Luang Prabang Shopping Tips by Rodan44

Most tourist shops, craft villages, & night market: Handmade Saa Paper Crafts

What to buy: A prominent local craft in Luang Prabang is production of handmade saa paper. Saa paper is made from bark that is stripped from the young branches of the mulberry tree. The bark is first sun dried, to remove natural sap, then soaked in water overnight or longer until the bark is soft and pliable. The next step is to boil the softened bark for several hours to breakdown the fibres. After boiling, a rectanglular screen (sieve) is used to extract the fine saa fibres. The screen is taken outside to sun dry, afterwhich the paper on top is removed and ready for use.

You can find items crafted with saa paper all over Luang Prabang, including albums, cards, lanterns, and even umbrellas. Some of the nicest examples have either whole dried leaves or flowers embedded in the paper itself.

What to pay: Nothing made from saa paper will cost you more than a few dollars.

Theme: Local Craft

Buy traditional textiles at the Night Market

A night market is held every evening in Luang Prabang along the main street outside the royal palace. It starts a little before sunset and ends around 10. The sellers are almost exclusively women, and the market caters primarily to tourists. It is very pleasant to stroll up and down the market, and the sales pitches are very low pressure.

What to buy: While you can find cheap t-shirts, jewelry, and other local crafts, the market is predominantly for Lao and hilltribe textiles. Lao weaving is some of the most beautiful in the world, and the night market has an incredibly vast array of textiles in all color and sizes at very reasonable prices.

What to pay: A small silk scarf can be had for as little as US$3-4 and larger pieces for US$6-12. Always haggle for a better price, but do it with a smile.

Directions: Main street thru town between Royal Palace and Mount Phousi.

Theme: Local Craft