Luang Prabang, Laos was one of my most (pleasantly) surprising stops in my travels around Southeast Asia. In my mind, I pictured Laos as an underdeveloped small cousin to Thailand or Vietnam. While most parts of Laos are behind its neighboring countries in terms of skyscrapers and tech advancements, Luang Prabang is charming, beautiful, and perfect for an adventure-loving, holistic traveler like me. This blog is a musing on all the different components of Luang Prabang, and serendipitous moments talking to locals. It’s also a travel guide sprinkled with things to do in this unique, stunning city in northern Laos.
The European influence of Luang Prabang, Laos
I couldn’t believe how much I felt like I was in Europe while strolling the streets. It’s a beautiful blend of Asian and European influence. Though I must not forget that this distinctly European influence comes from a brutal colonization by France of Laos until 1953. I noticed many, many, many French tourists came to Laos specifically, and some signs were even in French. I learned a lot more about the French influence by speaking to a local.
I stayed at an American man Andy’s amazing hotel (Mali House) over Christmastime. Andy married a Lao women and has a Lao daughter. Because we stayed over Christmas, Andy invited me and my boyfriend over for Christmas Eve dinner at this amazing pasta spot Viva Pasta.
While dining, I talked with his daughter about what it was like growing up in Luang Prabang and going to school there. She mused that it was a blend of culture and language, and since she has an American father, she speaks English, Lao, and also French. She said that the schools in Luang Prabang (mostly the older generation) are pushing for the children to learn French and integrate it more in the city. You can most definitely see the French influence all around this picture-perfect place.
Walk through the cobblestone streets to find huge cafes with seatings outdoors, fresh croissants and coffee, and French owners of farm-to-table restaurants. My favorite was Le Banneton Cafe, which surrounds the most stunning artisan shops selling handcrafted, indigo-dyed goods. I found that this delicious fresh, and underrated breakfast spot Cafe del Mundo. It had a French owner, and all the guests staying at his homestay were French.
My most favorite activity in all my travels around Southeast Asia, a luxurious, stunning sunset river boat cruise on the Mekong by the Khopfa Mekong Cruise, the owner was again French. It seems like French people come to Laos to set up businesses, which is interesting and speaks to the lasting effects on colonization in Southeast Asian countries. I also saw this French influence a lot in my month-tour visit to Vietnam.
Lao culture & preserving the crafts of the indigenous people
Lao has many different ethnic groups which I learned a lot about at this small museum in the heart of the city Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre. As I was leaving the museum, it started pouring rain, so I sat on the bench outside to wait it out. The ticket-taker was there as well, and we started chatting about his life in Laos and how his family was part of the Hmong indigenous tribe. Lao people are incredibly kind and open, and it was the most wholesome and loveliest conversation I’d had in a while.
I also visited the Ock Pop Tok Silk Road Cafe, a gorgeous, lush parcel of land centering around fair trade and sustainable business practices. To accomplish this mission, local women weave textiles in the Laotian tradition to earn money and support their families. Visitors can take classes about the traditional crafts of Laos like batik drawing and bamboo weaving. There is also a delicious cafe that sits right on the Mekong River, where I sipped coconuts and enjoyed the atmospheric calm around me.
I thought it was a lovely curated space with a beautiful mission. I’d never experienced anything quite like it before, and encourage anyone visiting Luang Prabang to spend an afternoon here.
Another great business with a mission is this Lao restaurant, Khaiphaen, one of the most delicious restaurants I’ve ever eaten at. The green curry and sticky rice was absolutely unreal, and I went back again for it. The mission of this place is to train young people to earn money and support themselves to go to school. Everyone was so so so kind and wonderful, and the food was out of this world.
Exploring off-the-beaten path: hidden temples & pottery
Sometimes while traveling, I like to explore on my own, and see where I end up. These types of days are often my favorite, without a plan or any expectations. So, me and my boyfriend rented bicycles in Luang Prabang and took the commuter ferry across the Mekong River to explore a tiny village on the other bank.
While arriving with the locals on the other side, we walked our bikes up a steep hill and began cycling through dirt roads in search of hidden gems. We indeed found a temple, deep in the jungle, whose beauty took my breath away. Young monks were there, and welcomed us warmly. We watched as they climbed a tree and took a sharp machete, chopping down thick green palm leaves.
We continued on our bicycles, finding a pottery studio (Pottery House ) with handmade goods and a beautiful display. Apparently you can take a pottery class here, which looked so fun. We continued onward, to the empty roads in a tiny village, mountains of northern Laos surrounding the backdrop. The poverty in this village was striking, and I found myself having a bit of culture shock seeing how these people live their day-to-day lives.
Once we became hungry, we took the commuter ferry to the other side of the Mekong, back to the starkly contrasted Luang Prabang for more delicious green curry.
To conclude of Luang Prabang, Laos
I hope you enjoyed my musings on Luang Prabang with a sprinkle of travel recommendations and holistic, unique things to do here. Luang Prabang, Laos is incredibly unique, I’ve never been anywhere like it and most likely won’t ever encounter anything similar. The food, nature, people, culture are exquisite. I hope this has inspired you to visit, and thanks for reading.
xx Gracie
If you liked this article, you will probably like my others:
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