The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre

Visiting The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre (TAEC) would make your tour in Luang Prabang more interesting because of its good preservation of the Laotian's valuable cultures.

This center was established by Thongkhoun Soutthivilay and Tara Gujadhur in July 2007 at the foot of Mount Phousi, very close to the animated Luang Prabang city.

It receives annually a large number of tourists. To this day, more than 50,000 foreign visitors and 7,000 Laotians have discovered with pleasure this small museum which is now protected by UNESCO in a historic building.

Moreover, this place was recognized by the Department of Culture and Information, the Lao national tourism Authority.It has become a non-profit museum dedicated to the culture of the different ethnic groups of Laos.

There are many permanent exhibitions, such as traditional costumes, textiles, photographs, jewellery, baskets, religious artefacts, artisanal tools, etc.Although the center is a bit small, it is packed with very interesting rooms and well arranged according to an international standard.

Here you can find the collection with about 400 objects and 30 ethnic groups in northern Laos. Some come from private collections.There are instructions in English, Laotian, French or even Chinese, Portuguese, German, ...

In addition, the center often exhibits temporary exhibitions. The subject of the first exhibition was " Splendour and Sacrifice: Taoism of Northern Laos", which took place in 2009.

There are 4 main ethnic groups which permanent exhibition revolves around. They are the Khmu, the Hmong, the Akha, the Tai Lue. Otherwise, the museum has a library of CDs, DVDs, magazines, books and photos about Laos and Asia.

His souvenir shop sells handicrafts made by villagers. If you want to rest, it is possible to go to the Patio Coffee for tea, coffee or traditional ethnic minority food.

The opening hours are between 9 am and 6 pm every day except Mondays. The fare is 20000 LAK (about US $ 2.5).