That Luang Festival and Trade Fair

Vientiane's That Luang trade fair has grown into a sprawling commercial event running alongside the stupa's religious ceremonies, with handicraft, clothing and food vendors, amusement rides and evening concerts spreading from the stupa's esplanade to the Lao ITECC exhibition center when space runs short. Held over three to seven days around November's full moon, it draws small businesses and shoppers from across Laos and neighboring countries.

The trade fair that grows up around Pha That Luang each year has become, over recent decades, large enough to rival the religious observance itself in sheer footprint, spreading from the esplanade surrounding Vientiane's golden national stupa across much of the surrounding district and, when space runs short, extending to the Lao ITECC exhibition center on the city's outskirts.