The fresh markets of Vientiane are colourful, chaotic and full of characters. Shoppers, and photographers, are spoiled for choice and there are many markets to explore.

Most open either in the early morning and are done by 11 a.m. or in the late afternoon and stay until dusk. Of course there are also several markets specializing in cooked food that open around 5 p.m. until late.

There’s an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables imported from Thailand and China, but also masses of local seasonal produce.

You’ll see plenty of plenty of foraged food, rice field crabs, and insects.

When fried and garnish with pepper, kaffir lime leaves and fish sauce, the grasshoppers and smaller crickets make an excellent beer snack. Just think of them as a land shrimp and get stuck in.

Unfortunately a lot of vendors are now mixing powdered soup mix in with the crickets to enhance the flavour, (essentially heaps of salt and MSG and other stuff that shouldn’t be allowed near a tasty fried insect), so watch out for this.

There’s a considerable Vietnamese population in Vientiane so you’ll also see ladies selling treats like duck embryo.

The majority of Lao people still like cook at home (although the cooked food for sale in the markets is definitely increasing). and many shop for ingredients twice a day.

The most popular meat is pork but a considerable amount of beef is eaten.

There are some impressive butchery skills on show. Thankfully it’s a world away from the sterile supermarket experience which has yet to reach Laos (although I hear it’s coming very soon).

No Lao meal is complete without fish and the Mekong river delivers an astonishing variety. Firm favourites with diners are the fat-rich catfish.