Laos is Southeast Asia's hidden gem, offering ancient Buddhist temples, pristine waterfalls, and serene riverside towns. From the UNESCO-listed streets of Luang Prabang to the adventure hub of Vang Vieng and the mysterious Plain of Jars, Laos rewards travelers seeking authenticity and natural beauty.
Top food tours
Guided experiences that show you Laos through its food.
Luang Prabang Morning Market and Street Food Walk
Early morning guided walk through the Luang Prabang morning market (Talat Dara) with a local guide explaining the exotic ingredients, seasonal produce, and prepared foods. Tastings of traditional Lao breakfast dishes including khao piak (rice porridge) and steamed sticky rice.
Luang Prabang Night Market Food Crawl
Evening guided tour of the famous Luang Prabang Night Market food stalls with tastings of Lao street food including tam mak hoong (papaya salad), ping gai (grilled chicken), and fresh spring rolls. Ends at a riverside restaurant for traditional Lao desserts.
Tamarind Lao Cuisine Cooking Class
Learn to prepare authentic Lao dishes at Luang Prabang's premier Lao restaurant. Market visit to source ingredients followed by hands-on cooking of four traditional dishes including jeow (dipping sauces), mok pa (steamed fish in banana leaf), and larp. Recipe booklet included.
Mekong River Floating Food Market Tour
Traditional longboat journey upriver from Luang Prabang stopping at Ban Xang Hai whisky village to taste Lao lao rice whisky and at riverside fish vendors. Conclude with a floating lunch of grilled Mekong fish on the boat with river views.
Vientiane Food and Culture Exploration
Half-day guided exploration of Vientiane's culinary scene from the Talat Sao market to the Mekong riverside restaurants. Tastings include tam mak hoong from a famous papaya salad vendor, khao jee sandwich from a street cart, and sai oua (Lao sausage) from a traditional maker.
Tour formats
Different ways to experience Laos's food scene.
Street food tours
Street food walks in Luang Prabang and Vientiane visiting market stalls, grilled meat vendors, and noodle soup carts. Best run at breakfast or dinner time when street food is freshest.
Market tours
Guided morning market tours explaining the diverse produce of Laos — jungle herbs, fresh rice, live animals, and prepared foods sold by ethnic minority vendors in colourful traditional clothing.
Restaurant tours
Multi-course restaurant experiences focusing on traditional Lao royal cuisine and modern Lao fine dining. Tamarind and L'Elephant offer structured culinary journeys with dish explanations.
Specialty tours
Specialty tours include Bolaven Plateau coffee farm visits, Ban Xang Hai whisky village boat tours, Lao herbal medicine market tours, and traditional rice wine tasting experiences.
Cooking classes
Take a piece of Laos home with you.
Tamarind Cooking Class, Luang Prabang
Market-to-table Lao cooking experience at one of Southeast Asia's most respected traditional Lao restaurants. Learn the philosophy of Lao flavour balance — sour, spicy, bitter, and umami — while preparing jeow dips, steamed dishes, and sticky rice.
Tamnak Lao Cooking Class, Luang Prabang
Hands-on class in a beautiful traditional Lao kitchen teaching three to four classic recipes. Strong emphasis on fresh local herbs and proper technique for grinding spice pastes using traditional mortar and pestle. Small groups of maximum eight students.
Vientiane Street Food Cooking Class
Learn to make Vientiane's most popular street foods including khao jee (Lao baguette sandwich), tam mak hoong (spicy papaya salad), and ping gai (grilled marinated chicken) at a purpose-built cooking school near Talat Sao market.
Tiger Trail Lao Village Cooking Experience
Cook with a local family in a traditional Lao village outside Luang Prabang. Gather vegetables from the garden, prepare sticky rice in the traditional way, and share the meal with the family. Authentic cultural exchange beyond a commercial setting.
DIY self-guided food tour
Self-guided food walk through Luang Prabang old town covering the main culinary highlights from dawn breakfast to evening night market. Best done over 2-3 mornings to experience the full variety.
-
1
Stop 1 (5:30am): Luang Prabang Morning Market (Talat Dara, Kitsalath Road) — browse fresh produce, jungle herbs, and prepared breakfast foods with local sellers
-
2
Stop 2 (6:00am): Alms giving ceremony observation on Sisavangvong Road — observe monks collecting sticky rice offerings at dawn
-
3
Stop 3 (7:30am): Joma Bakery Cafe (Chao Fa Ngum Road) — French-style breakfast with excellent Lao coffee and fresh pastries
-
4
Stop 4 (9:00am): Hmong market stalls on Kitsalath Road — sample fresh fruit and locally made snacks while browsing crafts
-
5
Stop 5 (12:30pm): Tamarind Restaurant (Kingkitsarath Road) — traditional Lao tasting set lunch with five jeow dipping sauces
-
6
Stop 6 (6:00pm): Luang Prabang Night Market food section (Sisavangvong Road) — buffet-style dinner from multiple street food stalls for $2-4
-
7
Stop 7 (8:30pm): Icon Klub or riverside bar — finish with a Beerlao and Mekong sunset
Foodie tips
Get more out of every meal.
Sticky rice (khao niao) is the staple of Lao cuisine — always eaten by hand, formed into a ball and used to scoop other dishes
Lao food is generally less sweet than Thai and uses more bitter herbs, raw vegetables, and fermented fish paste (padek)
The best Lao food is found at morning markets and evening street stalls, not tourist restaurants — look for tables full of locals
Beerlao is the national beer and genuinely excellent — the dark version (Beerlao Dark) is a particularly good local product
Bolaven Plateau coffee is world-class — try it Vietnamese-style (with condensed milk and ice) or as a drip brew at quality cafes
Lao lao rice whisky varies enormously in quality — the good stuff from Ban Xang Hai village near Luang Prabang is worth seeking out
Vegetarians can find options at most restaurants by asking for 'bo sai sin' (no meat), but fish sauce and shrimp paste are ubiquitous — specify 'sai sin phet' (vegetarian/Buddhist) for clearer communication
Night market food stalls in Luang Prabang operate from 6-10:30pm — arrive early for the best selection before popular items sell out
Ask local guesthouses which morning market stalls have been operating for generations — family stalls with decades of history generally serve the most authentic food
The Mekong region produces excellent freshwater fish — mok pa (steamed fish in banana leaf with lemongrass), or grilled whole fish with herbs are unmissable