Phoukam Garden Agriculture Wet Market is the largest and most interesting fresh produce market in Xiangkhouang Province, which is better known as the Plain of Jars.
Phoukam Garden Agriculture Wet Market in PhonsavanThe Plain of Jars is a stunningly beautiful area with a temperate climate and flat areas good for agriculture. It also has its own culture and cuisine and the Phoukam Garden Agriculture Wet Market is a great place to come to learn more about the everyday life of the people who live on the remote Plain of Jars.
About Phoukam Garden Agriculture Wet Market
Phoukam Garden Agriculture Wet Market is in the centre of Phonsavan, which the main town in Xiangkhouang Province. Phonsavan is where most people stay whilst visiting the ancient jar sites which are scattered around the countryside around Phonsavan.
Vegetable section at Phoukam Garden Agriculture Wet MarketPhoukam Garden Agriculture Wet Market is a covered market which open everyday from 06:00 to 18:00. As the name ‘Wet Market’ indicates it’s largely fresh produce which is sold here, and this what makes this particular market so interesting.
Honey on sale at Phoukam Garden Agriculture Wet MarketThe produce of Xiangkhouang Province is different the produce you will find in other parts of Laos or indeed lowland areas in the rest of South East Asia. Laos is a very hilly country and it slow travelling there as a consequence. By bus it takes 7 hours to travel 262 km from Luang Prabang to Phonsavan and 10 hours to travel 357 km from Vientiane to Phonsavan. The Plain of Jars is a large flat area in the middle of a very large mountain range. Most of the Plain of Jars is at elevation of around 1,100 metres above sea level. This makes Xiangkhouang Province a lot cooler than most other parts of Laos.
Meat section to Phoukam Garden Agriculture Wet MarketPhoukam Garden Agriculture Wet Market has the whole array of great produce which is grown locally on wide open fields. Xiangkhouang Province is a fecund land with adequate water and a climate in which plants and animals easily flourish. The quality of the vegetables and the meat looks a lot higher here than most of other markets I have visited in Laos, and the local honey sold in the market is as good as you can buy anywhere.
Fried breads at Phoukam Garden Agriculture Wet MarketAs well as vegetables and meat, a lot of prepared foods our sold in Phoukam Garden Agriculture Wet Market for sale to people who have stalls in the market and to the shopper themselves. The food you eat at Phoukam Garden Agriculture Wet Market is exactly the type of food the locals eat and prepared the way local people like it. It’s a culinary adventure, and a cheap one with none of the dishes or items on sale costing any more around $0.5 USD.
Take away food at Phoukam Garden Agriculture Wet MarketPhoukam Garden Agriculture Wet Market is a great place to come and pick up breakfast. Phonsavan is bit short on good food for breakfast, and in the absence of croissants or danish pasties a good substitute is to try the sweet fried donuts and bread which are made in the morning at the market. They sell at 1,000 LAK (about $0.12 USD) each.
Food stall at Phoukam Garden Agriculture Wet MarketPhoukam Garden Agriculture Wet Market has stalls selling cooked curries, salads, spring rolls, fish soups, and wide range of other local dishes. At the rear of the market are stalls with seats and tables around them where freshly prepared food is served. These stalls sell classic Laos style noodle dishes and soups.
Travel to Phoukam Garden Agriculture Wet Market
Phoukam Garden Agriculture Wet Market is in the town of Phonsavan. The main Phonsavan bus station is a few kilometres away from the centre of the town where the wet market is located so you will need to take a local taxi to get there from the long distance bus station.
- Travel from Vientiane to Phonsavan.
- Travel from Luang Prabang to Phonsavan.