Laos is an excellent destination for those interested in picking up elaborate handicrafts. Buying locally made Laos products is a good way to contribute to the local economy and helps preserve traditional crafts, many of which are products of the different hilltribes in Laos. These include a range of hand woven and dyed textiles with designs that are unique to a region or tribe. Other traditional trades and crafts include wood and bone carving, basket weaving, saa papermaking.

Laos gold and silver jewellery are also popular buys because of their beautiful designs and good prices. You’ll be happy to learn that the money you spend here goes directly to grassroots.

Bargaining is not as common in Laos as in other SE Asian countries and credit cards are not generally accepted outside of upmarket hotels and restaurants.

If you plan to make some deal during your travel here then depending on your starting point, you should sort the list out for place and it will help you to save space in your bag and energy to carry stuff along.

Just plan it well and remember 3W: What; Where; When. What you want to buy, Where you can get it and; When it is the best time. This will certainly help you to save your bag’s space and you won’t have to carry them along on the whole trip.

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• Shopping in Vietnam
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• Shopping in Thailand

Vientiane: There are quite a few markets around Vientiane where fresh produce, as well as crafts and ornaments, can be picked up. the best place for souvenir shopping is the Morning Market in the centre of town. The market sells everything from live animals to handicrafts from all over Laos. North of the town centre is Talat Thong Khan Kham, a huge market selling a wide range of craftwork. Samsenthai, Panggkam and Setthathirat streets around the Nam Phu Fountain area are the places to shop for the most varied choice and prices for crafts, antiques and art. Here, hill-tribe and Thai Tribal crafts are plentiful.

The majority of jewellery shops are to be found along Samsenthai Street and trade primarily in silver and gold. Textile dealers congregate in and around Nokeo Khumman Street in the downtown area.

Lao International Trade Exhibition And Convention Center in Vientiane is the biggest place for trade Exhibition in Laos. The trade fair is hold 1 to 2 times a monh with plenty of products from various countries such as Lao, Thailand, Vietnam, and China. There is a supermarket, which called Tang Freres Lao Supermarket. It's a popular place for local lao as there are many entertainment facilities such as bowling, movie theater, snooker clubs, karaoke. There's golf court outside.

Luang Prabang: Much like Vientiane, the stuff can be found here are handicrafts, art, textiles and jewelry. Be sure to explore the night markets such as Thalat Sonpao or Thalat Dalat, where the Northern ethnic hill-tribe people sell handicrafts and creative textiles such as hand-sewn bedding, bags and many other distinctive souvenirs.

The numerous gift shops around the town are good for picking up couture-style textiles and quaint household objects.

Luang Prabang Night Market takes place between 17:00 and 23:00 beginning at Wat Mai and runing along Sisavangvong Road to the town centre hill-tribe traders emerge with their various apparels, ceramics, bamboo, lamps, blankets, bed covers, handicrafts and silk scarves. You will be amazed of wide varieties of stuffs you have never seen anywhere else

Hmong Market is where to go for all kinds of ethnic embroidered crafts. From the street, it may not look like much; but once inside, you will find labyrinths of stalls selling all things embroidered, from weaved bags, hill-tribe pants, hats and even underwear to bed covers, coin purses and other accessories.

Champasak: Souvenirs like weaving silk, silverwares, jewellery, antiques and hill-tribe products can be found at stalls located surrounding most of Champasak's attractions. When in Champasak, don't forget to try or buy the famous Lao Arabica Coffee grown in Bolaven Plateau.

The new market Dao Heuang about two kilometres southeast out of town offers everything from fresh food to metal items. The market is well organized and divided into different sections for different stuffs.

The Morning Market is about 200 metressouth from the town centre sells goods like clothing, crafts, silverwares, and household items. Although prices are negotiable, it is already inexpensive.

Savannakhet: Highlights are craft, art, antiques, fabrics, silverwares, hill-tribe products, and Laotian coffee. There are also several fresh markets in Savannakhet, another where one can observe a local lifestyle.

Around 100 meters to the east of the bus station, Savanxay market is big and interesting place to visit. Besides selling fresh greens and meats, visitors will also find plenty of opportunities to enjoy inexpensive prepared food during the daytime. There are also some pleasant stalls selling handicraft products.

Singapore Market is a four-storey market that is the biggest market in Savannakhet.

You can find here imported from Thailand, Vietnam and China.

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