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Welcome to Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995 to protect the town's 32 precious historic temples, the former Royal Palace and classic French colonial buildings from being ruined by modernity and over-building. The first stop for any traveller should be the Stay Another Day Laos Exhibition - a multi-media event hosted at the Kopnoi Exhibition Gallery near L'etranger and the Hive Bar. Here you will find a wealth of information of ways to get the most out of your time in Laos.
If you really want to experience Luang Prabang though, why not Stay Another Day (or two) and visit some of the following organisations that will not only enhance your stay, but will also help the local destination.
Fibre2Fabric
Fibre2Fabric Gallery is a not-for-profit exhibition space in Luang Prabang that demonstrates the role and function of textiles from different regions and ethnic groups in Laos. Through temporary bi-lingual exhibitions visitors and locals have the opportunity to learn about the cultural significance of textiles in local daily life.
Heritage House
The Heritage Information Centre (Heuanchan) is part of a project using information and communications technology to aid in the management of World Heritage sites and also promote sustainable development. Working in cooperation with UNESCO, La Maison du Patrimoine (Heritage House) and the Tokyo Institute of Technology are documenting Luang Prabang's historic, environmental and cultural heritage into an extensive database and also educating the local community and business sector on the need to sustain Luang Prabang's unique assets.
Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre
The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre is a museum dedicated to the ethnic cultures of Laos. The Centre is housed in a heritage building, and exhibits ethnic clothing, household objects, religious artefacts, and handicrafts, with information in English and Lao languages. Our objective is to help locals and foreigners learn about the different ethnic groups of northern Laos.
Big Brother Mouse
Big Brother Mouse is a new project that publishes books that make it fun and easy to learn to read. Today, few books are available in Laos, and they rarely reach the villages where most people live. Most children, especially in the countryside, have never read a book except for a few school textbooks, and some have not even read those. Few Lao people think that reading could be enjoyable, add to their knowledge, or improve their quality of life.
Kopnoi
Kōpnoï, taken from the Lao language, means ‘little frog', a universal symbol for balance in the environment. It is also the name of our Export Promotion Center, a beautiful boutique-gallery, located in the village of Ban Aphay in Luang Prabang, near L'Etranger, Books & Tea. Our mission is to promote the best that Laos has to offer, both locally and internationally.
Tum Tum Cheng
Our Cooking School was established in 2001. Certified Chef Khoun Chandra Vongsaravanh, assisted by Ms Linda Vongsaravanh and Mr Laan Phouttasack, teach traditional cooking techniques based on more than 30 years of experience in Asia and Europe, including variations of the recipes of Phia Sing, the Luang Prabang Chef to the Royal Family.
Tamnak Lao
We established our restaurant 10 years ago to share with people our unique Lao cuisine. We specialise in offering authentic Luang Prabang-style cuisine. Many of our recipes are handed down from mother to daughter over numerous generations.
OckPopTok
Established in 2000, this self-financed initiative both produces and designs textile handicrafts. Ock Pop Tok in Lao means east meets west; the initial concept is of bringing people together through textiles to exchange knowledge and ideas.
Ock Pop Tok now provides livelihoods for nearly 200 people both in Luang Prabang and six northern provinces.
Lao Red Cross
The Lao Red Cross Society was founded in 1955 and began working in Luang Prabang Province in 1993, with on-going support from the Swiss and the Austrian Red Cross. Our vision is to prevent and alleviate human suffering and to improve living conditions at the village level and the health of the most vulnerable sections of society.
Laha Sinh
For centuries, the Pouthai women of Savannakhet Province in southern Laos have woven fabrics using natural dyes and fibers from their surrounding environment. Phouthai people, who live along the Xepon River, are now famous for the quality of their hand woven, organically-grown, indigo-coloured cotton fabric. Through the work of the Lahasinh Company, these beautiful textiles are now being marketed to the world under the Laha label.
Mulberries
Mulberries is a not-for-profit company that seeks to create income generating opportunities for Lao people in a socially and environmentally responsible way. Our company, in partnership with over 200 village families, specializes in the production of naturally-dyed, handmade Lao silk. We foster traditional silkworm rearing, reeling, weaving, and natural dyeing in villages, while providing training, tools and a market for sale and distribution.
Tam Lay Lao
Tam Lay Lao is a self financed Laotian Textile Company. Our Vientiane workshops develop 100% silk and cotton products, mixing traditional expertise and creativity with special attention brought to the finish. Created in 2004, Tam Lay Lao was formerly an association based in Luang Prabang.
Caruso Lao
The timeless skills of Caruso Lao's carvers, turners, silversmiths and weavers transform the natural treasures of Laos into exquisite, handcrafted furnishings and fashion accessories with an international aesthetic. Every piece in this sumptuous, high quality collection of Lao silk brocades and ikats, wood and silver is an individual work of art created by Lao artisans and many took months to complete.
Lisa Regale Fusion Gallery
I created a unique line of clothing and have a collection of hand woven silk and cotton textiles. My first priority is to preserve the traditional designs of Lao craftsmen and adopt these authentic pieces to accessorize contemporary garments. I work with talented and innovative people and help them to become professionals in what they do best.
Camacrafts
CAMACRAFTS is a non-profit, self-help project which markets handicrafts made by Lao artisans. We strive to provide a sustainable method of income for village women that would otherwise be unavailable. Our products are entirely handmade using traditional patterns and techniques, which helps preserve the traditional needlework skills of Hmong and Lao women such as appliqué, cross stitch, embroidery and batik.
Tamarind
Tamarind is a local restaurant established to promote greater understanding of Laos by serving the country's unique cuisine and providing information, cooking classes and demonstrations of Lao food and customs. We also arrange group feasts and banquets, sell local food products, educate diners through our information packed menu and provide personal explanations of the dishes we serve.
Hua Moom Xieng Thong Ethnic Shop
Hua Moom Xieng Thong Ethnic Shop displays a number of carved ethnic masks and sculptures produced by the Kha Moo ethnic minority of 'Ta Oi', near the Vietnamese border in Saravanh Province.
Royal Ballet Theatre
The Royal Ballet Theatre is reviving traditional Lao dance and music with the help of old Master Artists. Our goal is to create a new generation of masters, while preserving our cultural heritage and passing on generations of artistic knowledge to Lao children.