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Wednesday 6 November 2019

A Guide to Luang Prabang (Laos) – A Sustainable Destination in Southeast Asia

A Guide to Luang Prabang (Laos) – A Sustainable Destination in Southeast Asia

I was selected to participate in the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Workshop on Eco & Sustainable Tourism in Luang Prabang, Laos from 4 - 8 March 2019. About 50 delegates between the ages of 20 and 35 with various backgrounds from the 10 ASEAN member countries and Timor Leste participated in the week-long workshop held at Le Bel Air Resort. When I received an email that I got selected for this workshop, I was pretty stoked to finally get to visit this little landlocked country, my 8th in Southeast Asia!

Throughout the workshop, I learnt from experts the fundamental principles of eco and sustainable tourism and its relationship to green, community issues and Sustainable Development Goals. Topics included the tourism environment, community-based tourism, eco-initiative, responsible tourism and environmental justice and forest protection.

The workshop also provided the opportunity for participants to develop our own real-world social-enterprise pitches and included visits to the Kuang Si Waterfall as well as the Mekong River. The workshop was sponsored by the US Department of State and funded through a cooperative agreement from the US Embassy in Vientiane to The Asia Foundation for the administration of the workshop. 

I loved my time spent in Luang Prabang, Laos, pretty much from the day I arrived on 3 March. I stayed there for 8 days and left reluctantly because it’s about time for me to return home to my family. This UNESCO World Heritage town is a charming city filled with over 33 temples, vibrant nightlife, stunning nature. It has so much character, temples, night market, Mekong, delightful people and so much to see and do. The highlight for me was a trip out to the Kuang Si Waterfall and the alms giving ceremony.   
Take a dip in the turquoise waters of the Kuang Si Waterfall
Check out my personal list of best eco-tourism experiences in Luang Prabang that I would highly recommend:

1.      Visit and take a bath at Kuang Si Waterfall
I had heard about the Kuang Si Waterfall many years ago and finally I made it there in the nick of time during the workshop. The Kuang Si Waterfalls is about 45mins drive outside the town and one of my favourite things about Laos overall.The waterfall is the most popular tourist attraction in Luang Prabang. The falls are truly beautiful.  The waterfall itself is lovely, with brilliant teal water and many little pools. Check out the photos below.
**Tips:  Start your journey early and head to the bridge at the top first thing first.You can book your Kuang Si tour package via Klook
Take a dip in the turquoise waters of the Kuang Si Waterfall
Take a dip in the turquoise waters of the Kuang Si Waterfall
Most popular tourist attractions in Luang Prabang
Most popular tourist attractions in Luang Prabang
Breathtaking cascades of water
Breathtaking cascades of water
Perfect to take pictures
Natural pool
One for the album
2.      Visit the Temples in Luang Prabang
There are plenty of attractions in Luang Prabang. There are 34 active temples in the city, and all of them are beautifully gilded which gives Luang Prabang a deep spiritual feel. If you have limited time in Luang Prabang, then Wat Xieng Thong is your best option. First built in 1560 by King Setthathirat, this was the temple where Laotian kings were coronated and considered one of the most important landmarks in Laos for its historical significance and a masterpiece of Laotian religious architecture. Other temples I visited were: the Royal Temple and Museum and Wat Mai. Some other temples that you should visit include: Wat Sene and Wat Nong.
Wat Xieng Thong - Luang Prabang's most significant temple
One for the album
Luang Prabang's most significant temple
I really like the mosaic artwork on the walls of Wat Xieng Thong
I really like the mosaic artwork on the walls of Wat Xieng Thong
The golden temple inside Wat Xieng Thong
Beautiful piece of history
The Royal Palace
The temple at the Royal Palace
One for the album
Wat Nong
Wat Nong
 Luang Prabang was a loose collection of wooden houses centred around gold-roofed temples
Life as a monk
The richness of Luang Prabang architecture reflects the mix of styles
The richness of Luang Prabang architecture reflects the mix of styles
The richness of Luang Prabang architecture reflects the mix of styles
Wat Nong
Luang Prabang was a loose collection of wooden houses centred around gold-roofed temples
Luang Prabang was a loose collection of wooden houses centred around gold-roofed temples
That Makmo
The richness of Luang Prabang architecture reflects the mix of styles
3.      Kuang Si Free the Bears
The Kuang Si Free the Bears Park is only a minutes’ walk before you reach the waterfall (it is a protected area) there is a rescue centre for the Asiatic Black Bears (Moon Bears). The bears are beautiful and are varied ages. There are 23 in all including one Malayan sun bear rescued from a bile farm. They have all been rescued from bile farms, illegal poaching and wildlife trade.
It made me want to be a bear
4.      Experience Baci Ceremony with the Locals
Another religious ceremony I participated was called Baci, a blessing ceremony that is often used as a welcome – ours took place at the resort. Baci is a ceremony used to celebrate special occasions and events in the Lao culture and has been practiced for hundreds of years. White string is tied around your wrist which represents tying the 32 Lao protective spirits to the body to bring good luck and prosperity.
Baci Ceremony is one of the most important ceremony in Laos
Baci Ceremony is one of the most important ceremony in Laos
Baci Ceremony is used to celebrate important events
The Baci Ceremony is an important ceremony in Laos
The ceremony involves tying a white string around your wrist
Baci Ceremony is one of the most important ceremony in Laos
5.      Visit Tad Sae Waterfall
On the second last day of our trip, I had the opportunity to visit Tad Sae Waterfall. The falls are only accessible by boat. From the hotel, the journey took us about 40 minutes on the road and 5 - 10minutes by boat. The journey was very bumpy, but didn't bother me.  The river boat ride to the falls was quite fun for me. To my dismay, what I saw was just a terrace of rocks and a drop of water due to its dry season.
**Tips: Remember to check out the seasons for when it is best to visit.
The river boat ride was a fun experience
The river boat ride was a fun experience
To my dismay, what I saw was just a terrace of rocks in Tad Sae
6.      Climb Mt. Phousi
Mt. Phousi is located near to the old quarter. On the first day itself, I hiked up Mount Phousi for epic views over the Old Quarter, Mekong River and surrounding mountains. The walk was steep but short, and is doable for anyone with a reasonable level of fitness and no mobility issues (due to the number of stairs). Indeed a mesmerizing sight to behold especially at sunrise or sunset.
Walk to the top for Phousi stunning views
Walk to the top for stunning views
The tallest point of Luang Prabang
The tallest point of Luang Prabang
Highest point at Mount Phousi
7.       Visit Luang Prabang Day & Night Market and Phousi Market
The morning market at Kitsalat Road runs for most of the day, though morning 5.00am – 9.00am is probably the most bustling time to visit as the fresh produce is on sale. This market gives you a look at local life and it’s the best place to try some local food. Also, remember to check out the night market in Luang Prabang which happens every evening in from 4.00pm – 10.00pm. There were beautiful paintings, purses, table runners, bags and so many other things I wanted to buy and finally I settled for lovely scarfs for myself and my mum.
The Luang Prabang night market
Things you see in the market
Things you see in the market
The Luang Prabang food market
8.      Experience Alms Giving Ceremony
Laos is a very staunchly Buddhist nation, and one practice worth witnessing is the Buddhist alms giving ceremony or Tak Bat. I had the opportunity to experience this almsgiving ceremony with the help from a local friend, Lee from Luang Prabang. From this ceremony, we learnt the ins and outs of this procession after which you will line up together with all other devotees giving out food to the monks walking past outside of our resort.

In Laos, it is part of the culture that all males spend a portion of their life as a monk who live with no financial income and have to rely on the general population to survive. The alms giving in Luang Prabang happens every morning at sunrise where long lines of locals gift the monks with food (mainly rice) and is an important part of the local culture. Do not miss out the Tak Bat Ceremony in Luang Prabang. Experience the sacred and humbling Buddhist tradition of alms giving ceremony by booking in advance with Klook   
The Tak Bat is a must to see, but handle with respect and care
The Tak Bat is a must to see, but handle with respect and care
One for the album: My Tak Bat Experience
One for the album: My Tak Bat Experience
The early morning monk's walk
The Tak Bat is a must to see, but handle with respect and care
9.      Walk Across the Bamboo Bridge
After the rainy season each year a bamboo bridge is constructed over the Nam Kahn River which then has to be removed before the start of the rainy season again. I saw 2 bridges in action while I was in Luang Prabang, and crossed one of them. The  bridge is actually very strong and has a little toll booth where you pay a very small token (2,000 Kip) to cross (which goes directly to support the Lao family that builds the bridge).
Remember to catch this scenic bamboo bridge at Nam Khan River
10.   Biking in Luang Prabang
Like most of Laos, Luang Prabang is a great spot for exploring on your wheels. As well as the Old Quarter, we loved cycling around the residential area on the outskirts of the old town and the east side of Nam Khan River.
The old bridge, used only by bikes. Built over a century ago by the French
Just walk and get lost

Other Activities to do in Luang Prabang:
  • Visit Mandalao Elephant Conservation
  • Explore Pak Ou Caves
  • Ride on a boat tour along the Mekong River
  • Try the rice-farming hands-on experience
  • Visit Ock Pop Tok Living Crafts Center Social Enterprise for local handicrafts
  • Visit Kuang Si Butterfly Park 
  • Visit Laos Buffalo Dairy 
  • Explore Green Jungle Park 
  • Visit Traditional Arts and Ethnology Center 
  • Drop by Pottery House Lao Food and Ma Te Sai 
  • For more complete local sightseeing and experiences in Luang Prabang, check out Klook website 
Long wooden boat down the Mekong River
The local ferry that use to transport public and cars 
You can’t miss Luang Prabang. This place has all the ingredients to become my new favourite destination in Southeast Asia. Will definitely come back again! 
There's really so much to do in Luang Prabang
This place has all the ingredients to become my favourite destination
Air Itinerary Details:
Penang (PEN) – Bangkok – Luang Prabang - Bangkok - Penang (PEN) via Thai Smile Airways and Lao Aviation Airline
From                                                To                                                  Date              Dep         Arr
Penang Intl. Airport                        Suvarnabhumi Int'l Airport       3 Mar 2019       08:00      08:45
Suvarnabhumi Int'l Airport          Luang Prabang Airport                3 Mar 2019       10:20      12:20
Luang Prabang Airport                  Suvarnabhumi Int'l Airport      10 Mar 2019       11:20        12:55
Suvarnabhumi Int'l Airport          Penang Intl. Airport                   10 Mar 2019        04:10       06:55
Return ticket airfare/person: USD760.96/person (Economy Class)

Accommodation(s):
LUANG PRABANG
Le Bel Air Resort (3 – 9 March 2019)
Address: 1 Old Bridge, Ban Muang Nga, Nam Khan River, Luang Prabang, Laos
Tel: +856 71 254 699
Room price: MYR500/1 night for 2 adults via www.agoda.com
Room type: Garnier Garden or River View Room with Balcony 
Le Bel Air Resort, Luang Prabang
Le Bel Air Resort, Luang Prabang
Airbnb Café Toui Homestay (9-10 March 2019)
Host: Café Toui Homestay Room 7
Address: Sakkaline Road Wat Siphoutthabat, Luang Prabang, Luang Prabang Province, Laos
Room type: Private room in bed and breakfast
Room price: MYR206.93
Booking site: www.airbnb.com

Insider Tips:
  • It is normal in Lao culture to take your shoes off
  • Please show respect and dress appropriately 
  • If you use local transport around town (tuk tuk) short distances should be no more than 10,000 kip per person
  • The Lao word for hello is Sabaidee
  • Monks are revered and respected in Laos 
  • The country accepts these currency: USD, Kip and Thai Baht 
Note: All entrance / transportation fees and accommodation rates/charges listed on this post are based on our (chengywong.blogspot.com) travel dates (2019) and therefore subject to change(s). ©chengywong.blogspot.com is not responsible for content on external web sites.

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Welcome to Small World! This blog is not a travel agency, but rather a personal site which allows us to share our past travel experiences in a straightforward and far-reaching way. We often made great use of other peoples travel blogs and sites every time we plan for our travel itinerary as they often contained most updated information and invaluable resources from their past travel experiences.  We hope that you will find every piece of information & images contained within our blog handy and useful. Thank you very much for reading our post(s). If you find this blog worth a read, please feel free to leave a comment/testimonial or click "Like/Share" if you love reading them all. xoxo Both Chengy & Camel are passionate travelers who enjoys speaking to young keen travelers about the freedom to get cultured and to taste the fullness of life. Feel free to contact them if you need any travel advice, guidance or tips or if you have any burning questions with regards to your upcoming trip(s)/ journey
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