Visitez Luang Prabang, et le reste du Laos

Buddhist Archives

Benolaos — 2026-03-20T06:52:23Z

The visit to the Buddhist Archive of Photography at Vat Souvannakhili opens a unique window on the essence of Luang Prabang's Buddhism, and into the history of Lao photography.

The unique collection of 35.000 photographs taken by the monks of Luang Prabang over more than 120 years survived miraculously over time, and has been digitized in a joint project with the British Library's Endangered Archives Programme since 2006. Its inscription on UNESCO's list Memory of the World is under way.

Organisation of a 1-hour private visit.

You will be welcomed either by artist Hans Georg Berger, the Archive's founder, or by Dr. Khamvone Boulyaphonh, the Director of the Buddhist Archives, a former monk at Vat Saen Sukharam. The visit lasts about one hour.

Mr Berger or Dr Khamvone will give you unique access to selected original photographs, and will personally guide you. This is a very special and meaningful way to learn about the Buddhist civilisation and heritage of Laos. Sala Thammavihan is a small architectural jewel of the town, a monastic building of the 1930s in a charming art déco style.

At its end, we will offer a cup of monastic tea at the verandah of historic Sala Thammavihan, at Vat Souvannakhili, where the Archives are housed.

Your donation helps the Buddhist Archives to continue its research.
Price for a group up to 6 persons: USD 200 (+30usd /pers. up to 20)
Appointing visits : 10:00 to 11.30, 14:00 to 15:30

The Buddhist Archives of Luang Prabang is a non-for-profit-organization of the Buddhist Sangha of Luang Prabang and does not have financial support from the government so far.

View online : Buddhist Archives of Luang Prabang

Garavek - Myths, legends, and folktales

Benolaos — 2024-10-31T09:43:34Z

Garavek is a small company based in Luang Prabang, with the aim of promoting and preserving the local traditional stories – myths, legends, and folktales. Every evening, from 6.30-7.30pm, they present a selection of traditional Lao stories in an intimate thirty seat theatre. The stories are told in English, by a Lao storyteller, with the live musical accompaniment of the khene.

The stories range from Luang Prabang-specific to tales which are popular all over Laos. During the show, the audience will learn the origins, according to folklore, of such local landmarks as Mount Phusi, the Mekong and the Nam Khan River, as well as encountering such legendary characters as Xieng Mieng, the archetypal trickster, and Fa Ngum, the first king of Lan Xang.

The stories are accompanied by khene – a handmade bamboo mouth organ, and the quintessential Lao folk instrument. Unique to the Lao people of Laos and Northeast Thailand, it has formed an important part of traditional Lao culture and identity for generations. The show features a live performance of khene by one of a skilful musicians.

Tickets (around 5usd) are on sale at the theatre from 6pm onwards. Drinks can be purchased inside.

View online : Official website of Story Telling in Luang Prabang

The institut Français of Luang Prabang

Benolaos — 2014-09-03T08:41:17Z

The French Institute of Luang Prabang is active in both the linguistic and the cultural fields. It offers 3 sessions of 50 hours classes in French and Lao, in group or private, for children, teenagers and adults. Its multimedia library proposes access to books, magazines and computers. The Institute also offers cultural events, painting or photo exhibitions, conferences, shows and children cinema.

The institut Français in Laos :

The Institut français in Laos is the only cultural cooperation institution belonging to an embassy in Laos. Created in 1993 as a linguistic service within the embassy, it was inaugurated by Jacques Chirac in its current premises on 14 January 1994 as a French Language Centre. In January 1995, it became a financially independent institution as a Cultural and Linguistic Cooperation Centre.

Through the creation of the Institut Français, the government wished to gather within one same agency the promotion of France external cultural action as regards artistic exchanges – performing arts, visual arts, architecture – , books, cinema, French language, knowledge and ideas diffusion. As such, it is developing a new program focused on scientific culture.

Part of the Institut Français worldwide network and branch of the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs for France external action, the Institut français in Laos replaces the association Cultures France in the form of an EPIC (Établissement public à caractère industriel et commercial), with a bigger range and means of action. The Institut Français in Laos substitutes itself for Vientiane French Language Centre and Luang Prabang Lao-French Cultural Centre though it keeps the same structures, services and staff at the disposal of the public and the students.

The Institut Français continues welcoming foreign cultures in France through the organisation of seasons or festivals and cooperating with the southern countries, notably by administering the Fonds Sud cinema, a device supporting southern cinema, in partnership with the National Centre of Cinematography and the moving image. It develops a program of international residencies in France and abroad.

View online : Official website of Institut Français

National Museum

Benolaos — 2013-09-02T10:21:00Z

The Royal Palace Museum in Luang Prabang (also known as “Haw Kham” or "Golden Hall") was once Laos' Royal Palace. It houses a lot of interesting historical items. Every item tells a story...so you will learn quite a lot about Lao history and about Laos' royal.

Built in 1904, it features a blend of Lao traditional and French style. It was built for King Sisavang Vong and his family during the French colonial era.

After the death of King Sisavang Vong, the crown Prince Savang Vatthana and his family were the last to occupy the palace. After the revolution in 1975, the building was taken over by the government. The palace was then converted into a national museum and opened to the public in 1995.

Located in the city just the other side of the road from Phousi mountain, the palace is in walking distance of all main hotels and guest houses.

In the palace compound, there are several buildings including the Royal Barge Shelter, a conference hall, and Haw Pha Bang (a ornate pavilion) that houses the standing Buddha statue called Prabang. In the pass the Prabang statue and many other religious artifacts were housed in the palace, the front wing.

Also in the compound is a building that houses the royal car collection. It's a small collection, mostly American cars from the 1950s to 1970s. Behind the garages is another building which has a gallery for rotating exhibitions.

The palace building can be visualized in three main parts: The front wing, consisting of reception areas; the throne hall (in the middle); and the back wing that was once residential area.

The front wing

The King's reception hall at the right of the entrance now displays busts and paintings of the Lao monarchy along with two large gilded and lacquered Ramayana screens.

The walls of the room are decorated with murals depicting scenes of traditional Lao lifestyles, painted by a French artist back in the 1930s.

The room next to the right of the King's reception hall displays a collection of the palace's most prized art including a cast of the prized Pha Bang buddha statue in gold, silver and bronze.

On the left of the entrance hall the former secretary's reception area now houses gifts from various heads of state to the Lao monarchy. Displayed objects are grouped by “socialist” and “capitalist” countries.

The room to the left of the secretary's reception was once the Queen's reception room. It now displays paintings of King Savang Vatthana, Queen Khamphoui and the crown Prince Vong Savang. Also displayed are friendship flags from China and Vietnam, and replicas of sculpture from the National Museum in New Delhi.

The throne hall

The throne hall connects the reception wing with the residential wing where the royal family's bedrooms and living quarter were. The walls of this room are decorated with cut mirrored tile mosaics similar to those seen in the town's oldest temple, Wat Xieng Thong. Displayed in the throne hall are the throne of the king and queen, the king's elephant chair and glass cases containing many crystal Buddha images that were removed from Wat That Makmo.

The Back Wing (residential area)

The back wing was the royals' residential area and includes bedrooms, a dining room, a library and a music and dance exhibits area displaying Lao classical instruments and masks.
The residential area has been preserved more or less as it was in 1975 before the royal family departed.

Good to know

No photography is allowed inside the museum.
No bags allowed, so you must leave yours in lockers provided near the entrance
Shoes must be removed before entering the museum.
Dress conservatively. Women with short shorts or skirts are required to put on a Lao skirt before entering (Lao skirts are available for hire on spot).
Opening hours: every day, 08:30-11:00, 13:30-16.00.

From Laos-guide-999.com
See more detailed pictures from Dr Fumblefinger

UXO Luang Prabang Center

Benolaos — 2012-12-23T13:49:04Z

The UXO Laos Visitor Center is located behind the Chao Anouvong Monument. This free admittance center features information about unexploded ordnance, for what Lao PDR is the most heavily bombed country, per capita, in history. Numbers talk:

Approximately 25% of villages in Laos are contaminated with Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)
More than 580,000 bombing missions were conducted over Laos
Over 2 million tons of ordnance were dropped on Laos between 1964 and 1973
Cluster sub-munitions or ‘Bombies' (as they are known locally) are the most common form of UXO remaining
More than 270 million bombies were dropped onto Laos
Up to 30% failed to detonate
Approximately 80 million unexploded bombies remained in Laos after the war
All 17 provinces of Laos suffer from UXO contamination
41 out of the 46 poorest districts in Laos have UXO contamination
Over 50,000 people have been killed or injured as a result of UXO accidents in the period 1964-2008
Over 20,000 people have been killed or injured as a result of UXO accidents postâ€ war period, 1974-2008
UXO Lao works in the nine most heavily UXO contaminated provinces in the country.
UXO Lao needs on an average, US$6.5 million, for operations. It employs over 1,000 people.

Heritage House and UNESCO

Benolaos — 2012-06-18T21:52:02Z

Situated right in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang, Huean Chan House is a traditional house dated back to over 100 years ago.

It is now turning into a museum, cultural and recreational centre where you are most welcome to visit and experience the authentic way of life in Luang Prabang.

Located at the end of the peninsula, the official architect office has several duties in this town and was classified in the World Heritage List in 1995 by UNESCO.

Run by a team, mainly made up of Laotians, Heritage House received some specialized architects (particularly French) who were assigned the job of defining specific rules for the management of the town's patrimony.

Its a difficult compromise to try and keep the old charm without bringing development for a harmonious town to a halt, but so far, the gamble seems to have succeeded.

A number of rules were made, for use in the protected area, and a series of actions were taken so as to make the public aware of them :

Heritage House brings architectural advice for construction permits;
Two historical buildings have been made available for the project by the authorities since 1996: Ban Xieng Mouane and the Customs and Taxes House.

These ‘on-site schools' must find local know-how for restoring these old buildings with wooden frameworks, with workmen from companies in Louang Prabang, and so re-learn almost forgotten techniques.

An action has begun with the manufacturers of traditional materials (bricks, tiles…) so as to improve the manufacturing procedures ;
Work on basic facilities have started, especially for the repair and construction of the alleys, the renovation of a house so as to make it into a tourist centre, the construction of sanitary installations on the site of the Hmong day market, etc.

Many thanks to Heritage House for supplying all the documents needed to develop the Architectural section of this web-site.

View online : Heuan Chan Heritage House website

Traditional Art & Ethnology Center

Benolaos — 2012-06-18T21:45:18Z

The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre (TAEC) has been a private non-profit making museum devoted to the different ethnic groups in Laos.

Situated in a historical building, protected by UNESCO, the permanent exhibition that the museum offers to the public shows items of ethnic clothing, religious artefacts, working tools… Its intention is to increase understanding of the different ways of life and the traditions of different ethnic groups in Laos.

The Centre as well as TAEC Boutique in Ban Vat Sene on the main road offers certain items for sale, books, photos, and local handmade craftsmanship.

This permanent exhibition revolves around 4 main ethnic groups:

Akha : To show the diversity of ethnic groups
Hmong : To show their New Year festivities
Tai Lue : To show their cotton industry, from plantations to clothes
Khmu : To show their baskets and Back Strap Looms

The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9h till 18h. The entrance fee is 25.000 kips for visitors, free for Laotians.

View online : Traditional Arts & Ethnology Center

Royal Ballet Theatre

Benolaos — 2012-06-18T21:38:29Z

This provincial government troupe of some 60 artists was established in 1999 following a joint project between the Luang Prabang Provincial Service of Information and Culture and the Institute of Cultural Research (ICR) in Vientiane to re-establish the ancient "Lao Ramayana".

For years now, the Royal Ballet troupe performed Phra-Lak Phra-Lam, the Lao version of the sacred poem, the Ramayana, in the Royal Palace in Luang Prabang. Then in 1975, after 15 centuries of annual performances, the Theatre was banned and the master artists and teachers had to look for other work. In 1993, after an absence of more than 15 years, the Institution of Cultural Research and the Provincial Government Office in Luang Prabang established a committee to revive limited performances of Phra-Lak Phra-Lam for festivals. In 2002, the Theatre was re-established and has been performing at home and abroad since.

This show takes place in the garden of the National Museum, formerly the Royal palace.

The performance starts at 6:00pm during the high season (October to March) and 6:30pm the rest of the year.
Every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
Notice: the day of representation can change any time.

To buy the tickets:
You have to go on site to buy the tickets, maximum 3 days in advance.

View online : Website of the Phralak Phralam