Not quite sure of what I would find street food wise in Vientiane I was truly ecstatic to be blown away by what was a chance visit to That Luang Food market.
How did I end up here? Well everything online said you should head to the various night markets, but after finding myself at the wonderful Doi Ka Noi Restaurant I had a cursory look at what was near. Well it turned out that the nearest place was a 10 minute walk away and that was That Luang Food Market.
What the That Luang Food Market?
That Luang Food Market in Vientiane is a culinary treasure located near the iconic Pha That Luang stupa. Known for its buzzing atmosphere, it’s a spot where locals and travelers gather to savor authentic Lao flavors.
Originally set up to serve the nearby temple-goers and visitors, it has become a vibrant marketplace offering an array of traditional dishes. Beyond just food, it reflects Vientiane’s community spirit, blending religious tradition with the joy of sharing meals.
This market is truly a local affair and is much less commercial than the various night markets, bit least because I guess the Lonely Planet has not gotten around to recommending it.
What food do they have?
At That Luang Food Market, you’re diving into the heart of Lao street food. Must-try bites include khao jee (Lao-style baguette), often filled with meats and herbs for a satisfying crunch. Another classic is laap—a minced meat salad with herbs, lime, and spices that brings the heat.
For a snack, grab ping gai (grilled chicken skewers), which are smoky and juicy, and tam mak hoong, the spicy green papaya salad Lao-style. You can also find khao niaw (sticky rice), which is essential to any Lao meal, perfect for pairing with savory dishes around the market.
And honestly I could go on, with me personally getting the aforementioned sausages, as well as the local version of Balut, known as khai luuk, their variation of pong muan ang known as khai being, as well as a deep fried shrimp ball covered in chocolate whose name I did not get. And while I did not get it (this time) even my favorite raw shrimp dish Goong Leow was up for grabs.
I will not go into huge detail about many of these dishes for I feel I shall not only eat them again, but give them standalone articles. In car you have not guessed I was really impressed with That Luang.
All of the food was amazing and while I will still check out some of the other markets I will be shocked if they can handle a candle to this place.
The That Luang Vibe
On arrival you are almost shocked by how low key things feel before you get to the entrance where the sights, sounds and smells hit you like a freight train. There are no sections as such with the food being a complete mixed bag, at least in the covered part.
On exit the food adventure continues though with the extra stalls going off in 3 directions testament to how this place has obviously grown. The only and point? There is nowhere to really sit and enjoy the food, but hey this was clearly not built for tourists. On my trip I saw maybe 4 Farang at best, with the servers not speaking a lick of English meaning calculator translations being the norm.
Crazily right at the end is a kind of “western” food area too which has Texas Chicken, Cafe Amazonia, Dairy Queen and the worst pizza joint on the planet – The Pizza Company. In fact it could not have looked more like a Cambodian street if it tried to.
Puzza seems to actually be a thing in Laos with local joints doing “Laotian Pizza”. I am yet to try, but hey why not, when in Vientiane after all.
That Luang Food Market Address;
The That Luang Food Market is near the famous Pha That Luang stupa in Vientiane, Laos, located on Rue That Luang. To get there from downtown Vientiane, you can take a tuk-tuk for around 40,000 to 50,000 LAK (roughly $2 to $3 USD), depending on your bargaining skills and time of day.
Try using one of the taxi apps in Laos such as Kok Kok If it works…..