Culture and Local Life 6 days

After breakfast, the second day of your Culture and Local Life tour begins with the orientation tour in city. Stop to visit the Talat Sao Market and Shopping mall where you observe the daily commercial activities of local people. 

Move to the magnificent Vat Si Saket temple, the oldest Buddhist temple in the heart of the capital. Built in the Thai style, the temple’s sanctuary is surrounded by a typical cloister with beautifully carved doors. In its inner facade, there is a gallery of nearly 7,000 Buddha statues of different sizes and shapes.

Then our guide takes you to Buddha Park (also called Wat Xieng Khouane) which is located 25 km south from Vientiane. Along the way, you can observe the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge, built by the Australian government, which connects Vientiane with Nong Khai in Thailand. Upon your arrival, take your time to have a walk in the park. The latter is filled with more than 200 artistic statues linked to Buddhism and Hinduism, including an enormous statue of the 40-meter-high Buddha. All these works of art are mostly made of concrete or bricks coated with cement. Near the entrance is a building 6 meters high, called the Pumpkin Tower, which is divided into 3 floors: Hell, Earth and Paradise. At the top of this tour, you will have an amazing view of all this beautiful Buddha Park. End of your visit, transfer back to town.

Evening time is free for your wandering on the bank of Mekong river and visit night market. 

Lunch at local restaurant. Dinner on your own. Overnight at your hotel.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast at the hotel, free time until transfer to Wattay airport for flight to Luang Prabang.

Upon your arrival at Luang Prabang airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your local driver and Lao guide who will take you to the hotel for check-in.

Luang Prabang is a must-see destination on your trip to Laos. It is a site surrounded by magnificent mountains with a healthy atmosphere and which has been classified by UNESCO on the list of world cultural heritages for thirty temples and buildings with a maximum of 2 floors. The first impression of tourists on Luang Prabang is the beauty of the landscapes and architecture, combined with the rigors of daily life.

Start your very first discovery by visiting the Wat Xieng Thong temple, which plays an important role in the psychic life of Laotians. Wat Xieng Thong means the "Monastery of the Golden City", one of the higher symbols of Buddhism in Laos. This place is built in a particular architectural style of Laos, with a curved roof that nearly touches the ground. 

Then the Wat May temple which lies on a vast ground and features a style of religious architecture and consists of an ordination hall (sim) and some koutis (the monk’s dwellings). 

Afterwards, explore the Royal Palace Museum, it is an ideal place to study or learn some history and Royal lifestyle of Laos. The architecture of the building is a mixture of French Beaux –Art style and traditional Laos style, making it not only old, but also contemporary.

In the evening, free time to walk to the Hmong night market, located at Sisavangvong Street where you could find jewelries, silks, scarves and more that are more authentic than those in big city’s markets.

Lunch at local restaurant. Dinner on your own. Overnight at your hotel.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Morning option: At about 05:00, the monks walk barefoot in the streets of Luang Prabang in search of offerings. If you wish to attend this original parade with the locals (only in Laos), you should get up early.

After breakfast, you will be picked up by your Laotian guide and driver who will take you to local markets: the Morning Market and the Phou Si Market. These markets are infinitely populous and hectic with several edible and various products. By visiting them, you will have the opportunity to observe the dealings of local residents.

Then you will visit a Hmong family. The Hmong men are now famous for their flutes which have succeeded in public musical performances. After the conversation with the host, he will give you an explanation on how to play the flute. Take advantage of this opportunity to hear both original and romantic flute melody sounds.

Continue your excursion on the other side of the Mekong River in the Ban Xiengmene, a very quiet village where the Kmus and Lao Loums reside. This is certainly a memorable experience that takes you off the beaten path of Luang Prabang.

Then discover Ban Tjan, a traditional pottery-making village. By using the local manufacturing techniques, this small village have specialized on bricks and manufacturing pottery. The raw material is processed directly on spot and everyone can participate in this activity, even children. Finish your day by crossing the Mekong to reach the pier in the city center.

In the beginning of the evening, you will attend Baci (also called Soukhouan) meaning in Laotian ‘The call of the soul’, an interesting and calm traditional Laotian ceremony which is enveloped in an infinitely spiritual silence. The Baci is given on special events like a marriage, a homecoming, a welcome, a birth, or one of the annual festivals. During the ceremony, each participant will tie a string around the wrist. This will bring you luck, happiness and prosperity!

Lunch at local family. Dinner on your own. Overnight at your hotel.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast at the hotel, you will spend the morning discovering a unique specialty that is only found in Bamboo Experience. Your guide will provide you with explanations on how to work bamboo and its essential role in the daily life of Laotians.

You will be able to learn all the techniques of transformation and manufacture of bamboo products, namely: fish traps, musical instruments, baskets, hats, ...Then, do not hesitate to take part in a bamboo weaving course. During this course, an expert teacher will give you detailed guides to make a bamboo item. Next, participate in cooking Laotian dishes with bamboo shoots such as bamboo shoots, bamboo shoot soup, bamboo shoot with banana leaf with sticky rice, .... End of the course, you will taste your creations while admiring natural landscapes intact and rice fields.

 You cannot leave this ancient capital without visiting Kuang Si, the most beautiful waterfalls in Luang Prabang. Take to the road, (about 30km), to discover these waterfalls where the water is turquoise all year round. At the bottom of the falls, a series of natural pools invites you to swim. In addition, you can take a walk in the forest or continue to climb to the top of the falls. On the way back to the city centre, you can observe daily life in a few ethnic minority villages of Laos, like the Hmong village (in Ban Ouay), the Laoloum village (in Ban Ou), and the Khmu village (in Ban Thapene).

Dinner on your own. Overnight at your hotel.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

After your breakfast in the hotel, depending on flight schedules, you will be transferred to Luang Prabang Airport by your driver and guide for your departure flight.

Meal: Breakfast