The market was alive with activity - the sounds of vendors selling their fresh vegetables, the clucking of chickens, and the constant chatter of tourists exploring the narrow market and locals doing their early morning shopping.
Walking along through the crowded narrow alley where local vendors had set up their produce on wide palm leaves or woven mats, we marveled at the incredibly colorful and super fresh veggies laid out before us. Everything looked perfect and delicious!
Presently, however, it was time for breakfast. It was still early, but the sun was well and truly up, and I could definitely use a bit to eat and a cup of tasty Lao coffee.
We sat along the river at Prachaniyom, an old and very traditional coffee shop and restaurant along the banks of the Mekong River. The shop is only open from 4am until 11, and it's very popular. The restaurant sells traditional breakfast food - noodles, fried dough, jok (rice porridge), and coffee, and it offers excellent views of the river. As we sat, we watched local people crossing back and forth on the rickety wooden ferries that chug from bank to bank. There are no bridges along the Mekong in town, so everyone has to cross by boat. The road just ends at the river, picking up on the other side, and even cars have to be brought across by barge.
The coffee was not only the cheapest (just 8,000 kip, or $1) in Luang Prabang, but also the best! I went to a lot of cafes - some really pretty trendy and upscale, but this tiny local shop by the river had the absolute best coffee. What a way to start the day!
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