Old Town / Old Quarter

Old Town is the UNESCO heritage center with temples, colonial buildings, and the morning alms ceremony. Generally safe with respectful locals. Watch for pickpockets at the crowded night market. The 11:30 PM curfew means quiet evenings and good cafe culture during the day.

Old Town sits on the peninsula where the Mekong and Nam Khan meet. The morning alms ceremony happens here around 5:30-6:30 AM - hundreds of monks walk the streets collecting offerings. Cobblestone lanes run between 33 temples, French colonial buildings with cafes and hotels, and the Royal Palace Museum. You'll see more tourists here than anywhere else in Laos. Gets crowded in peak season (December-February). The night market runs on Sisavangvong Road from 5-11 PM with over 300 vendors selling handicrafts, plus a food stall street. Plenty of people eat alone at cafes - locals and travelers sit with books or laptops. The UNESCO curfew shuts all bars and restaurants at 11:30 PM, so it's quiet at night. Tourist Police patrol during the day and evening. Not a party scene - attracts people looking for temples and calm rather than nightlife.