Location: Luang Prabang
Top Things to do in Luang Prabang
Top 10 Free Things to do in Luang Prabang, Luang Prabang Province
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the former capital of Laos, and you'll see everything from golden-roofed temples to vestiges of colonial French architecture here. Buddhist monasteries abound in Luang Prabang, and early every morning, monks process through the streets collecting alms (their food for the day). If you want to watch or participate, though, ask your hotel for a brief etiquette lesson first—you have to distribute the food in a specific manner.
Restaurants in Luang Prabang
1. Big Brother Mouse
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 274 reviews
Help eager young Lao students practice their English through informal conversation. Learn more about their lives and culture, and tell about yours. (Free 2-hour drop-in practice, 9:00-11:00 am and 5:00-7:00 pm.)
Reviewed By 558JohnB558 - Melbourne, Australia
These guys published the first children's books in the Lao language. They welcome visitors to join in informal English conversation with local students.It's a truly marvellous experience and deserves support.
2. Garden of Eden
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 136 reviews
Make your own jewelry while learning from local artists. Learn traditional techniques, using a variety of different materials including recycled paper and silk! Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere on the balcony overlooking the river. Can't find what you are looking for? Make your own design! We can make custom orders to suit your taste. All levels are welcome in our classes.
Reviewed By ellapepper
My family and I had an amazing morning making beautiful handmade jewellery with fantastic company. The products were affordable and the instructors knowledgable and kind. I've come home with a beautiful set of earrings, a ring and a bracelet which I am proud of and where constantly.
3. L'etranger Books and Tea
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 144 reviews
Small café located in a small wooden house hidden behind trees where great books, tea, shakes & smoothies, good food, the best chai tea and selected movies can be found! Everything you need to feel cozy and homey far away from home.....
Reviewed By sophiecccc - Vietnam, null
This is a great place, lovely staff and really tasty food! They show a movie every night and you can stay to watch when buying a drink or some food. The cinema room is super nice I chill and there is a book / souvenir shop and art gallery to see as well!
4. The Morning Market
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 355 reviews
Reviewed By OrderintheHouse
My wife and I enjoyed a short 5 day Wendy Wu “Laos in Focus” private tour in January 2020 as part of an 18 day Asian adventure to celebrate our 40th anniversary. The tour incorporated three nights and two full days in Luang Prabang, the ancient capital of Luang Prabang Province in northern Laos. Heralding in our second day in this charming city was our participation in the moving and humbling Takbat Buddhist Monk Alms Ceremony very early at sunrise. This was followed by a most enjoyable one hour stroll through the renowned Morning Market located right in the heart of old Luang Prabang, on the lanes surrounding Wat Mai, just off Sisavangvong Road. It was also just a short walk from our historic boutique hotel (the Victoria Xiengthong Palace) where we enjoyed a well earned later breakfast after the market visit, before embarking on our Mekong River Cruise to the Pak Ou Caves. The Morning Market is a ‘must do’ when in Luang Prabang. There is so much local colour and excitement and a chance to mix it with the locals as they go about buying their daily fresh food produce. The various vendors go to much trouble to attractively present their various food items for sale and they all seem happy and friendly as they go about their trading. Most choose to set up on the ground rather than utilising tables. This makes for an easy and efficient means to set up and then pack up afterwards. Notable exceptions were a butcher that used tables to display the meat cuts and a few vendors selling tourist handicrafts that found tables easier to display their wares. The food produce on offer was many and plentiful and included rice, fresh vegetables and herbs and fresh fish and meat including pork and poultry all without refrigeration which was a bit disconcerting to western tourists like us who are not accustomed to such marketing practices. There were also a range of live animals for sale. Then there were the novel local foods such as serpents, frogs, rats, bats, live beetles, and various grilled insects for sale that revolted us, even though we had to accept that this is very much part of the Lao cultural scene. Because this is a morning market there are quite a number of vendors selling interesting “street food” breakfast snacks. We did notice a number of tourists giving this local food a try; however we, being more conservative travellers and conscious of potential health risks, chose to not partake of what looked like very delightful local fare. Adding much colour to the market were the beautiful fresh flower arrangements especially made for leaving in the temples as offerings. Some vendors included these amongst their fresh vegetables as added extras. We were happy just soaking up the atmosphere created by this very Lao food marketing experience; enjoying the friendly interactions between vendors and local buyers; being fascinated by the unusual items on offer for sale and capturing lovely photographic images to remember the experience.
5. Luang Prabang Library
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 214 reviews
Reviewed By Cartertravels15 - Alton, United Kingdom
So pleased we went to the library.Its a way of saying thank you to the local children.When the wall hanging is full (I think a 100 books) it is given to the local schools.I chose the books and my husband put them in the wall hanging pockets and we sent a picture to our grandchildren saying how lucky they were to have so many books in England.The building is an old colonial building and the staff very pleasant.We were told that sometimes monks go in there and love to practice their English.we would definitely visit here again
6. UXO Lao Visitors Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 782 reviews
Reviewed By crichtonh
This tiny museum exhibits the effect on the bombing during the vietnam war, It's sobering indeed to hear the stories of the kids that are impacted and also you are able to enjoy a little video that shows this and an overall introduction. The museum sets everything out there in English with only the correct level of information and shows good examples of missiles plus cluster bombs. The employees are helpful and friendly They've air con and it's entry by donation. Only three others there when I visited. Interesting and recommended. fifteen minutes stroll from visitors centre behind the president's park.
7. Old Quarter Luang Prabang
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,466 reviews
Reviewed By Travelling_SE_Asia - St. Albans, United Kingdom
A UNESCO Heritage Site, the Old Quarter in Luang Prabang is a network of old French Colonial architecture, buildings, narrow alleyways and roads. The main road is Sisavangvong Road where the Night Market is, but you can go off the main road to walk around or just have a stroll and see more. Next to the Mekong River and the Nam Khan River, the main area is where the Nam Khan River joins the Mekong River. It’s a beautiful area and you should take your time exploring it. There are lots of tourists but they keep the main road free of litter for the most part.
8. Ock Pop Tok Living Crafts Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 570 reviews
The Ock Pop Tok Living Crafts Centre is where the fascinating world of Lao textiles comes alive! Set in the grounds of a stunning tropical garden on the Mekong, it's the perfect place to learn more about this unique Lao art. We offer free guided tours where you can meet our weavers, artisans and even the silkworms. We also offer a range of classes in weaving and dyeing, which as our reviews show, are an unforgettable experience. Our Silk Road Cafe by the river is the perfect place to relax and enjoy our "east meets west" inspired menu, or simply enjoy the stellar sunsets with a refreshing drink.
Reviewed By chicnbliss - Hong Kong, China
OCT POP TOK LIVING CRAFT CENTRE BACKGROUND/CONTEXT One of the best ways to explore Laos Culture is through a weaving class at the Oct Pop Tok Living Craft Centre. The place Oct Pop Tok, literally translates to “East meets West” is the This place is founded by two women dating back to 1999, Englishwoman Joanna Smith and Laotian Veomanee Douangdala. They operate base on principles on fair trade and sustainable business, with the mission to elevate the profile of Lao textiles and artisans. Not only that it is created by two unique women, the place is run by women and for the women in Laos. Furthermore, it supports the local villages and Laos artisan community. I was fascinated by the type of textiles that are presented on their website and the classes they have to offer to experience what it’s like to be weaving. So I signed for a half day class. I must say with this experience I have become profoundly respectful of the women who does them daily, and appreciate even more the textile products that are made manually. (Include picture of venue and the gardens) LAOS TEXTILE WEAVING Laos Silk Weaving is an ancient tradition that is passed from mother to daughter for centuries. They start at a very young age, the instructor who taught me started at 3 years old. It is also the dominate form of artistic cultural expression in Laos. Patterns, techniques and colors are intricate and varies from region to region, and ethnic groups. These regions also have different techniques for dye-ing the silk and cotton. In the Central Laos, they are known for using natural indigo dyes and diamond patterns - a symbol of protective the mythical creature naga. At Oct Pop Tok, they also practice natural indigo dyes, ranging in beautiful colors. These includes Sappan Tree that dyes a violet range of colors to Lemongrass and Tumeric for beige to yellow – orange hues. (Include picture) CLASSES For visitors to experience this Lao Weaving Culture, Oct Pop Tok offers a variety of classes, varying from dyeing class, to bamboo weaving to silk weaving class. I was mostly interested in the weaving so I signed up for the half day class experience. It was to weave a placemat. MY WEAVING EXPERIENCE There were two types of weaving classes, a half day which you weave a silk placemat or a full day class where you weave a silk scarf. After contemplation (since it was over 35 degrees that day) I decided to do a half day class. Introduction + Choosing the color They start with greeting you and bringing you to a basket of silks and introduce you to the silks, types, patterns, and then what you will make that day. And then together with your guide you get to pick two colors for the weave, so you will have your customized product at the end of the class. I love the Purple Maroon color, and contrast it with a golden orange. The guide said it was perfect! Spooling the silk You will then be guided to a spooling area where the instructor (a very nice lady at my age) demonstrates how to spool the silk skeins. They then watch you do it and guide you with the techniques. Mind you, I am not the most patient person and this process really do takes patience, sitting there and just spinning the spool just at the right speed!!! It was fun Setting up the Pattern After you do a few the instructor will do the rest as you will then go to the assigned loom to do your weave. For the pattern its very intricate so she will set it up. It is literally hundreds of strings arranged in a very intricate way. Learning the Weave I learn to weave, moving the raft (looks like a little boat with the silk spool in it) left and right in between the loom strings, switching foot paddles, banging it at the end to make it tight. It was fun!!!! They also keep coming to check on you, and bring you lemonade. Two other girls next to me from America are weaving a scarf. Learning the Pattern Weave The challenging part was to get the pattern part where the two colors are being weaved. The technique is delicate, much like playing piano (I play the piano well). For EACH WEAVE, you have to change a string to set the pattern, and for each change of color, there’s a piece that you need to turn up and down for it to work. It was actually very orchestrated, rhythmic, most therapeutic and fun!!!! I enjoyed it very much After 3 hours of weaving, I was finished! (show photo) The instructor helps you to weave in the tassels at the front and end, packing it in a nice recycled paper bag, along with a voucher for 10% discount if you make any purchases in their shop. I got some bamboo straws, they are fantastic and I’ll never have to use any plastic or paper straw again. Tour after class The guide then gave me a tour of the center, showing me the hut with the batik art, the area where their professional weaver women are doing much more intricate patterns on the loom, the silk warm farming, the dye-ing process and sample, as well as the yard where they hang the silk dry after dye-ing It was a a lovely experience. After an afternoon of hardwork I decided to take beerlao and sit by the Mekong River at their Silk Road Café to enjoy the scenery for a bit. HOW TO GET THERE : Free tuk tuk ride back from their shop in the town center to the living craft. That was the day I decided to do more venture so I asked them to drop me off at the entrance of Mount Phousi which the tuk tuk driver did. Was very kind of him. I highly recommend you to take a class or at least a visit to their living craft center, the view itself is already worth the go. But if you can do the class, you will come out feeling accomplished and amazed.
9. Wat Pa Phon Phao
10. Luang Prabang Night Market
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 3,445 reviews
Reviewed By Steve32Yorkshire - Wakefield, United Kingdom
Refreshing change from the usual tack and trinkets available at these markets. It offers a great selection of clothing eg elephant pants and T shirts for only a couple of dollars, beautiful locally made silks and shawls, artworks as well as souvenirs. It is very safe and the people are lovely
