Food Lover’s Guide to Luang Prabang
Lao food differs from the cuisine in neighboring Thailand. The influence of French colonial rule on Laos shows in staples such as baguettes as well as in the great-value French fare to be found in major cities. However, every region of Laos boasts its own unique specialties. Here are a few foods and activities not to miss when you’re in Luang Prabang.
Must-Try Dishes
Laos runs on sticky rice and fish, served every which way, but there are plenty of other dishes to discover. Be sure to try***laap***, a spicy salad of minced, marinated meat or fish that can be served raw or cooked; the breakfast noodle soup***feu***, Laos’ answer to Vietnam’s pho; and***tam mak hoong***, a tangy salad made with green papaya.Kaipen—dried river weed, Luang Prabang’s answer to Japanese nori—and the herbaceous, spicy pork sausage known as***sai oua***are city signatures. No Luang Prabang night out would be complete without a bottle of the national brew,Beer Lao, and a shot of the rice “whiskey” known as***lao-lao***, but you may want to avoid consuming versions that contain animals.
Must-Do Experiences
- Rise early to see a morning market in full swing, soon after the monks parade through the streets in search of alms.
- Take a cooking class with a local family in a traditional home.
- Discover local specialties at Khaiphaen, a restaurant that trains street children and vulnerable youth for hospitality careers.
- Sip a cold Beer Lao as the sun sinks into the Mekong.
- Savor a street food feast at the night market.
9 Tours and Activities | All Luang Prabang Tours
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Luang Prang Cooking Class
There’s no better way to discover the essence of Lao food than on a cooking course with an expert local chef. This morning or afternoon course starts at a market, where you learn about fresh ingredients and their usage. Next, watch a cooking demo, taste signature dishes, and decide which ones you’d like to prepare. Finally, cook up a storm and feast on your own homemade lunch.
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From
$39.75
From
$39.75
Afternoon Luang Prabang Sightseeing And Local Food By Vintage Tuk Tuk
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Luang Prabang is at its most atmospheric in the evening, when the famous Night Market starts, and the cooler weather is ideal for sightseeing. On this tour, avoid the traffic and explore the city on the back of a scooter with a female driver. See the city through the eyes of a local as you visit markets, street food vendors, and little-known sights, and sample a variety of traditional foods and drinks along the way.
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From
$76.93
Price varies by group size
From
$76.93
Price varies by group size
Luang Prabang Street Food and Biking Tour
Explore Luang Prabang and get your taste buds going by trying local street food and visiting food manufacturing places not seen by tourists. The walking and cycling is easy, takes only a half day, and was designed to allow you to safely try different local foods and discover places you wouldn’t otherwise go and have some fun along the way.
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From
$32.83
Price varies by group size
From
$32.83
Price varies by group size
Traditional Market Tour and Private Laotian Cooking Class with a Local
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Don’t just eat delicious Laotian dishes, learn to cook them yourself during a cooking class and market tour in Luang Prabang. Exploring the market with a guide means that you’ll overcome the language barrier and discover exotic ingredients that you may otherwise have missed. Plus, opting for this private tour means that you’ll receive the undivided attention of your guide.
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From
$57.44
Price varies by group size
From
$57.44
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
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Early Morning Alms Giving and Wet Market
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Take part in a Luang Prabang alms giving ceremony on an early morning tour that’s a fascinating introduction to Laos’ Buddhist traditions. You can simply watch as a procession of robed, barefoot monks walk by, or join in by presenting a monk with an offering of food, receiving a Buddhist blessing in return.
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From
$58.98
Price varies by group size
From
$58.98
Price varies by group size
Lao Cooking Class in Luang Prabang
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Work alongside local chefs during this popular Laos cooking class in Luang Prabang. Pick ingredients from the garden and learn about local herbs and produce that go into some of the nation's most flavorful dishes. Sample your creations and gain a deeper understanding of this cuisine during this memorable, interactive, small-group experience.
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From
$57.00
From
$57.00
Alms giving ceremony and morning market with taste of local food and dinks
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Buddhism is at the center of Lao culture. Rise early to photograph—or even join in—Luang Prabang’s morning alms-giving ritual, when citizens offer gifts of food to a procession of saffron-robed monks. Once the alms-giving is finished, experience another early ritual, the morning market, with breakfast in a simple eatery. A guide ensures you participate in the right way, while 2-way hotel transfers guarantee you arrive on time.
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From
$30.77
Price varies by group size
From
$30.77
Price varies by group size
Full-Day Cooking Class with Luang Prabang City Tour and Lunch
If you’re visiting Luang Prabang for the first time, get the perfect introduction to Laos’ prettiest city during a sightseeing tour that includes a cooking class. You’ll explore a local market with a guide—which allows you to overcome the language barrier and discover exotic produce you may not already be familiar with—before mastering the basics of Laos dishes and taking a tour of the city.
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From
$148.72
From
$148.72
alms offering, cooking class, city tour and night market (Full day)
See four sides of Laos during this day-long tour of Luang Prabang. From spirituality to gastronomy, this tour showcases the diversity of daily life in the UNESCO Town Of Luang Prabang World Heritage Site. Avoid getting a manufactured tourist experience: give alms like a local, shop in a local market and learn to cook authentic Lao cuisine.
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From
$160.26
From
$160.26