Shopping in Champasak
Where to Buy in Champasak
As with every city in Laos, there is a Morning Market selling
fresh meats, vegetable, and food ingredients. 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 even buy) the famous Lao Arabica Coffee
grown in Bolovens Plateau (on the east of Pakse is the best
place to grow coffee in Southeast Asia.)
Morning Market
The market's location is about 200 metressouth from the
town centre. Pakse Morning Market sells fruit and vegetables
grown in the back yards of locals and also sells goods like
clothing, crafts, silverwares, and household items. Although
prices are negotiable, it is already inexpensive. Several
stalls in the surrounding area offer food and Lao coffee
and this is certainly a perfect spot to rest after a tiring
morning shopping.
Dao Heuang (New Market)
A massive market (compared to the diminutive city size)
situated on Road 13 near the Japanese bridge over the Mekong
River. The new market offers everything from fresh food
to metal items. The market is well organized and divided
into zones like; clothes zone, silver and accessories, and
food. Certainly the best one-stop shopping spot in Champasak.
Dao Heuang (New Market) is about two kilometres southeast
out of town.
Shoppers should note that Champasak is not a major tourist
city and so it is best to learn some Lao numbers or at least
have a calculator with you since you might just get a friendly
smile or a laugh from vendors when asking for prices. There
is an ATM machine in Pakse (yes - only one) that accepts
international cards. Although the amount of money is limited
per transaction, one can withdraw an unlimited number of
times, but when the machine is empty it can remain so for
as long as a week.
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Laos is an excellent destination for anyone interested
in picking up elaborate handicrafts. Hill-tribe silk, arts,
crafts, home-furnishings, jewelry and couture-quality textiles
dominate the market. Although many of these products are
available in Thailand, some of the items listed above are
unique to Laos and its hill-tribes. In buying traditional
crafts such as silks and carvings, tourists are invariably
helping support a nascent and fragile economy.
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