The view from the top of the Mount of the Mekong river and the city is superb, especially in the evening, when the setting sun colours the river blood red before disappearing behind the mountains.
But, as with all good things, it comes with a price, in this case a climb of some 328 steps.
Phousi Mount is Luang Prabangs’ holy moutain, on its peak is the 20 m high Vat Chamsi Stupa.

The Pha Bang, after which the city is named, is a bronze statue representing a standing Buddha in the position of “Ham Nhat” (calming all arguments). It weighs 43 kg and stands 43 cm high.
The Pha Bang was donated by the Khmer sovereign to the Lao prince Fa Ngum before his departure from Cambodia to re-conquer his Kingdom. He then left the Prabang Buddha in Vieng Chan (Vientiane).
It was not until 1489 that King Sam Sêm Tay brought the Pha Bang to his capital where he placed it in Vat Nandron. After this he re-named the city Muang Luang Prabang. Today the precious original is safe in the national bank but a copy can be seen in the national museum of Luang Prabang.

Temple of the Royal City.
This temple is not only the most beautiful in Luang Prabang but also in the whole of Laos. Edified by King Setthathirath, it was built very close to the Mekong. With its roof sloping down to the ground, it is characteristic of Luang Prabang architecture from the times of the kingdoms of Lang-Wang and Canna. Its rear elevation is decorated with a very nice coloured mosaic, on a red background, representing the “tree of life”. Continuing through the sanctuary you will find the red chapel whose external walls are adorned with glass mosaics, of Italian inspiration, which give off a very nice effect. Inside you can admire a laying Buddha, a rare jewel of Lao statuary. Another place to visit is the chapel of funeral hearses which shelters the impressive, 10 m high, Royal carriage.
To get the most of the sanctuary, and especially to take photographs, it is best to visit in the morning.

The most ancient temple of Luang Prabang. It was originally erected in 1515 and was rebuilt in 1898. For some time it housed the Phabang Buddhas until the onset of invasions which included the pirate “Black flag” invasion. Its windows, with wooden railings, are inspired from the Vat Phou temple. Inside you can admire ancient statues and steles. Within the walls you will see That Pathoume or That Mak Mo ( Known as water melon because of its similarities to the fruit) which is a stone Stupa built by King Visounarath’s wife. Next door, separated by a very nice portico, is Vat Aham.
Close by you can see the altar of the city’s most important Genies.

Close to Vat Mai is the golden Buddha (Pha Bang), a precious relic venerated by the lao people, after all, the country today is still under his protection. Besides the golden Buddha you can also admire Buddhas from the 15th and 16th centuries, monks drums and elephant tusks.

The caves are located 25 km from Luang Prabang on the banks of the Mekong and the mouth of the Nam-Ou. The slow boat takes at least one hour but it is a superb trip in contrast to the quicker boats which are risky and more suited to the Indiana Jones type. Pak Ou is a well known Buddhist site and a place of pilgrimage, having thousands of statues and statuettes, in the traditional Luang Prabang style, mainly of the Buddha (unfortunately the site is exposed to looting). Stairs connect a second, deeper cave known as Tham Phum. Take an electric torch. Outside the cave is the impressive sight of a steep cliff falling sharply into the Nam Ou.

37 kms from Luang Prabang, these pretty waterfalls cascade over limestone into turquoise pools of varying sizes. An ideal spot for a picnic or a leisurely walk.

For francophones and others, 3 kms from the village of Ban Phanom (well known for its silk and cotton goods), is the grave of the French explorer Henri Mouhot who discovered the Angkor wats. After travelling up the Mekong to Luang Prabang, he died there in 1861, exhausted by fevers. Lying forgotten, his grave was discovered in 1990. If only because of Angkor, it’s worth a short visit as genuine adventurers are rare these days.

The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre is a museum about the ethnic cultures of Laos. The Centre exhibits ethnic clothing, household objects, religious artefacts, and handicrafts, with information in English and Lao languages. Our objective is to help locals and visitors learn about the different ethnic groups of northern Laos. The Museum Shop sells books, photos and exclusive handicrafts directly from ethnic communities. The Patio Cafe, run by L’Elephant Restaurant, serves food and drinks with a view of That Chomsi. Guided tours and seminars are available on request. The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre is centrally located on the foot of Phousi hill behind Dara market in Luang Prabang, Lao PDR.

Opening times: Tuesday to Sunday, 9am – 6pm. Closed Mondays.
Admission: 20,000 kip per person, free for Lao citizens.



For more information on our work and to enquire about guided tours, seminars, or group activities, please contact us:

Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre
Ban Khamyong, Luang Prabang Lao PDR
Tel/Fax: (+856-71)253-364
E-mail: information@taeclaos.org
Website: www.taeclaos.org