Luangprabang’s trading pattern in 19th century

Abstract

           In the 16th-17th century, Luangprabang was not just the political center of Lanxang Kingdom but also the center of this region’s trading activities. In that era, Luangprabang’s main products were wild products from domestic trade between Laolum, those who live on the river basin and lowland, and Laoteng, whose community is on highland. Nevertheless, the arrival of colonial states had made a major change and shifted this region from trading era to colonial era. In this context, many cities were depreciated as the geopolitics had changed. For instance, Luangprabang, which was previously an important trading hub, turned to be a semi-trading port that connected trade route with new trading hub such as Mawlamyine and Bangkok. Notwithstanding, Luangprabang’s domestic trading pattern was still the same that was the exchanging activities among Lao’s tribes and transporting through pack-ox merchants. The main trade routes were explained into 2 types: long-route and short-route. For example, Luangprabang-Utaradit-Bangkok, Luangprabang-NanPhrae-Sukothai-Mawlamyine, Luangprabang-Chiangsaen-Chiangrung and Luangprabang-Nongkai-Phnom Penh. This trading pattern was continuing till the formal occupation by France.