Location: Luang Prabang
Top Things to do in Luang Prabang
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Things to do in Luang Prabang, Luang Prabang Province: The Best Lessons & Workshops
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. Backstreet Academy
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 180 reviews
Explore Lao culture through our exclusive collection of travel experiences - craft a crossbow, hunt with local villagers or learn wood carving, the backstreets offer the richest interaction with the culture and people of a place. Immerse yourself in the de facto Lao experience where the local backdrop retains its integrity and originality and discover a side of the city you never knew.
Reviewed By milliesmum2016 - Christchurch, New Zealand
I can't recommend Backstreet Academy enough, really. This company offers fantastic opportunities to experience local life and customs and meet some local people who are simply willing to share their lives with you for a while. I went to meet a local family to learn about Lao cooking at their home and at Phousi Market. I had such a great time with them, cooking and discussing food and cookery. We started out at the market with a shopping list based on our lunch menu and then went home to cook in their wonderful outdoor kitchen. Hard work, it was too -all over open flame with lots of chopping and pounding to be done. Then we ate the fruits of our labour washed down with LaoLao. Transport was included to and from my accommodation, as was an emailed copy of the recipes we made. But this is only one of the options Backstreet offer. There is a whole suite of differnt activities to choose from they operate out of other countries as well as Laos. The one criticism I have is that, as a solo traveller, I did feel penalised because some of the activities depended on their being at least two of you, to operate. Thsi applied particularly to overnight type activies, where accommodation was involved. The really nice thing about Backstreet, though, is that you can be sure that your money really going to assist local families, as opposed to some off-shore business venture with no vested interest in the local community.
4. The Bamboo Experience
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 132 reviews
The Bamboo Experience is a local family run workshop where you will discover Lao culture through bamboo products, activities & Lao foods using bamboo shoot as main ingredients. You will also be connected with our local community to learn about their way of life! To book the class you should contact us one day in advance or at least at 6pm the day before coming to our workshop. We offer two classes per day either daytime 8:30am - 13:30pm (lunch included) and/or evening 16:00pm - 21:00pm (dinner included). We can provide pickup from/to your hotel (to be confirmed when you make the booking).
Reviewed By Janb0211
This is a fabulous experience with many activities included. Learn about bamboo, cook sticky rice pudding, take part in Baci celebration, dinner and traditional music performance.
5. The Weaving Sisters
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 65 reviews
We are Mone and Keo, two of the 6 Katu weaving sisters, and our hometown is deep in the south of Laos. We have been weaving our whole lives. Our studio is also our home, and we are happy to welcome you and share what we have learned from our ancestors. We can speak English, Katu, Lao and Thai.
Reviewed By mjlothar - Geneva, Switzerland
These ladies run a fantastic business, both a shop with great Katu handmade weaving creations and daily workshops where people can create headbands, camera straps, coasters and scarves. I bought several products from them and visited their shop on various occasions during my month long stay in Luang Prabang. Do not trust the review written by the previous reviewer. This man never visited the shop and wants to hurt the Weaving Sisters business. They are nothing but professional ladies with the utmost integrity and talent.
6. Lon Wood Workshop
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 13 reviews
Learn about traditional Laos woodcarving methods and create your own piece of art using traditional wooden hand tools. Classes available. Bookings recommended during peak season (Nov. - May). Custom orders available. Workshop classes cost 150,000kip/$18, last between 4-8 hours depending on skill level, and include one self-made item of choice.
7. 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.
