Talat Sao, Traditional marketplace in central Vientiane, Laos.

Talat Sao is a morning market at the eastern corner of Lan Xang Road and Khu Vieng Road in central Vientiane. The two-storey market is covered by several sloping roofs and holds small shops, restaurants, fruit and vegetable vendors, jewellery, silk, wooden crafts, musical instruments, electronics, housewares, CDs and DVDs, and groceries. A four-storey shopping centre with indoor parking, built by Singapore Excalibur Group at an estimated US$27 million, stands on the property.

The site began as a central trading hub for Vientiane and underwent major renovation in the early 2000s. This modernization project expanded its facilities and transformed it into a key shopping destination for the city.

The marketplace shows how Vientiane's daily commerce works, with local sellers offering traditional Laotian silk, carved wood items, and silver jewelry next to fresh vegetables. The space blends centuries of trading customs with the city's modern shopping habits.

The marketplace sits at the intersection of Lan Xang Road and Khu Vieng Road and operates every day, with the morning section busiest in early hours. Arriving early gives you the best selection and more comfortable temperatures.

The market's Lao name, Talat Sao, means "morning market", yet it stays open daily from 07:00 until around 16:00, so afternoon visitors find it quieter. A four-storey shopping centre with indoor parking was built on the site by Singapore Excalibur Group Pte Ltd at an estimated cost of US$27 million.