Ban Anou Night Market

What this market is

Ban Anou is a small, street-level night market rather than Vientiane’s large Mekong-side shopping market. Its practical focus is dinner: people come to pick up cooked food, so expect limited seating and a brisk flow of orders.

Food stalls share the area with modest clothing and household-goods vendors, but eating is the reason to make the stop. This is a useful choice when you want Lao market food rather than riverfront souvenirs.

What to eat

The grills are the main draw. Choose items that are cooked to order or reheated over the coals, then add a basket of khao niao (sticky rice).

• Grilled skewers: pork, chicken and other meats are common.
• Lao sausage: herb-seasoned sausage is a reliable companion to sticky rice.
• Grilled fish or duck: availability varies by stall and evening.
• Tam mak hoong: Lao papaya salad, often spicy and commonly made with fermented fish seasoning.
• Noodles, pancakes and drinks: useful alternatives when the grills are busy.

For a strict vegetarian or vegan meal, ask directly about fish sauce, fermented fish and meat stock; meat-free-looking dishes may still contain them.

How to use it

Walk the full stretch before choosing. The market is compact, and one stall may specialise in skewers while another has prepared dishes, salad or rice. Pointing works well when there is no shared language; confirm the price and quantity before the food is packed.

This is primarily a takeaway market. A few tables may be available, but plan to eat elsewhere if you want a proper sit-down dinner. Carry Lao kip in small notes: stalls may not display prices and cash is the practical payment method.

Timing and access

The market operates in the evening, generally from about 17:00 to 23:00, though individual vendors may set up and sell out at different times. Arrive around 18:00–19:00 for the fullest choice from the grills; arriving at opening can mean some food stalls are still preparing.

It sits on Rue Phai Nam in the Ban Anou area, close to Khoun Boulom Road. Central Vientiane is walkable, and a tuk-tuk or ride-hailing car is straightforward for a late return. Do not confuse it with the Mekong riverside night market: that larger market is better for clothing and souvenirs, while Ban Anou is the food-first stop.

Practical limits

Smoke from the charcoal grills is part of the setting, and seating, menus and English-language signage are limited. This is not the place for a long, polished dinner; it works best for a direct, informal market meal.