorable experience. Tokyo wants its visitors to experience luxury even in public toilets!

To start off, most toilet seats warm up as soon as you sit on them.  A panel installed near the seat called ‘washlet’ or ‘control panel’ has functions to clean you up after you are done with the business. And you don’t need toilet paper – how sustainable!  Users can choose the pressure and the temperature of water to clean them up.  Users can even mask any unwanted noise with a flushing sound.

Once you are clean, get up and an automatic sensor will flush everything for you. Sometimes there would be a hand sensor and if you take your hand near it, it will flush. Each toilet is unique in Japan.

Shop for delicacies at the Narita airport

Before bidding goodbye to this amazingly awesome place, it is important to stock on the yummy treats to carry back home. This is a massively difficult task, especially because there are way too many good options for souvenir shopping at Narita airport. So what to buy at Narita Airport?

Tokyo Banana is the must-buy souvenir in Tokyo. It is a dessert which is a fluffy cake filled with banana custard cream and shaped like a banana.  I tried to source these in the Senso-ji market but I did not find them. Narita airport has a huge shop dedicated to the Banana Tokyo goodies. Its popularity is apparent because of the huge queue in the shop.  I picked up the classic Tokyo Banana while it is available in many flavors and prints such as flowers and leopard.

Kit-kat in Japan is available in over a hundred flavors. If you are game to try some of the most bizarre flavors it is all available at Narita airport. Durian, Wasabi, and Edamame are some of the unusually flavored kit kats available.

Other chocolates which are must buy from Tokyo include Pocky (in these flavors: Kyoto Uji Matcha, Hokkaido Yubari Melon and Shunshu Kyoho Grapes), GODIVA Souvenir Biscuit Japan and ROYCE’ Chocolates.

Sustainable tips for Things to do in Tokyo

•  Tokyo is extremely disciplined hence you have to respect their laws. Always segregate your waste. Look for an illustration/creative in case the text is in Japanese.
• Be courteous – always greet and say thank you to every possible person – shopkeepers, taxi drivers, hotel staff, restaurants, etc.
• Use public transport: Everybody uses it so you must too. It is a cheap way to get around, there are people who can help you to get tickets from machines and frequency is good to get around anywhere in Tokyo.
• Eat Local: There are all kinds of varieties of Japanese food available – veg, nonveg, and vegan.
• Do not give tips at a restaurant: Staff takes it as an insult. Yes, it is true.

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2 DAYS IN PHNOM PENH

Independence Monument of Phnom Penh

Trip to Phnom Penh is incomplete without the visit to the independence monument of Cambodia, also known as Vimean Ekareach. The monument built in traditional Cambodian architecture was built in the centre of the city to pay respect to Cambodia’s independence from France in 1953 and serves as a memorial place dedicated to the Cambodian’s patriot who died for the country. The 20-meter high monument is inspired from the Khmer temple at Angkor Wat and is shaped as lotus stupa.

Visitors are allowed to go inside and can pay their respects from the outside. At night it is lit with the colours of the national flag and the monument stands out. The space around the Independence Monument is an open space with a garden so it also serves as a picnic place for locals at night. I saw a lot of families with their food baskets enjoying their meals here. 

I visited during the day and night.

Ideal Duration of visit: 10-15 minutes

Entry fees: Free

Wat Phnom temple

Among the things to do in Phnom Penh, Wat Phnom is one of the most popular places to visit in Phnom Penh. Phnom Penh is named after the Hill of Penh on which this ancient temple complex stands. It is a Buddhist temple which was earlier known as Krong Chaktomok. According to a legend, a lady found statues of the Buddha inside a tree floating in the River. With the help of villagers she built a temple by increasing the height of a hill which is now known as Wat Phnom.

Today, the temple is an amalgam of styles and structures from across its more than 600-year history, including gardens built by the French in the late 19th century and shrines that represent Taoist, Confucian, and Hindu beliefs.

The locals have a lot of faith in this temple and that is why it is extremely busy throughout the day. 

The main stairway to the temple is guarded by statues of lions and naga, the mythical snakes of Hinduism and Buddhism. After climbing a few flights of stairs you’ll come across a man releasing sparrows by paying money. This is the Buddhist belief of saving all beings from suffering while gaining personal merits. It was heart-wrenching to see these birds being forced out of the cage, just to be caught back again to put in the cage. Please do not pay here! 

The interior of the temple has a central altar complex with a large bronze seated Buddha surrounded by other statues, flowers, fruits, candles and other items of devotion. The walls and ceiling are covered with murals, especially of Buddha’s earlier reincarnations, the Khmer version of the Ramayana. There are other smaller temples and idols around the complex and people are seen worshipping and offering Prasadam (religious offering consisting of food and drinks).

Ideal duration of visit: 1 – 1.5 hours

Entry fees: US$1

National Museum of Phnom Penh

Your 2 days in Phnom Penh are incomplete without a visit to the National Museum. If you are interested in archaeology, then the National Museum is a dream stop for you. The National Museum of Cambodia has the world’s finest collection of Khmer sculpture. The sculptures are housed in a beautiful terracotta structure of the traditional design. The structure of the museum is gorgeous and the insides are also maintained nicely with proper interpretation of each artifact.

I was blown away by the fact that there are sculptures of Hindu deities housed in the museum. The idols were recovered from the 10th 11th and 12th centuries in the areas around Angkor. There are many sculptures of Vishnu, Ganesh and Shiva in various poses. 

The complex also has a stunning courtyard with fountains, statues, ponds where visitors can take a break and relax on the benches.

Guided tours are available in English, French, Spanish and Japanese languages. Audio tours are also available in eight languages. A comprehensive booklet, The New Guide to the National Museum (US$15), is available at the front desk. 

Note that visitors are not allowed to photograph the collection. However, I was allowed to take pictures of the central courtyard. 

Ideal duration of visit: 2 – 2.5 hours

Entry fees: US$10

Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda

Some people may want to give this a miss if you have only 2 days in Phnom Penh. But the Royal Palace has a stunning architecture that awes all the locals and tourists alike. It is the official residence of the King of Cambodia. The palace occupies several acres of land in the city center with several buildings inside the complex.

Check out the most impressive Throne Hall and sink in to see the royal and majestic interiors. You can observe the hall from doors and windows and are not allowed to go inside. Don’t even try as there are guards.

Aside from the Throne Hall, the other important building is the Silver Pagoda. The pagoda is named so as it is made of 5329 silver tiles covering the pagoda floor weighing almost five tones. You will not see it as it is covered by tiles except a small portion near the entrance is exposed. You will know this only if you get a guide (we didn’t but we overheard one of them).

Get awed with 2 statues of Buddha – a large one referred to as the Emerald Buddha and a small solid-gold Buddha encrusted with 2,086 diamonds. The gem above the forehead weighs 25 carats and another on the chest is a hefty 20 carats.

Note: Royal Palace is closed from 11 am to 2 pm. 

Ideal duration of visit: 1.5 hours

Entry fees: US$10

Evenings in Phnom Penh

Since all the visitor places close at 5 pm, you have the evening to relax. If you want to relax by the riverfront head over to Sisowath Quay. Watch the sun go down with some ice coffee or food. 

Nightlife in Phnom Penh

If you are feeling adventurous head over to the Nagaworld Casino to try your luck in any of the 100 games spread to 3 floors. There is a live dance performance every 30 minutes which you can enjoy while enjoying a drink or pastry from their shop. The food options are amazing as well. Nagaworld has its own duty free shopping in the basement in case you want to shop.

If hitting the casino is not your scene then you can simply enjoy the street food or Cruise on the Tonle Sap. If you want more than just street food, you check out one of the many night markets in Phnom Penh including alongside the river on Sisowath Quay. Alternatively, there are others such as Jet Container Night Market, with pop-up restaurants, bars, and stores, and is well worth the visit alone.

Ideal duration of visit: 2-3 hours (depends)

Entry fees: Free

The Killing Fields – Choeung Ek Genocidal Center

The Choeung Ek Phnom Penh Killing Fields are located 15 kilometres from Phnom Penh and will require a lot of time in commuting and in the field so dedicating an entire morning is best. Hire a tuk-tuk for the day (US$25) and it will cover everything.

Phnom Penh underwent a horrifying genocide that was carried out by the Khmer Rouge regime (led by Pol Pot) between 1975 and 1979. Out of the 7 million population then, over 1.7 million died of starvation, execution, disease or overwork. Some estimates place the death toll even higher. 

The Khmer Rouge apparently arrested and killed all people from the previous regime – including soldiers, politicians and bureaucrats, educated, capitalist and city people, to grow rice and other agricultural products as Pol Pot wanted to develop Cambodia into an agrarian economy like the Angkor Empire in earlier days. When people complained they were tortured and killed, including women and children. You should read in detail about the history of Cambodia.

An audio tour around the field gave us an idea of what happened here. You can still see bones and scraps of clothes on the ground. The Khmer Rouge utilized barbaric methods for killing – farm tools, bamboo, axes, and sharp sugar cane branches. One-stop on the audio tour included “the killing tree” where children were held by their legs, swung against the tree and then discarded into the mass graves. It’s impossible to imagine such inhumane activities done only a few years ago!

Ideal duration of visit: 2-3 hours

Entry fees: US$15 (includes audio tour)

Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum

If you have the heart to see the genocide museum after visiting the killing fields, go for it. I did not so I passed!

Codenamed as S-21, Tuol Sleng was converted from a school to an interrogation centre on the orders of Pol Pot when his Khmer Rouge movement took control of Cambodia in April 1975. At least 12,000 people who were held here were killed here. 

The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is now the memorial site of the S-21 interrogation and detention center of the Khmer Rouge regime. Located in the heart of Phnom Penh, it preserves a tragic period in history with the aim to encourage visitors to be messengers of peace.

Ideal duration of visit: 1-2 hours

Entry fees: US$8 (includes audio tour)

Phnom Penh Central market

Central market is quite popular with locals and tourists alike in Phnom Penh and has cheap deals on almost everything – clothes, souvenirs, jewellery, duplicate designer bags, shoes, etc. even though it is cheap, bargain at least 30-40% or more.

Ideal duration of visit: 2-3 hours

Entry fees: Free

PRACTICAL TIPS ABOUT 2 DAYS IN PHNOM PENH

Phnom Penh Weather

Cambodia has a tropical climate and is hot and humid most times of the year and rains almost daily. The best time to visit Phnom Penh is between November and April when it sees very little rain. 

I visited Phnom Penh in August and it was super humid. Being from India, it was bearable for me. 

Phnom Penh food

Phnom Penh tourism is incomplete without tasting the local food, just like most Asian countries. Phnom Penh noodles are extremely popular among the locals and tourists alike. Unfortunately, being a vegetarian, I couldn’t have any street food as all of them had meat. Plus I was staying with my parents so I just preferred having food cooked by my mom. I did relish the array of fresh fruits in Phnom Penh.

If you are a vegan or a vegetarian like me, don’t lose heart. You may not be able to enjoy the street food like others, but there are many Indian restaurants which serve thali meals. Not only Indian but even middle eastern and other veg platters are available. Check this – vegetarian restaurants in Phnom Penh guide.

Safety in Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh is generally safe during the day but there have been incidences of pickpocketing and bag snatching, just like any other tourist city. Simply be alert with tuk-tuk drivers and do not befriend them. Leave valuables and bank cards at home where possible. Drink spiking in bars is not common in Phnom Penh but it is always best to be alert and buy your own drink.

Where to stay in Phnom Penh

I stayed in my parent’s apartment but these are some of the properties I had looked up when I was helping a friend search for where to stay in Phnom Penh. Whether you are staying for 2 days in Phnom Penh or more these are some of the good options to look into.

Resort in Phnom Penh/ Luxurious stays in Phnom Penh: Courtyard by Marriott, Nagaworld Resort

Hotels in Phnom Penh: Grand River Boutique Hotel, Grand Waterfront Hotel

Hostel in Phnom Penh: Onederz Hostel, Feliz Hostel

SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL TIPS FOR 2 DAYS IN PHNOM PENH

• Cambodia is still a developing country and has a lot of poverty. Try buying food and clothes from a local market/food joint to boost their economy rather walking into a mall/food chain.
• There is a lot of waste lying on the streets. But as ethical tourists do not add to it. If you do not find a bin, keep the waste with you, till you find one.
• Cover your knees and shoulders at all times. It’s a hot and conservative country – protect your body with clothes rather than sunscreen.
• Hire local guides and tuk-tuk drivers – they will get a day’s meal for their family
• Drinking water – try and refill water bottles instead of buying them every time. Hotels and restaurants have refilling facility and don’t shy away from asking. You’ll save money and the environment.
• Do not pay the beggars – at times you’ll almost want to give in to the grim-looking expressions. They may be part of a gang and your money may fund it and lead to more beggars on the streets. Best is to avoid eye contact.

Read More Cambodia Posts:

Is Angkor Wat worth Visiting?

Read popular posts about neighbouring countries:

Thailand: 3 days Nakhon Phanom Itinerary

Laos: Must visit attarctions in Luang Prabang

Vietnam: 2 days in Hanoi | Hoi An Itinerary

Have you been to Phnom Penh? How was your experience? If not, did you find this 2 days in Phnom Penh guide useful enough to plan a trip there? Let me know in the comments below!

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Luang Prabang Night Market Information

About the Night Market

A straight street is cordoned off for traffic and visitors can see four lines of vendors selling local food, handicrafts, merchandise, jewellery and souvenirs. Approximately 300 sellers set up their mats on the road under. The set up is in such a way that there is one way in and one way out and the vendor’s stalls face each other on both sides. 

Although visitors want to shop authentic products from the night market, cheap Chinese goods have flooded the market. These goods are lookalike of original Laotian products and present vendors with reliable profits. Shoppers need to beware and look for Handmade in Luang Prabang tags which are helping the local artisans and vendors. This sticker tag can be found on most merchandise, including pottery, jewellery, lacquerware, silks and cotton scarves. The sticker’s presence assures the buyer of the item’s high quality and authentic make.

Location of Luang Prabang Night Market

I was dropped at the junction of Kingkitsalat Road near the post office by my Hotel shuttle. The market is set upright in the middle of town at Sisavangvong Road. Even if you don’t take a tuk-tuk or shuttle to the city centre it is super easy to find it on Google maps. Just input Luang Prabang Night Market or Avani hotel and it is pretty much a straight walk from there. 

Luang Prabang Night Market Timing

The night market set up begins at 4 pm by the locals while the market officially opens for business at 5 pm every day. The market is open till 10 pm. The otherwise busy Sisavangvong Road is blocked for traffic for this duration. Even bikes are not allowed. 

Shopping in Luang Prabang Night Market

Lanterns and Handicrafts

The local Laos community makes paper and silk lanterns which are extremely beautiful and colourful. I almost had Hoi An feeling while going across the lantern stalls and I almost bought one to give the Vietnamese lantern some company but decided otherwise.

Other handicrafts include hand-carved wooden products and toys, hand-sewn slippers and many many others.

I was especially surprised to see jewellery being made from aluminum of the bombs and crashed planes during the Vietnam war. The villagers were taught to recycle the metal into cutlery and jewellery.

Fabrics and Outfits

Luang Prabang Night Market has many stalls selling cotton and silk fabrics. There are many eye-catching cotton cushion covers with many designs that it is difficult to resist buying it for back home. There are even bed covers and pillows in a wide assortment of beautiful designs!

The night market also sells elephant printed pants which are extremely popular all over Asia as well as all ‘I Love Laos’ t-shirts.

Something more eye-catching in this market is the Indigo dyed outfits and purses. There are shorts, t-shirts, blouses, pants with lovely dyed prints.

Souvenirs

Visitors will find typical souvenirs like keychains, fridge magnets, shot glasses, bags, toys and postcards in the Luang Prabang Night Market. The best part about these souvenirs is that they are all locally made. Even fridge magnets and keychains are hand painted which is such a respite from ‘Made in China’ tags on its rear side!

Lao Coffee and Tea

As much as I fell in love with Vietnamese coffee, I would be lying if I told you that I found Laotian coffee better than Vietnamese!

Yes, the Laotian coffee is a premium quality Arabica, organically grown in the mountains of Northern Laos, hand-picked, processed, and hand-sorted to give the best coffee experience. There are an ample number of cafes lined on the Mekong river proposing for a charming coffee experience. I may write about visiting Saffron Coffee later but picking up Lao coffee is non-negotiable!

Lao Lao Whiskey

Like most Southeast Asian countries, Laos also has a tradition of adding reptiles or insects to their alcoholic beverages. Few vendors at the Luang Prabang Night Market sell “Lao-Lao” rice liquor, poured from bottles with snakes and scorpions pickling in the liquid. Sellers offer visitors to try some before selling you the whole bottle, something very similar to Snake Whisky of Vietnam.

Luang Prabang Night Market’s Food

How can we forget food when we are talking about the Night Market?

Food vendors are situated at the start of the market, perfectly positioned for visitors who want to start their evening with a meal and then shop, or for the shoppers looking for a bite just before going back to their hotels.

There is a lot on offer at these stalls which sell cooked food a la carte, and buffet-style meals, all served on makeshift tables and benches along the street. You stand and eat or pack it and eat along as you shop, depending upon what you are eating. I am a vegetarian but still giving non-vegetarian options based on my friend’s suggestion who visited with me. There are plenty of vegetarian options across Luang Prabang whether it is street food or in hotels.

Meat Barbecue

The traditional way of barbecuing meat in Lao is the meat is either skewered or clamped between bamboo sticks over burning charcoal. Most preferred meat is ping kai (roast chicken) and ping pa (roast river fish).

Sausages

Lao sausages involve a healthy helping of fatty pork and sticky rice flavoured with herbs and chilies.

Baguettes

Thanks to French influence, baguettes are easily available and super tasty. With the options of toppings such as tofu, avocado, cheese, tomato, etc lettuce, baguettes are available here during the day too.

Coconut pancakes

A healthy, delicious and soul-satisfying plate of freshly-cooked and piping-hot coconut pancakes served on a banana-leaf plate is the answer to the much-required sugar rush after shopping through Luang Prabang Night Market.

Salads and Fruit shakes

There are vegetarian stalls that sell all-you-can-eat buffet options which include many varieties of salads.  There are ample varieties of fruit shakes being sold such as mango, dragonfruit, and limes.

FAQs about Luang Prabang Night Market, Laos

Is shopping and eating at Luang Prabang Night Market affordable? 

All the merchandise sold at Luang Prabang Night Market is extremely affordable. Do remember that you are paying for the artist’s hard work and time spent in making the product. 

Currency exchange at Luang Prabang Night Market

Did you run out of local currency while shopping and eating at Luang Prabang Night Market? Fret not. Just at the starting of the market, there are a couple of currency exchange shops and you can easily exchange US Dollars, Thai Baht and Vietnamese Dong to Lao Kip. Do compare exchange rates in all 3 shops located and go for the best rate.

I had bought something from a vendor and was short of a few Kip. He saw me scrambling through my wallet and happened to see Thai Baht in my hand and offered to take it. I had no immediate trips to Thailand so I chose to give it.

Is shopping in Luang Prabang Night Market safe?

Luang Prabang as a town is super safe as it is frequented by a lot of tourists. And similarly, the night market is safe with negligible incidences of pickpocketing.

Where to stay in Luang Prabang

Luxury: Sofitel, Luang Say Residence, Rosewood

Mid-Budget: Villa Phathana Boutique Hotel

Low Budget: Sunrise Riverside Pool Hostel, Chill Riverside Hostel & Cafe

Sustainable tips for Shopping at Luang Prabang Night Market

• Don’t bargain: The prices are anyway very affordable so don’t bargain too low or don’t bargain at all. As I mentioned earlier, the local community benefits from the sale and every sale by a visitor helps in making their ends meet. Bargaining reduces their profit margins. Thankfully the vendors are not rude when you bargain like in Thailand and will simply smile. Walk away if the price doesn’t match and don’t haggle too much. 
• Say no to Plastic Bags: Luang Prabang is the most sustainable tourist place but there is still use of plastic bags in the night market. It is best to carry your own shopping bag and say no to plastic bags. 
• Use trash cans for disposing of leftover food or plates.

Read More Laos Articles here:

• Kuang si waterfalls, Luang Prabang
• Nong Khiaw Viewpoint
• Ethical cheese

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