Relaxing Things to Do in Luang Prabang Laos

Luang Prabang is a mountainous village built at the bend of the Mekong river. The city is a peaceful place to visit with great access to the surrounding countryside. The area is known for it’s profound and beautiful temples, as well as a robust night market, access the Mekong River and the integral presence of monks in the Laotian society.

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Advice when Visiting Luang Prabang

Monks of Laos

There are a lot of monks in Laos, and it’s common to see them walking through many major cities and temples.  Touching monks (especially if you’re female) is culturally forbidden.  Women may not brush against them on the street, sit within physical contact distance on a ferry or in a tuk-tuk. It is also forbidden to directly hand anything to a monk. 

Likewise, photos of monks are sort of a gray area for both men and women.  They’re generally not allowed, but there are tourist spaces where they’re encouraged.  It’s wise to ask.  Pointing both feet towards a monk while standing is also forbidden.

UXO Warnings

Don’t wander off roadways into untapped wilderness.  Laos is an absolute minefield of UXO (Unexploded Ordinance) thanks to the United States bombing campaign during the Secret War of Laos (an anti-communism campaign roughly parallel to the Vietnam War). 

Laos is a relatively poor country, so they haven’t had enough resources to fully de-mine certain areas. There are a lot of places that were never defragged, and freely marching through certain parts of the country is incredibly dangerous.  

Behavior in Laos

Wear shoes you can take off easily.  Many temples in Laos forbid footwear, so it’s wise to have shoes or sandals that can be removed easily.  Most temples also require clothing which covers the knees and shoulders. 

Shouting and public displays of affection in Laos are both culturally inappropriate.  This is a remarkably conservative country.

Bikinis outside of swimming areas aren’t really allowed.  Again, Laos is very conservative.  Laotian women may go swimming in public areas, but usually while wearing a sort of sarong.

English is somewhat rare in Laos compared to other SE Asian countries, but there are always a few people who speak it in tourist centers.  

This is sort of a cultural, legal and romantic grey-area minefield.  It’s sort of (not totally, but somewhat) illegal for a Laos National to date a foreigner or behave with them in a certain way outside of marriage.  This is a tricky concept to navigate, so research it thoroughly if you have a romantic interest from Laos. 

This is particularly important for Asian travelers.  On a train, a Chinese woman dating a gentleman from the UK were both stopped and required to show residency papers to prove the female wasn’t a Laos national. I recommend couples with Asian heritage research this more deeply before arrival. 

Money and Donations

United States Dollars and Thai Baht are accepted in Laos in addition to the local currency (Laos Kip).  One of the bizarre features of Southeast Asia is how US dollars are accepted.  In certain places, the bills must be crisp and unfolded, as this cuts back on counterfeiting and streamlines exchange.  

When I headed away from the cities to the outer villages of Laos, I was told I could bring notebooks, pencils and highlighters for children if I wanted to donate something.  I was asked not to provide candy to any kids, since there isn’t a large amount of access to dental care. 

Alms and Donations

One of the most remarkable things to see in Laos are the silent alms ceremonies, where lines of monks walk through cities for food offerings from locals in exchange for spiritual reciprocation. This ceremony, called “Sai Bat” or “Tak Bat” occurs every morning at dawn.

There are many strict rules to the ceremony that must be observed, especially if a visitor plans on attending

• Offerings (usually food nd sticky rice) must be prepared in advance. Street food usually isn’t acceptable.
• Arrive before sunrise and be seated prior to the ritual. Interrupting the ritual is considered offensive.
• Remove shoes and socks while tucking your feat underneath. Stay silent. Females must keep their heads lower than the monks when giving alms. Do not talk, touch or make eye contract with the monks.
• Gifts are placed in the monk’s alms bowl.

Observing “Sai Bat”

If you are not contributing to the ceremony, stay a decent distance away and observe in silence. Photos are somewhat acceptable, but they must be done from a distance with no disruptions to the procession, including a flash. Still be sure you keep your head lower than the monks; don’t watch the procession from above, such as from a hotel room window. Finally, in all cases, make sure your phone is on silent.

Luang Prabang Things to Do

Wat Manorom

This is an incredibly beautiful and ornate temple, known for detailed decorations and impressive reliefs. It’s among the oldest temples in Laos. Finding Wat Manorom’s structures is sometimes tricky. The temple grounds are located within a small maze of curvy, nearby neighborhood walking streets.

Wat Xieng Thong

This large, ornate building is the centerpiece temple complex. It hosts a large plaza area with numerous smaller structures, such as stupas, a reclining Buddha, smaller temple sites and French chapels.  

Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham

This temple is often shorthanded as Wat Mai. The amazing temple is known for its decorations and reliefs. The most famous feature depicts large murals following the life and ceremonies of Buddha.

Kuang Si Waterfalls

These are a series of famous and gorgeous waterfalls outside the city.  The area around the falls is somewhat busy on the weekend and has a butterfly park nearby. The butterfly park, which can be seen from the access road is known as Kuang Si Butterfly Park.

Tat Kuang Si Bear Centre

The Bear Centre is a small sanctuary for both sun bears and the Asian black bear. The facility is dedicated towards the protection of the species against poaching. Bear Bile. amongst other bear parts, is known as a central component of several potent ancient medicinal recipes.

Pak Ou’s Caves

Located in an impressive river-valley, Pak Ou’s Caves are a popular tourist attraction. These caves include impressive limestone caves filled with religious features, such as Buddha statues and carved tablets.  The most scenic method for reaching the cave involves boating down the Mekong River. However, the caves can also be reached by driving for roughly 45 minutes out of Luang Prabang, or biking for a couple of hours.

Night Markets

A staple feature in Southeast Asian Culture, the Night Markets sell local goods to visitors and locals alike. These events take over a street to sell unique trinkets, handmaid crafts, clothing samples and specialty food items under red-canvas awnings.

Mekong River

A large and holy river which traverses nearly every major point in Laos. The river is central to Laotian culture and many aspects of life. The river can be used for cruise tours, boating adventures or quiet scenery.

Want to read more about things to do in Luang Prabang and other trips through Asia? Check out the Leftfade Trails Blog for more firsthand stories about the region.