You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
SHOPPING<br />
<strong>The</strong> central area <strong>of</strong> Luang Prabang is full <strong>of</strong> places to buy souvenirs, silk, handicrafts, and<br />
jewelry. With its royal heritage and the accompanying emphasis on pageantry and tradition<br />
it is no surprise that Luang Prabang has a rich tradition <strong>of</strong> artisanship. This is<br />
compounded by its situation at the heart <strong>of</strong> a mountain region where ethnic minorities<br />
forged their own traditions <strong>of</strong> craftsmanship. Bargains are hard to find these days but<br />
there is a lot <strong>of</strong> competition so you can certainly get a reasonable deal.<br />
Bookshops<br />
L’Etranger Books & Tea This bookshop stocks both secondhand books plus some<br />
new books on Southeast Asia. <strong>The</strong>y also serve a delicious range <strong>of</strong> tea in the gallery<br />
upstairs or on the terrace at the front. Open Monday to Saturday 8am to 10pm, Sunday<br />
10am to 10pm. Kingkitsarath Rd. & 020/537-7826.<br />
Monument Books This branch <strong>of</strong> the Indochina book chain stocks glossy c<strong>of</strong>feetable<br />
books, fiction, and nonfiction. It also sells foreign and international magazines at a<br />
fairly hefty price. Daily 9am to 9pm. 2 Thou Gnai. & 071/254-954.<br />
Markets<br />
Dara Market This is the central market next to Wat Phousi and until recently it was<br />
a rough-and-ready functioning provincial commercial hub selling motorcycle parts, electrical<br />
goods, flip-flops, light bulbs, some foodstuffs, and pretty much everything else you<br />
might need. That has now changed and it has been rebuilt and gentrified. This was<br />
inevitable given its position and Luang Prabang’s progress as a major tourist destination.<br />
Now it is a pleasant, clean, orderly, and mildly antiseptic tiled market with a series <strong>of</strong><br />
stalls selling clothes, fabrics, and jewelry as well as more practical things such as shampoo,<br />
shoes, bags, and c<strong>of</strong>fee. <strong>The</strong> sell is notably gentle here, and with a smile you can get<br />
people down by about 30% from their asking price. Daily 8am to 5pm.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Night Market Every evening from approximately 6 to 9pm, the end <strong>of</strong> Sisavangvong<br />
Road between the central junction with Setthathirath Road past the Royal Palace<br />
to the start <strong>of</strong> the main shopping area is blocked <strong>of</strong>f and becomes a Thai-style night<br />
market. Here you can get fabrics, wall hangings, T-shirts, ceramics, woodcarvings, and a<br />
great deal more from legions <strong>of</strong> grinning old ladies from the hills. Grinning they may be,<br />
but you will still need to bargain hard to get a good price. <strong>The</strong> place has a nice vibe and<br />
it’s quiet and largely candlelit. In high season there are crowds but they are rarely stifling.<br />
Shops & Boutiques<br />
Caruso Lao Handicraft Sandra Yuck’s inspired collection <strong>of</strong> housewares, furnishings,<br />
and silk. Daily 8am to 10pm. Sakkarine Rd. & 071/254-574.<br />
Fibre2fabric Fibre2fabric Gallery is a not-for-pr<strong>of</strong>it exhibition space that demonstrates<br />
the role and function <strong>of</strong> textiles from different regions and ethnic groups in <strong>Laos</strong>.<br />
Through temporary bilingual exhibitions, visitors and locals have the opportunity to learn<br />
about the cultural significance <strong>of</strong> textiles in local daily life. F2F, situated in a two-story shop<br />
house, is a small resource center for those interested in learning about the textiles <strong>of</strong> <strong>Laos</strong>’s<br />
ethnic groups. <strong>The</strong> ground floor hosts the changing exhibitions while the first floor houses<br />
a permanent textile collection representing 12 ethnic groups from <strong>Laos</strong>. <strong>The</strong>re is also a<br />
selection <strong>of</strong> specialist films and documentaries that can be watched in the upstairs room.<br />
Ban Vat Nong, Luang Prabang, opposite Ban Pack Luck Guesthouse and next to L’Elephant<br />
Restaurant. Daily 9am to 8pm. & 071/254-761. www.fibre2fabric.org.<br />
283<br />
LUANG PRABANG & NORTHERN LAOS 13<br />
LUANG PRABANG