Luang Prabang, Laos, a city made up of only 400 people, is infused with culture at every corner, which is what makes it a UNESCO World Heritage Center. Within the small territory of Laos there are more than 150 villages that use more than 80 different languages. Each of these villages have unique customs and garb that they use to distinguish themselves from the other villages.
A Laotian person from a village has the ability to tell which tribe someone is from at first sight. Usually village people do not interbreed between villages, so that they each have specific features that set them apart.
A worthy place to learn about these diverse tribes in Laos and their history is at the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Center. This museum aims to teach about the traditions, clothing, jobs, and ceremonies of the varying tribes. There is also the Ethnik Fashion Show that models 95 different traditional Laotian outfits. These attractions showcase the incredibly unique culture of Laos brought on by the diverse heritages.
Luang Prabang is engulfed in nature and has remained untouched due to its lack of industrialization. The city is at the center of a mountainous region on a peninsula formed by the Mekong and the Nam Khan River. Taking a riverboat along the Mekong showcases the lush greenery of the area that has yet to be built upon. Right outside of the city is one of the most breathtaking natural wonders of the region, Kuang Si Falls. This waterfall is famous for its beauty and is perfect for photography and swimming.
For the more adventurous travelers, there is a ten-kilometer hike that is offered in order to get to the waterfall. The hike goes through a village, teak tree and rubber tree fields, the woods, and from the top of the waterfall to the bottom. The scenery on the way is worth the exercise. Luang Prabang is a place where the picturesque outdoors are noticeable as soon as one exits the airplane and views the landscape for the first time.
The temples of Luang Prabang represent the importance of Buddhism within the culture. While visiting the temples it is common to see the monks who live there walking around or working outside. A tradition called Tak Bat, a morning collection of food by the monks, happens every day when they leave their temples in single file and take alms from the people. Getting to experience the religious aspect of Luang Prabang is worthwhile as Laos is one of the few Theravada Buddhist (the original Buddhism) nations left.
Other noteworthy attractions in Luang Prabang are the night market and the National Museum. The night market, which occurs every night, is quite sizeable and includes handmade items for excessively cheap prices. This is a city where Western currencies go a long way, especially for shopping. The National Museum represents what used to be the Grand Palace, and walking through it showcases how the King and Queen of Laos used to live. The museum contains personal items of the royal family as well as a story being told by the paintings all around the palace.
These are just two of the more popular attractions, but there are numerous things to see in Luang Prabang.
The best time of the year to visit Laos is in the fall and winter when it is not to hot or humid, and it is not rainy season. Usually in the fall the temperature sits within an ideal range, which is excellent for all of the outdoor activities. The summer is the city's lowest season because the weather is quite scorching and the air conditioning there is very limited.
In fact, there is only one air-conditioned restaurant in the entire city: l' Elephant. It is considered the best restaurant in town, and a reservation in advance is necessary during the high season. Although, there are many other restaurants that properly feature Laotian and French cuisine.
The summer is followed by rainy season where it downpours on a near daily basis, which starts at the end of June. The weather has a large impact on a trip to this city because an extraordinary abundance of things are outdoors and open air, so it is important to go during their better weather seasons.
Luang Prabang is a city that most people would probably not have marked on their travel list, but that doesn't mean it is not worth visiting. It is a place that offers a one-of-a-kind experience of witnessing a truly unique culture.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
