Mrs Aly Vongnobountham and Mrs Chanthachone Vongsay join government leaders in cutting a ribbon to open the Lao Food Festival 2026 at Chao Anouvong Park in Vientiane.

Lao Food Festival sets taste buds tingling

The annual Lao Food Festival has made a welcome return to Vientiane, turning Chao Anouvong Park into a lively riverside showcase of tastes, aromas, and food traditions from across Laos.
The Lao Women’s Union, working with the Lao Businesswomen’s Association, has organised the five-day event under the slogan “Discover Laos Through Its Taste”, with stallholders selling a tempting array of fresh and processed food products in an open-air setting near the Mekong River in Chanthabouly district.

Mrs Chanthachone Vongsay.

The 21st edition of the festival, which is taking place from January 26-30 with stalls open from 9am to 10pm each day, invites local residents and visitors to taste, enjoy, and buy food from across Laos and browse the many stalls in a relaxed riverside setting.
President of the Lao Women’s Union, Mrs Aly Vongnobountham, attended the opening ceremony alongside the Governor of the Bank of the Lao PDR, Ms Bounkham Vorachit, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr Vansy Kuamua, and Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce, Mr Chanthaboun Soukaloun.
Also present were the President of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Oudet Souvannavong, ambassadors, women leaders, business representatives, and invited guests.
President of the Lao Businesswomen’s Association and Head of the Organising Committee, Ms Chanthachone Vongsay, said the festival aims to preserve and promote Lao culinary culture while also showcasing the Lao way of life through food. The event also seeks to raise the profile of Lao food at the ASEAN level.
Walking among the many stalls and their enticing displays, visitors encounter attractively decorated areas such as the Traditional Lao Kitchen and the Province of Charm zone, where food producers from the provinces present their local culinary offerings.
Stalls also sell surplus products from the provinces, including pork products from Pakxan district in Bolikhamxay province, giving farmers and producers direct access to consumers.
One of the main attractions is the daily cooking shows, where cooks prepare tam mak houng (green papaya salad) and mum (sausages from Savannakhet province). Schoolchildren also take part, learning how to prepare tam mak houng as part of passing on age-old food traditions to the next generation.
This year’s Lao Food Festival features 180 stalls, including 160 offering traditional Lao dishes, fusion food, desserts and drinks, as well as 20 handicraft stalls.

Organisers estimate that about 10 billion kip will circulate during the event, providing a boost to small, medium and micro enterprises.
Beyond food and entertainment, talks throughout the week provide information about access to low-interest finance to help women entrepreneurs grow their businesses.

The festival coincides with Laos taking on the role of Chair of the ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs Network for 2026-2027. The first board meeting with Lao as chair takes place from January 27-29, allowing delegates to visit the festival after meetings.
Ms Chanthachone said 58 organisations are supporting the festival through funding, materials and services. At the opening ceremony, certificates of appreciation were presented to all supporters.
Held each year, the Lao Food Festival has become a familiar and much-anticipated event that reflects the country’s rich food heritage and changing lifestyle.
By bringing together cooks, entrepreneurs and families in a shared riverside space, the festival continues to strengthen pride in Lao culture while supporting small businesses and community life across Laos.

By Advertorial Desk
(Latest Update January 28, 2026)