Fun Luang Prabang guide
First you have to get to Laos. Then you can enjoy the incredible temples, the charm, shopping, and laid-back lifestyle, not to mention some fine Luang Prabang boutique hotels.
THERE IS a reason why Luang Prabang remains the town that time forgot. It’s bloody hard to get to. Snuggled deep in the treacherously undulating northwest of Laos it was, until fairly recently, served by just two alarming modes of travel. The first was Lao Airlines (www.laoairlines.com) – a carrier often blacklisted by the US Embassy, the UN, and other companies that prefer their employees whole. The second was a punishing ten-hour bus journey from the capital Vientiane, at the mercy of bandits and a million sharp turns. Yet the lure of gilded spires, saffron robes and cobblestones was strong, and still the travel pilgrims prevailed.
Things are different now. In 1998 a fancy modern airport was constructed two kilometres from town, and subsequently Bangkok Airways (www.bangkokair.com), Thai Airways (www.thaiairways.com) and Vietnam Airlines (www.vietnamairlines.com) opened up the route with direct flights into Luang Prabang. Now the runway has been extended to accommodate larger jets from even farther afield. Lao Airlines still flies regularly and many like myself – pursuing this elusive Luang Prabang guide – still brave it without a hitch. The roads are still winding but they are mostly well kept, and banditry is less common. This may be because of the armed, alarming plain-clothes blokes you might find on board buses, but hey, that’s all part of the adventure. It is possible to book a VIP bus from Vientiane for around US$14. All buses run from Vientiane through Vang Vieng and range from the eight-hour air-conditioned VIP bus for US$14 (or US$11 if you are starting your trip in Vang Vieng) to a cheaper local option, which is a good three hours longer. Both come loaded with exuberant karaoke entertainment and include a stop-off for lunch.
LUANG PRABANG TRAVEL INFORMATION
Here you find selected travel information about Luang Prabang and Laos as well as some travel tips for the independent travaler.
Luang Prabang, the jewel on the Mekong, a protected UNESCO World Heritage site in the warm heart of Indochina invites visitors for a wide range of activities to explore. Take the time to read and review our independent travel information about Luang Prabang and Laos.
Luang Prabang guide online source
The best Luang Prabang City Map - Hobo Map
This is a small list of highlights which you can find in and around Luang Prabang information, Laos travel informationLuang Prabang (Luang Phabang). The selected sights and highlights can be combined in our day trips and offer individual experiences and a good way to explore the beautiful area around town. Luang Prabang offers more and more activities and sights to visit, here are just a few of them. Most things can be done by bike or with our adventure and city exploration tours. Also enjoy our videos which give visual information about Luang Prabang!
Luang Prabang information - royal palaceLuang Prabang town,
is surely a jewel in Indochina, and a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. Once the capital of former kings and an important post along river trade lines it became a site of interest for visitors from all over the world. The ancient royal city is surrounded by misty mountains at the junction of the Mekong and the smaller Nam Khan river.
The center of town is located on a peninsula on an altitude of 300 meter above see level. Here we find ancient buildings, the royal palace, monasteries and temples. In the middle of the small city is Mount Phousi with stunning views of the surrounding temples and hills.
Luang Prabang is a provincial city where time still seems to stand still. As part of the UNESCO reconstruction plan, new buildings have been limited and old houses and streets receive reconstruction to keep Luang Prabang magical place...
Luang Prabang Kuang Si Waterfall
Following the road down south a magnificent waterfall offers a day of discovery and perfect place to hang out in the sun. The waterfall is about 30 km away from town and offers small food stalls as well as the protection project for small bears. An Luang Prabang guide information - Kuang Si waterfallAsian tiger is hold there within his huge open air cage. An amazing sight. Tuk-Tuks as well as normal cars offer services to and from the waterfalls as it is the most famous attraction out of town. Biking tours and trekking arrangements can be combined with the waterfall visit as well as multi-day tours with trekking and home stays. The perfect way to explore the Kuang Si waterfalls is on a 3 hour hike...read more on this tour idea.
Another tour that includes the Kuang Si waterfalls can be viewed here. It combines a short Mekong Cruise on the Mekong and adds the waterfall experience to it, a great day activitiy out of Luang Prabang. Enjoy a Luang Prabang Daytrip and combine a Mekong Tour, Bike Tour and Kuang Si Waterfalls.
Elephant Village - Elephant Luang Prabang
Since Luang Prabang was once the capital of the “land of the thousand Elephants” (Lane Xang) another tour and visitor highlight has come to Luang Prabang. The private project with former logging Elephants offers wonderful nature rides, Elephant walks and other Elephant interaction activity packages combined with protected Elephants. A visit to the Tad Sae waterfall is always in reach as it is just a 10 minute boat ride up the river. Nature Trails and activity options are offered within the project - see also our tour offers for Elephant tours in Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang - tad Sae waterfall
Tad Sae Waterfall
Crystal clear waters cascade over multilevel limestone formations, forming pools surrounded by tropical trees and plants. An ideal place for swimming and relaxing and also a great place to get away from the crowd. The nearby river and the lush green surrounding is just another beautiful place around town that cannot be reached by road. You might use a boat from Ban En or book one of the day trips that might include Trekking and Elephant rides. Our Lao Spirit Resort is just 15 min. away from the waterfalls.
Traditional Arts and Ethnology centre, Luang Prabang
Traditional Arts and Ethnology Center
You are interested in the ethnic cultures of Laos?
Than visit the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Center, which features information and exhibits of clothing, handicrafts, baskets and religious artifacts from 7 different ethnic groups of northern Laos. The Center has a museum shop where you can buy a community handicraft and the Patio Cafe where you can browse books on anthropology and culture while sipping an espresso grown in Laos. Guided tours and seminars are also available. Also visit for more information the TAEC website.
Wat Pa Phon Phao
A forest temple famous for the teachings of Ajahn Saisamut. When he died in 1992, his funeral was the largest that Laos had seen in decades.
It’s Santi Chedi (Peace Pagoda) was built in 1988. This large yellow stupa contains three inside levels plus an outside terrace with a view of the surrounding plains. The inside walls are painted with many Buddhist stories and moral admonitions. You can easily reach this temple with a bike or tuk-tuk. It is on the way to the Luang Phabang Airport .
Ban Panom Weaving Village
This village, populated by Thai Lue (a tribe with its origins in Southern China), is well known for cotton and silk hand-weaving. Most of the women come into town for the popular evening market in town, but at daytime you can see them waeving with silk and cotton. Beautiful scarves and newer patterns can be seen in Ban Panom.
Henry Mouhot Gravesite
Grave of Henry Mouhot - French explorer in Luang Prabang - Laos This is the tomb of the French explorer who showed the famous Angkor Wat to the world. Henry Mouhot perished of malaria in 1861, and the French erected a tomb over his grave six years later. The last entry in his journal was ‘Have pity on me, oh my God’. Neglected for decades, his engraved tomb was found by foreign aid staff in 1990. Today it is a nice half day trip along the riverbank of the Nam Khan and mountain bike tours as well as kayakers pass by for a short stop while exploring Luang Prabang nature. Tiger Trail also combines this site with some other adventure package tours around Luang Prabang
Whisky Village near Luang Prabang
Ban Xang Hai means jar-maker village. At one time that was the industry here. Now the jars are brought in, and the small community fills them with the white whisky (Lao Lao) made in the village. Archeologists have excavated pots beneath the village that could be 2000 or more years old. If you want to try some of the finest and strongest Lao Lao shots you should go there not to early in the morning.
Pak Ou Caves north of Luang Prabang, on the Mekong
This is an all time favorite,...travel by boat about 25 km upstream from Luang Prabang on the Mekong River to the famous Pak Ou caves, in a limestone cliff at the mouth of the Nam Ou River. Already the boat ride on the mekong is an experience and the landscape around the cave is unique as well. These two caves are crammed with a huge number of Buddha images of all styles and sizes. Both caves are accessed by stairs.The lower cave, known as Tham Ting, is naturally lit. The upper cave, Tham Phum, is deeper, - bring a torch or rent one there.
Luang Prabang - view from Phousi Mountain over world heritage town Best mountain view from Luang Prabang
Mount Phousi and Wat That Chom Sii
situated 150m and 300 steps up above the peninsula with spectacular views of the city and surrounding countryside. Even the climb might be tiring, the view is certainly worth the sweat. Looking out into the country side you can see great mountains, the Mekong river and the great location of the former kings residence. You can also see the old Royal Palace, now the Museum, the old houses and surrounding villages. The temple has a gold spired stupa that can be seen from most parts of the city.
It is surely the most favorite sunset spot but also worth seeing in the early morning - with less people.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Luang Prabang Airport Transfers, Airport shuttles
Luang Prabang Airport Transfers: The airport is just north of town and has scheduled flights from/to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hanoi, Jinghong, Pakse, Siem Reap and Vientiane.
Taxis into town cost about $US6, whether you are by yourself or with 3 other people. There is a taxi counter just outside the arrival hall.
Tuk tuk into town is nowhere near 15-20mins ride! Try about 5-7 mins max. You can pay the minivan service (as noted 50,000kip or $6USD) and it's ridiculously easy to walk 100m to outside the gates and grab a tuk tuk. If you have some Lao and good negotiation skills you may be able to get a ride for 20,000kip (but they may not take USD), or 30-40,000 if you're not strong on either!
Book your eco-friendly Luang Prabang Airport Transfer service by using the search box above. Throughout various locations around the world, we offer:
Luang Prabang Airport Transfers: Airport shuttles
Luang Prabang Airport Transfers: Holiday taxis
Luang Prabang Airport Transfers: Private limousines
Luang Prabang Airport Transfers: Eco-taxis
Luang Prabang Airport Transfers: Hybrid taxis
Luang Prabang Airport Transfers: Hybrid limousines
Luang Prabang Airport Transfers: Bio-fuel shuttles
Our prices are also consistently lower than those of our competitors. So what are you waiting for? Do some good for Mother Nature, do some good for your wallet, and book one of our Luang Prabang Airport Transfers today! http://www.greenpathtransfers.com/destination/luang-prabang-airport-transfers
Taxis into town cost about $US6, whether you are by yourself or with 3 other people. There is a taxi counter just outside the arrival hall.
Tuk tuk into town is nowhere near 15-20mins ride! Try about 5-7 mins max. You can pay the minivan service (as noted 50,000kip or $6USD) and it's ridiculously easy to walk 100m to outside the gates and grab a tuk tuk. If you have some Lao and good negotiation skills you may be able to get a ride for 20,000kip (but they may not take USD), or 30-40,000 if you're not strong on either!
Book your eco-friendly Luang Prabang Airport Transfer service by using the search box above. Throughout various locations around the world, we offer:
Luang Prabang Airport Transfers: Airport shuttles
Luang Prabang Airport Transfers: Holiday taxis
Luang Prabang Airport Transfers: Private limousines
Luang Prabang Airport Transfers: Eco-taxis
Luang Prabang Airport Transfers: Hybrid taxis
Luang Prabang Airport Transfers: Hybrid limousines
Luang Prabang Airport Transfers: Bio-fuel shuttles
Our prices are also consistently lower than those of our competitors. So what are you waiting for? Do some good for Mother Nature, do some good for your wallet, and book one of our Luang Prabang Airport Transfers today! http://www.greenpathtransfers.com/destination/luang-prabang-airport-transfers
Phoukhoune District of Luang Prabang Province, Laos
Phoukhoune in Luang Prabang, Phoukhong in Luang Prabang
Phoukhoune District is a district (muang) of Luang Prabang Province in northern Laos.
Phoukhong Guest House and Restaurant: This small place, right next to Pon's, pales in comparison, and the rooms are a tight squeeze, but we can't complain about the price. They also have a restaurant across the street on the water, with the same menu as everywhere else -- a good place to sit and relax in the evening, but the food here is disappointing and the service incredibly slow.
Ban Na Elephant Explorer: (2 days trek, all seasons)
This easy trek takes the passionate walker into the elephant forests of the Phou Khao Khouay NPA. Of the two herds known to inhabit this National Park, one has quite recently chosen to roam the bamboo thickets nearby the village of Ban Na.
To protect the (wild!) elephants and to compensate the villagers for the frequent damages to their crops, a community-based tourism scheme was introduced. Trained local guides lead the visitors to remote sites within the forest of this reserve and to an Elephant Observation Tower. Ban Na is just over one and a half hours away from Vientiane.
Itinerary:
Option 1 (in the wet season, June to September)
Day 1: Vientiane – Ban Na – Elephant Tower Ban Na Tower
We will be transferred to Ban Na, which is 80 km from Vientiane. Once we arrive, we start the trek thru the secondary forest. A simple picnic lunch will be served near the Houay Loung stream.
After lunch, we take a short trek to Elephant Observation Tower, 11 m high and located at a natural salt lick. Here you spend the night. An early dinner will be prepared for us to have time to wait for the elephants in a quietly and listen to the sounds of the forest. You now have a good chance to see wild elephants in their natural habitat from close range (though no guarantee for their appearance can be given).
Approximately:1 ½ hour transfer/ 3 ½ hours trekking
Day 2: Elephant Tower - Ban Na – Wat Pra Bath – Vientiane
After an early breakfast, we will keep track with the elephants. We still may hear them cracking the bamboo. We will trek back to Ban Na, where our lunch is prepared by the local guide's family.
We will learn how to weave bamboo baskets from the friendly villagers. Before returning to Vientiane, we have a short stop at the nearby Wat Phabath, where you can see a revered footprint of Buddha, who is said to have once crossed the Mekong here.
We return to Vientiane in the late afternoon.
Approximately: 1 ½ hour transfer/ 3 ½ hours trekking
Option 2: A harder trek can be offered as alternative in case we consider there is a very small or no chance to see the elephants. The alternative itinerary is designed as below:
Day 1: Vientiane – Ban Na – Nam HiBan Na Tower
We will be transferred to Ban Na. Once we arrive in this nice village, we start trekking on a 14 km long trail sneaking through dense bushland, hiking under high canopy, or crossing sandstone plateus, mostly uphill and across several ridges.
The two waterfalls Tad Lung and Tad Fa offer good locations for breaks and lunch, before heading to the Tad Hi Kheng Khani (Waterfall of the Gibbon) on the Nam Hi where we spend the night camping.
Approximately: 1 ½ hour transfer/ 7 hours trekking
Day 2: Nam Hi – Ban Na - Vientiane
After breakfast, we follow one of the elephant trails. When heading downhill, mostly along the Nam Hi, elephant tracks and feces are often found. The animals may also be heard from a not too far distance roaming through the bamboo groves. Besides wild elephants, other animals such as wild dog (dhole), boar or the rare Sambar, barking and mouse deer are living in the area.
We can make a lunch stop at Elephant Tower. In the afternoon we continue trekking towards Ban Na, where a songthaew awaits the group for the return back to Vientiane. \
Phoukhoune District is a district (muang) of Luang Prabang Province in northern Laos.
Phoukhong Guest House and Restaurant: This small place, right next to Pon's, pales in comparison, and the rooms are a tight squeeze, but we can't complain about the price. They also have a restaurant across the street on the water, with the same menu as everywhere else -- a good place to sit and relax in the evening, but the food here is disappointing and the service incredibly slow.
Ban Na Elephant Explorer: (2 days trek, all seasons)
This easy trek takes the passionate walker into the elephant forests of the Phou Khao Khouay NPA. Of the two herds known to inhabit this National Park, one has quite recently chosen to roam the bamboo thickets nearby the village of Ban Na.
To protect the (wild!) elephants and to compensate the villagers for the frequent damages to their crops, a community-based tourism scheme was introduced. Trained local guides lead the visitors to remote sites within the forest of this reserve and to an Elephant Observation Tower. Ban Na is just over one and a half hours away from Vientiane.
Itinerary:
Option 1 (in the wet season, June to September)
Day 1: Vientiane – Ban Na – Elephant Tower Ban Na Tower
We will be transferred to Ban Na, which is 80 km from Vientiane. Once we arrive, we start the trek thru the secondary forest. A simple picnic lunch will be served near the Houay Loung stream.
After lunch, we take a short trek to Elephant Observation Tower, 11 m high and located at a natural salt lick. Here you spend the night. An early dinner will be prepared for us to have time to wait for the elephants in a quietly and listen to the sounds of the forest. You now have a good chance to see wild elephants in their natural habitat from close range (though no guarantee for their appearance can be given).
Approximately:1 ½ hour transfer/ 3 ½ hours trekking
Day 2: Elephant Tower - Ban Na – Wat Pra Bath – Vientiane
After an early breakfast, we will keep track with the elephants. We still may hear them cracking the bamboo. We will trek back to Ban Na, where our lunch is prepared by the local guide's family.
We will learn how to weave bamboo baskets from the friendly villagers. Before returning to Vientiane, we have a short stop at the nearby Wat Phabath, where you can see a revered footprint of Buddha, who is said to have once crossed the Mekong here.
We return to Vientiane in the late afternoon.
Approximately: 1 ½ hour transfer/ 3 ½ hours trekking
Option 2: A harder trek can be offered as alternative in case we consider there is a very small or no chance to see the elephants. The alternative itinerary is designed as below:
Day 1: Vientiane – Ban Na – Nam HiBan Na Tower
We will be transferred to Ban Na. Once we arrive in this nice village, we start trekking on a 14 km long trail sneaking through dense bushland, hiking under high canopy, or crossing sandstone plateus, mostly uphill and across several ridges.
The two waterfalls Tad Lung and Tad Fa offer good locations for breaks and lunch, before heading to the Tad Hi Kheng Khani (Waterfall of the Gibbon) on the Nam Hi where we spend the night camping.
Approximately: 1 ½ hour transfer/ 7 hours trekking
Day 2: Nam Hi – Ban Na - Vientiane
After breakfast, we follow one of the elephant trails. When heading downhill, mostly along the Nam Hi, elephant tracks and feces are often found. The animals may also be heard from a not too far distance roaming through the bamboo groves. Besides wild elephants, other animals such as wild dog (dhole), boar or the rare Sambar, barking and mouse deer are living in the area.
We can make a lunch stop at Elephant Tower. In the afternoon we continue trekking towards Ban Na, where a songthaew awaits the group for the return back to Vientiane. \
Viengkham District, Luang Prabang, Laos
Viengkham District, Luang Prabang, Laos
Viengkham District is a district (muang) of Luang Prabang Province in northern Laos.
Look up: Viengkham District, Luang Prabang
Hotel reservations deals and phone number for KIRIDARA HOTEL at 22 / 13 North Rd. Ban Na Viengkham Luang Prabang, LA in Laos
Prices and reviews for Hotel Viengkham Muagkoun Guesthouse and 296 more hotels in Luang Prabang.trivago finds the cheapest price?
Evolving relations between agriculture and forest in Viengkham District, Luang Prabang Province
The paper investigates the changes in management and trade of non timber forest products (NTFP) in northern uplands of Laos and how they are related to agricultural production from both landscape and livelihoods perspectives. Surveys were conducted in Luang Prabang province with multiple groups of stakeholders (e.g. villagers, traders, officials from different administrations) to compare the value chains of agricultural and forest products and assess their interactions. Analysis of remote sensing data and literature review complemented field investigations to describe the historical changes in land use and in the management of NTFP and agricultural commodities. The study revealed how forest and agriculture products are complementary from both an economic perspective: i.e. how they complement each other in household economics and traders businesses; and an ecological perspective: i.e. how they complement each other at the landscape level. At the landscape level, the complex mosaics of agriculture and forest patches are key assets in term of resilience of the overall system in the face of unpredictable natural events (e.g. floods, droughts, fires). The main lesson is that the on-going segregation of agricultural and forest spaces tend to increase economical and ecological vulnerability by decreasing diversity in landscapes and livelihood systems. The on-going trend of specialization of farming activities as a result of the shifting cultivation eradication policy should be buffered in such a way that multiple livelihood systems and economic development pathways can be maintained. The loss in the resilience of the socio-ecological system due to simplification of the natural landscape should be compensated by improved mechanisms for landscape governance.
Viengkham District, Luang Prabang, Laos, Viengkham District, Luang Prabang, Laos
Viengkham District is a district (muang) of Luang Prabang Province in northern Laos.
Look up: Viengkham District, Luang Prabang
Hotel reservations deals and phone number for KIRIDARA HOTEL at 22 / 13 North Rd. Ban Na Viengkham Luang Prabang, LA in Laos
Prices and reviews for Hotel Viengkham Muagkoun Guesthouse and 296 more hotels in Luang Prabang.trivago finds the cheapest price?
Evolving relations between agriculture and forest in Viengkham District, Luang Prabang Province
The paper investigates the changes in management and trade of non timber forest products (NTFP) in northern uplands of Laos and how they are related to agricultural production from both landscape and livelihoods perspectives. Surveys were conducted in Luang Prabang province with multiple groups of stakeholders (e.g. villagers, traders, officials from different administrations) to compare the value chains of agricultural and forest products and assess their interactions. Analysis of remote sensing data and literature review complemented field investigations to describe the historical changes in land use and in the management of NTFP and agricultural commodities. The study revealed how forest and agriculture products are complementary from both an economic perspective: i.e. how they complement each other in household economics and traders businesses; and an ecological perspective: i.e. how they complement each other at the landscape level. At the landscape level, the complex mosaics of agriculture and forest patches are key assets in term of resilience of the overall system in the face of unpredictable natural events (e.g. floods, droughts, fires). The main lesson is that the on-going segregation of agricultural and forest spaces tend to increase economical and ecological vulnerability by decreasing diversity in landscapes and livelihood systems. The on-going trend of specialization of farming activities as a result of the shifting cultivation eradication policy should be buffered in such a way that multiple livelihood systems and economic development pathways can be maintained. The loss in the resilience of the socio-ecological system due to simplification of the natural landscape should be compensated by improved mechanisms for landscape governance.
Viengkham District, Luang Prabang, Laos, Viengkham District, Luang Prabang, Laos
Chomphet in Luang Prabang, Laos
Chomphet in Luang Prabang, Laos
Chomphet District is a district (muang) of Luang Prabang Province in northern Laos. Chomphet District Luang Prabang Province
Vat Chomphet: Located across the Mekong river to the north of Ban Xieng Mene, Vat Chomphet is built on the top of a hill, and offers stunning views of Luang Prabang town and the river. The temple was built in 1888, and although currently undergoing renovation, the dragon and bird designs on the ceiling still retain their mystical power.
National Museum: The National Museum, constructed in 1904, is laid out in a cruciform shape and accessed from a side entrance. Various royal religions objects are displayed in the large entrance hall. Many gift from foreign envoys (including a rock brought back from the moon !) and religious and culture artifacts are on display including the Phabang(‘ Buddha image’), the gold standing 14th century Buddha image from which Luang Prabang derives its name. The museum is open from 08:00 am to 11:30 am and 01:30 pm to 04:00 pm every day except Tuesday it is close for cleaning.
Wat Xieng Thong: Built during the 16th Century by King Saysetthathirath and completed in 1560. Wat Xieng Thong temple is one of the most interesting exampl es of art and Buddhist architecture. The ornate carved and gilded funeral veh icle of the former kin g is kept in one of the buildings in the temple grounds. It is well worth visiting and paying your respects to this temple while in Luang Prabang. This temple was used to organize the highest Royal Ceremonies and houses the bones of King Sisavangvong. The intricate golden facades, colorful murals, glass mosaics and unique three-layered roof make this one of the most beautiful temples in Asia. This temple is not only the most beautiful in Luang Prabang, but arguably one of the most spectacular in the entire country. It is a classic example of Luang Prabang style during the golden year of the Lane Xang kingdom and is noted for its gratefully sloping roof and glass murals.
Chomphet in Luang Prabang, Laos, Chomphet in Luang Prabang, Laos, Chomphet in Luang Prabang, Laos
Chomphet District is a district (muang) of Luang Prabang Province in northern Laos. Chomphet District Luang Prabang Province
Vat Chomphet: Located across the Mekong river to the north of Ban Xieng Mene, Vat Chomphet is built on the top of a hill, and offers stunning views of Luang Prabang town and the river. The temple was built in 1888, and although currently undergoing renovation, the dragon and bird designs on the ceiling still retain their mystical power.
National Museum: The National Museum, constructed in 1904, is laid out in a cruciform shape and accessed from a side entrance. Various royal religions objects are displayed in the large entrance hall. Many gift from foreign envoys (including a rock brought back from the moon !) and religious and culture artifacts are on display including the Phabang(‘ Buddha image’), the gold standing 14th century Buddha image from which Luang Prabang derives its name. The museum is open from 08:00 am to 11:30 am and 01:30 pm to 04:00 pm every day except Tuesday it is close for cleaning.
Wat Xieng Thong: Built during the 16th Century by King Saysetthathirath and completed in 1560. Wat Xieng Thong temple is one of the most interesting exampl es of art and Buddhist architecture. The ornate carved and gilded funeral veh icle of the former kin g is kept in one of the buildings in the temple grounds. It is well worth visiting and paying your respects to this temple while in Luang Prabang. This temple was used to organize the highest Royal Ceremonies and houses the bones of King Sisavangvong. The intricate golden facades, colorful murals, glass mosaics and unique three-layered roof make this one of the most beautiful temples in Asia. This temple is not only the most beautiful in Luang Prabang, but arguably one of the most spectacular in the entire country. It is a classic example of Luang Prabang style during the golden year of the Lane Xang kingdom and is noted for its gratefully sloping roof and glass murals.
Chomphet in Luang Prabang, Laos, Chomphet in Luang Prabang, Laos, Chomphet in Luang Prabang, Laos
Phonxay in Luang Prabang, Laos
Phonxay in Luang Prabang, Laos
Phonxay District is a district (muang) of Luang Prabang Province in northern Laos.
Ban Phonxay Weather, Lao People's Democratic Republic: Find information of past weather, next 15 day weather, weather text summary, monthly averages and many more to prepare yourself for an outdoor activity or a holiday or your travel to Ban Phonxay, Lao People's Democratic Republic
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Phonxay District is a district (muang) of Luang Prabang Province in northern Laos.
Ban Phonxay Weather, Lao People's Democratic Republic: Find information of past weather, next 15 day weather, weather text summary, monthly averages and many more to prepare yourself for an outdoor activity or a holiday or your travel to Ban Phonxay, Lao People's Democratic Republic
Geological Technician Jobs In Phonxay - Laos: This Geological Technician jobs page for vacancies in Phonxay is intended solely as a quick listing page, for a better way to search for Science jobs please use our Science job search page.
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Pak Seng, Pak Seng in Louangphrabang, Laos
Pak Seng District is a district (muang) of Luang Prabang Province in northern Laos
Where is Pak Seng in Louangphrabang, Laos Located?
Pak Seng is a place with a very small population in the state/region of Louangphrabang, Laos which is located in the continent/region of Asia.
Cities, towns and places near Pak Seng include Pakxeng, Ban Pakxeng, Muang Pak Xeng and Ban Houay Pag Noung.
List of Cities Near Pak Seng in Louangphrabang, Laos
The closest cities, towns, suburbs/localities and places to Pak Seng in Louangphrabang, Laos are listed below in order of increasing distance.
Pak Seng, Pak Seng in Louangphrabang, Laos, Pak Seng, Pak Seng in Louangphrabang, Laos, Pak Seng, Pak Seng in Louangphrabang, Laos
Where is Pak Seng in Louangphrabang, Laos Located?
Pak Seng is a place with a very small population in the state/region of Louangphrabang, Laos which is located in the continent/region of Asia.
Cities, towns and places near Pak Seng include Pakxeng, Ban Pakxeng, Muang Pak Xeng and Ban Houay Pag Noung.
List of Cities Near Pak Seng in Louangphrabang, Laos
The closest cities, towns, suburbs/localities and places to Pak Seng in Louangphrabang, Laos are listed below in order of increasing distance.
Pak Seng, Pak Seng in Louangphrabang, Laos, Pak Seng, Pak Seng in Louangphrabang, Laos, Pak Seng, Pak Seng in Louangphrabang, Laos
Muang Ngoi, Laos, Luang Prabang and Muang Ngoi, Laos
Luang Prabang and Muang Ngoi, Laos
Muang Ngoi: Is a cute village tucked in the mountains on a good size river. No electricity except from 6pm to 10pm powered by a noisy generator. No cars, trucks, or motor scooters. No hot water. No flush toilets.
I was amazed at how much noise chickens, ducks, pigs, dogs, and other various farm animals can make in the hours before dawn. Whoever said escaping to the country side was peaceful, did not stay on a farm. In Laos, every house is a mini farm complete with all the above and half a dozen children.
I guess it would have been ideal if I hadn't gotten sick the following day. I did nothing but swing in a hammock and watch the river flow. Not a bad thing to do, I just wish I had been feeling better. Oh, I would also have liked a bed with some sort of padding. If I had slept on top of the blanket, it would have been a great improvement, but then I would have frozen to death. Ahh the choices in life. I guess if I hadn't been feeling under the weather, I think it would have been worth the $2/night. On the third day I was feeling well enough for the 5 hour journey necessary to escape back to Luang Probang.
Luang Prabang: Luang Probang is the tourist center of Laos. It is surrounded by mountains and situated at the junction of the Mekong and a minor river. As an old French colonial city; Laos cultural center with the highest concentration of Wats, Buddhist temples, in the country; and one of the few international airports, Luang Probang draws tourists from all over the world causing an economic bubble. Its entire historical section is dedicated to tourism. Sadly, the only locals you will see are there to sell things to or provide services for tourists. The night market has beautiful hand woven fabrics at inflated prices. The restaurants cost 3 to 5 times more than equivalent restaurants outside the area. In some places, the cost of eating out was the same if not more than eating at a nice place in the United States.
My friend Kirsten was disgusted with the place and left after a couple of days. She only had a short time to travel and I think she was tired of being harassed for a tuk-tuk to the waterfall or boat across the river or to the caves. Even the Wats, Buddhist temples, cost about 15,000 kip to see. The exchange rate is $1 to 10,000 kip. The local rate for things: 2,000 kip for a bottle of Pepsi. 10,000 kip for a 100km bus ride. 2,000-5,000 kip for a good meal. 1 liter of drinking water between 500 and 1000 kip. When we got to Luang Probang the guesthouses were asking between $10 and $25 for a room, which was a bit of a shock since the last town we were in; our very clean room with two beds and a hot shower cost $3.
After Kirsten left, I stayed a few more days exploring. I went to the waterfalls, climbed the hilltop wat, watched the walking of the monks, went trekking in the mountains, and took a short trip to Muang Ngoi.
Walking of the Monks: Every morning at dawn, the Monks walk through the city taking handouts of food from the locals lined along the streets. From what I saw, it was mostly rice or some morcel wapped in a banana leaf.
The Waterfalls: I joined a group of travelers staying at the same guest house for a trip to the waterfalls. On the way, our pickup truck had some troubles and we stopped at a roadside shop. At the shop we met the three girls pictured below. If you look closely, you will see there is a small baby on the back of one of the girls. The little baby did not make a noise the entire time we were there. I was surprised a girl so young would be put in charge of a baby.
Like the Wats, the falls had a special entrance fee of 15,000 kip for foreigners. The entire place was beautiful with hidden limestone pools, emerald green water, and even a rope swing.
http://www.jdentonthego.com/id20.html
Muang Ngoi, Laos, Luang Prabang and Muang Ngoi, Laos, Muang Ngoi, Laos, Luang Prabang and Muang Ngoi, Laos
Muang Ngoi: Is a cute village tucked in the mountains on a good size river. No electricity except from 6pm to 10pm powered by a noisy generator. No cars, trucks, or motor scooters. No hot water. No flush toilets.
I was amazed at how much noise chickens, ducks, pigs, dogs, and other various farm animals can make in the hours before dawn. Whoever said escaping to the country side was peaceful, did not stay on a farm. In Laos, every house is a mini farm complete with all the above and half a dozen children.
I guess it would have been ideal if I hadn't gotten sick the following day. I did nothing but swing in a hammock and watch the river flow. Not a bad thing to do, I just wish I had been feeling better. Oh, I would also have liked a bed with some sort of padding. If I had slept on top of the blanket, it would have been a great improvement, but then I would have frozen to death. Ahh the choices in life. I guess if I hadn't been feeling under the weather, I think it would have been worth the $2/night. On the third day I was feeling well enough for the 5 hour journey necessary to escape back to Luang Probang.
Luang Prabang: Luang Probang is the tourist center of Laos. It is surrounded by mountains and situated at the junction of the Mekong and a minor river. As an old French colonial city; Laos cultural center with the highest concentration of Wats, Buddhist temples, in the country; and one of the few international airports, Luang Probang draws tourists from all over the world causing an economic bubble. Its entire historical section is dedicated to tourism. Sadly, the only locals you will see are there to sell things to or provide services for tourists. The night market has beautiful hand woven fabrics at inflated prices. The restaurants cost 3 to 5 times more than equivalent restaurants outside the area. In some places, the cost of eating out was the same if not more than eating at a nice place in the United States.
My friend Kirsten was disgusted with the place and left after a couple of days. She only had a short time to travel and I think she was tired of being harassed for a tuk-tuk to the waterfall or boat across the river or to the caves. Even the Wats, Buddhist temples, cost about 15,000 kip to see. The exchange rate is $1 to 10,000 kip. The local rate for things: 2,000 kip for a bottle of Pepsi. 10,000 kip for a 100km bus ride. 2,000-5,000 kip for a good meal. 1 liter of drinking water between 500 and 1000 kip. When we got to Luang Probang the guesthouses were asking between $10 and $25 for a room, which was a bit of a shock since the last town we were in; our very clean room with two beds and a hot shower cost $3.
After Kirsten left, I stayed a few more days exploring. I went to the waterfalls, climbed the hilltop wat, watched the walking of the monks, went trekking in the mountains, and took a short trip to Muang Ngoi.
Walking of the Monks: Every morning at dawn, the Monks walk through the city taking handouts of food from the locals lined along the streets. From what I saw, it was mostly rice or some morcel wapped in a banana leaf.
The Waterfalls: I joined a group of travelers staying at the same guest house for a trip to the waterfalls. On the way, our pickup truck had some troubles and we stopped at a roadside shop. At the shop we met the three girls pictured below. If you look closely, you will see there is a small baby on the back of one of the girls. The little baby did not make a noise the entire time we were there. I was surprised a girl so young would be put in charge of a baby.
Like the Wats, the falls had a special entrance fee of 15,000 kip for foreigners. The entire place was beautiful with hidden limestone pools, emerald green water, and even a rope swing.
http://www.jdentonthego.com/id20.html
Muang Ngoi, Laos, Luang Prabang and Muang Ngoi, Laos, Muang Ngoi, Laos, Luang Prabang and Muang Ngoi, Laos
Nambak in Laos, Nam Bak District of Luang Prabang Province
Nambak in Laos, Nam Bak District is a district (muang) of Luang Prabang Province in northern Laos.
Ban Nambak is located in Laos's Northern Laos region. It's not much of a tourist destination, and other travel spots such as Luang Prabang may be more interesting to explore in this area of Laos. If you do travel to Ban Nambak, please add your favorite places in this Ban Nambak travel guide.
Find sights & attractions below to start planning your trip! Read reviews written by real travelers. You can narrow the results using the filters to the left.
Find lodging below to start planning your trip! Read reviews written by real travelers. You can narrow the results using the filters to the left.
Ban Nambak Questions ? Ask a travel question about Ban Nambak
NAMBAK, LAOS: The Nambak Orphanage
In all the countries where we deliver, The Pencil Promise looks to understand the barriers to education in that particular educational system, and to see where we can make the most impact giving access to education through school supplies.
Barbara explained that this is how it works in Laos; the government provides free school through primary school. The reality, however, is that there are no schools in the far lying areas so the children cant get to a school. There is no transportation available to them except to walk or if several can share a bike but if the nearest school is 30 or 40 miles away and there are no proper roads, this is not possible. And if the school was within reach the students would have to pay for uniforms and school supplies and some modest fees, which their families cannot afford. In Laos 35% of the population are without means. These families live off the grid- they are farmers- they don’t have the cash to afford these expenses. In our travels we were hard pressed to find one Loa local who kept a bank account- no one trusts the banks. No one has a credit card, atm card, everyone is paid in cash, pays in cash, and keeps it at home in a metal box because if it is in a cupboard in a paper bag the mice will eat it.
So there are two other options for these families to try to obtain an education for their children. The first option is the monkhood which is an option for boys of devout families, but many of the poor are Animist not Bhuddist, and secondly the monasteries provide no options for girls. The second option is an orphanage. In Laos you require specific documentation proving that the child is indeed an orphan before he or she can be accepted into the government orphanage. Families go to great lengths to get this documentation for their children at great personal risk.
Once the child is placed in the orphanage the layers of corruption become more apparent. The government provides 2 to 3 cents a day for each student for food shelter clothing and education. Imagine the shortfall. The teacher’s salaries get paid by the Government on a 3 or 4 month delay forcing very well meaning teachers to have to leave the school to take other jobs temporarily to support their families. These realities are hard to believe.
The Nambak Orphanage has overcome so many obstacles to provide excellence for their students that you just cant help but be impressed. To provide food they have an extensive vegetable garden that the children cultivate themselves that feeds all 400 students. They also grow rabbits, which they sell at the local market in exchange for rice and tin fish to enrich the children’s diet.
As for providing the students clothing they are very industrious. At their ethnic school, which is really a vocational training program, the weaving students create all the fabric for the school uniforms, while the sewing students sew them. It’s impressive to watch in action.
“The director of the orphanage school pulled me aside and wanted to ask me about the American Prison system- Is it true in America that in prison the government gives you three meals a day and a dry place to sleep and you can get a high school degree for free? And even watch TV? Because this is what we hope to give our students.” Wow…
As industrious as the staff is at Nambak Orphanage they can’t grow pencils and notebooks, and it was with great pleasure that The Pencil Promise made a delivery to these amazing kids. We brought backpacks of all different colors and let each student pick their favorite. They then walked down the line, a bit like trick or treating, to get their backpack filled with pens pencils notebooks and a pencil sharpener.
Just a note about the pencil sharpener- this prevents the spread of AIDS. Yes it is true. In a country with epidemic sex trafficking and poor to no medical care, AIDS is a reality, and when kids share a razorblade to sharpen their pencils they cut themselves and spread the AIDS virus. We make sure each child has their own pencil sharpener and teach the Teachers why they must not use razorblades anymore.
We also brought supplies for the teachers who had no books or pens to write lesson plans and keep track of their students grades.
The students that we met were such a delight and are so hard working and driven to learn. They care so much about their education, as they know it is the only way to break the cycle of poverty that their futures would hold otherwise. They are so affectionate and warm, and they couldn’t suppress their joy and delight as they picked out their backpacks.
They proudly took The Pencil Promise team on a tour of the whole school, and when we reached the girls dormitory we saw a long platform against a grey cinderblock wall, with a thin mat where the girls sleep, and The Pencil Promise backpacks with each girls name on it were hanging in a row on the wall above each girls spot. That’s a sight I will always remember.
http://thepencilpromise.com/our-story/educating-children/namback-laos
Ban Nambak is located in Laos's Northern Laos region. It's not much of a tourist destination, and other travel spots such as Luang Prabang may be more interesting to explore in this area of Laos. If you do travel to Ban Nambak, please add your favorite places in this Ban Nambak travel guide.
Find sights & attractions below to start planning your trip! Read reviews written by real travelers. You can narrow the results using the filters to the left.
Find lodging below to start planning your trip! Read reviews written by real travelers. You can narrow the results using the filters to the left.
Ban Nambak Questions ? Ask a travel question about Ban Nambak
NAMBAK, LAOS: The Nambak Orphanage
In all the countries where we deliver, The Pencil Promise looks to understand the barriers to education in that particular educational system, and to see where we can make the most impact giving access to education through school supplies.
Barbara explained that this is how it works in Laos; the government provides free school through primary school. The reality, however, is that there are no schools in the far lying areas so the children cant get to a school. There is no transportation available to them except to walk or if several can share a bike but if the nearest school is 30 or 40 miles away and there are no proper roads, this is not possible. And if the school was within reach the students would have to pay for uniforms and school supplies and some modest fees, which their families cannot afford. In Laos 35% of the population are without means. These families live off the grid- they are farmers- they don’t have the cash to afford these expenses. In our travels we were hard pressed to find one Loa local who kept a bank account- no one trusts the banks. No one has a credit card, atm card, everyone is paid in cash, pays in cash, and keeps it at home in a metal box because if it is in a cupboard in a paper bag the mice will eat it.
So there are two other options for these families to try to obtain an education for their children. The first option is the monkhood which is an option for boys of devout families, but many of the poor are Animist not Bhuddist, and secondly the monasteries provide no options for girls. The second option is an orphanage. In Laos you require specific documentation proving that the child is indeed an orphan before he or she can be accepted into the government orphanage. Families go to great lengths to get this documentation for their children at great personal risk.
Once the child is placed in the orphanage the layers of corruption become more apparent. The government provides 2 to 3 cents a day for each student for food shelter clothing and education. Imagine the shortfall. The teacher’s salaries get paid by the Government on a 3 or 4 month delay forcing very well meaning teachers to have to leave the school to take other jobs temporarily to support their families. These realities are hard to believe.
The Nambak Orphanage has overcome so many obstacles to provide excellence for their students that you just cant help but be impressed. To provide food they have an extensive vegetable garden that the children cultivate themselves that feeds all 400 students. They also grow rabbits, which they sell at the local market in exchange for rice and tin fish to enrich the children’s diet.
As for providing the students clothing they are very industrious. At their ethnic school, which is really a vocational training program, the weaving students create all the fabric for the school uniforms, while the sewing students sew them. It’s impressive to watch in action.
“The director of the orphanage school pulled me aside and wanted to ask me about the American Prison system- Is it true in America that in prison the government gives you three meals a day and a dry place to sleep and you can get a high school degree for free? And even watch TV? Because this is what we hope to give our students.” Wow…
As industrious as the staff is at Nambak Orphanage they can’t grow pencils and notebooks, and it was with great pleasure that The Pencil Promise made a delivery to these amazing kids. We brought backpacks of all different colors and let each student pick their favorite. They then walked down the line, a bit like trick or treating, to get their backpack filled with pens pencils notebooks and a pencil sharpener.
Just a note about the pencil sharpener- this prevents the spread of AIDS. Yes it is true. In a country with epidemic sex trafficking and poor to no medical care, AIDS is a reality, and when kids share a razorblade to sharpen their pencils they cut themselves and spread the AIDS virus. We make sure each child has their own pencil sharpener and teach the Teachers why they must not use razorblades anymore.
We also brought supplies for the teachers who had no books or pens to write lesson plans and keep track of their students grades.
The students that we met were such a delight and are so hard working and driven to learn. They care so much about their education, as they know it is the only way to break the cycle of poverty that their futures would hold otherwise. They are so affectionate and warm, and they couldn’t suppress their joy and delight as they picked out their backpacks.
They proudly took The Pencil Promise team on a tour of the whole school, and when we reached the girls dormitory we saw a long platform against a grey cinderblock wall, with a thin mat where the girls sleep, and The Pencil Promise backpacks with each girls name on it were hanging in a row on the wall above each girls spot. That’s a sight I will always remember.
http://thepencilpromise.com/our-story/educating-children/namback-laos
Pak Ou Cave, Luang Prabang
Pak Ou Cave, Luang Prabang
Pak Ou Caves are a natural cave system along the banks of the Mekong River. It is not far from Luang Prabang in north-central Laos, for centuries the seat of the Kingdom of Laos.
What makes Pak Ou Caves an extraordinary sacred pilgrimage site is their treasure trove of Buddha statues inside -- over 3,000 of them. These Buddhas were carved of wood and left as offerings over the centuries by pilgrims who were traders, farmers, and even kings.
Today, Pak Ou Caves are visited by contemporary Buddhist pilgrims and by motivated travelers. Why do they need motivation? This mystical site is accessible by boat only. Travelers can take a leisurely riverboat from Luang Prabang, or rent kayaks and paddle down the Mekong, an unforgettable adventure.
Pak Ou Caves in Laos
People have been climbing into the Pak Ou caves, high above the Mekong some 25km from Luang Prabang, for maybe a couple of thousand years.
They were used for the worship of the river spirit until Buddhism spread into Laos along the southern route from India.
And gradually, over the 60 decades, more than 4,000 Buddha images – mostly the standing Buddha of the Luang Prabang style – have been placed in them.
There are two caves in a striking limestone cliff where the Nam Ou river meets the Mekong.
The lower and smaller, called Tham Ting, is open to the light some 50ft above the river; but the higher cave, Tham Phum, is deep and impenetrably black without a torch.
Most people get to the Pak Ou caves by river from Luang Prabang and make an easy landing at a little jetty under Tham Ting.
But others brave the land route – though a new road is making it far easier for jumbo (open taxis) and passengers alike.
The jumbo will take you to a small village on the opposite bank, a dozen or two wooden houses raised off the ground, a handful of watchful but friendly villagers.
A brief walk takes you to the edge of the village ... with a view across the river that is worth the journey on its own.
Below, local lads wait with their small boats to ferry Pak Ou pilgrims across to the caves, returning later to pick you up for the return journey.
As you climb to Tham Ting, you realise that it is more a shrine than a cave: there is a place to kneel before the biggest Buddha images, maybe to light a candle or burn some incense.
And there are walkways to get you closer to the accumulated images, some of which silhouette against the bright light of the Mekong, and the often-seen fortune-telling sticks – though you will need someone to read the prediction to you if you cannot understand Laotian.
A path against the face of the cliff leads up to Tham Phum, and although the outside is nothing much in comparison with Tham Ting, the cave holds the vast majority of the 4,000 Buddha images.
There, as you descend into the blackness, you will jostle with visitors from half a dozen countries but Laotians and Thais are likely to be in the majority.
By the time you reach the part of the cave where the images are located, both in a main cavern and in passages off, the engulfing blackness defeats everything except a flashlight.
You find yourself stumbling and staring briefly as a light or a camera flash illuminates the massed ranks of the images.
Oddly, the smaller Tham Ting offers the most inspiring experience. Its Buddhist serenity, between the waves of tourist boats, blends into the naturalness of the Mekong, the grey Asian sky, the greenery on the far bank.
There, then, you can feel why thousands of generations have stood where you are standing ...
Pak Ou Cave, Luang Prabang,Pak Ou in laos, Luang Prabang, Pak Ou, Luang Prabang
Pak Ou Caves are a natural cave system along the banks of the Mekong River. It is not far from Luang Prabang in north-central Laos, for centuries the seat of the Kingdom of Laos.
What makes Pak Ou Caves an extraordinary sacred pilgrimage site is their treasure trove of Buddha statues inside -- over 3,000 of them. These Buddhas were carved of wood and left as offerings over the centuries by pilgrims who were traders, farmers, and even kings.
Today, Pak Ou Caves are visited by contemporary Buddhist pilgrims and by motivated travelers. Why do they need motivation? This mystical site is accessible by boat only. Travelers can take a leisurely riverboat from Luang Prabang, or rent kayaks and paddle down the Mekong, an unforgettable adventure.
Pak Ou Caves in Laos
People have been climbing into the Pak Ou caves, high above the Mekong some 25km from Luang Prabang, for maybe a couple of thousand years.
They were used for the worship of the river spirit until Buddhism spread into Laos along the southern route from India.
And gradually, over the 60 decades, more than 4,000 Buddha images – mostly the standing Buddha of the Luang Prabang style – have been placed in them.
There are two caves in a striking limestone cliff where the Nam Ou river meets the Mekong.
The lower and smaller, called Tham Ting, is open to the light some 50ft above the river; but the higher cave, Tham Phum, is deep and impenetrably black without a torch.
Most people get to the Pak Ou caves by river from Luang Prabang and make an easy landing at a little jetty under Tham Ting.
But others brave the land route – though a new road is making it far easier for jumbo (open taxis) and passengers alike.
The jumbo will take you to a small village on the opposite bank, a dozen or two wooden houses raised off the ground, a handful of watchful but friendly villagers.
A brief walk takes you to the edge of the village ... with a view across the river that is worth the journey on its own.
Below, local lads wait with their small boats to ferry Pak Ou pilgrims across to the caves, returning later to pick you up for the return journey.
As you climb to Tham Ting, you realise that it is more a shrine than a cave: there is a place to kneel before the biggest Buddha images, maybe to light a candle or burn some incense.
And there are walkways to get you closer to the accumulated images, some of which silhouette against the bright light of the Mekong, and the often-seen fortune-telling sticks – though you will need someone to read the prediction to you if you cannot understand Laotian.
A path against the face of the cliff leads up to Tham Phum, and although the outside is nothing much in comparison with Tham Ting, the cave holds the vast majority of the 4,000 Buddha images.
There, as you descend into the blackness, you will jostle with visitors from half a dozen countries but Laotians and Thais are likely to be in the majority.
By the time you reach the part of the cave where the images are located, both in a main cavern and in passages off, the engulfing blackness defeats everything except a flashlight.
You find yourself stumbling and staring briefly as a light or a camera flash illuminates the massed ranks of the images.
Oddly, the smaller Tham Ting offers the most inspiring experience. Its Buddhist serenity, between the waves of tourist boats, blends into the naturalness of the Mekong, the grey Asian sky, the greenery on the far bank.
There, then, you can feel why thousands of generations have stood where you are standing ...
Pak Ou Cave, Luang Prabang,Pak Ou in laos, Luang Prabang, Pak Ou, Luang Prabang
Nan District is a District in Luang Prabang Province
Nan District is a District in Luang Prabang Province
Bargain farm land in Nan near Lao border
Loss sale of big plot of 11 rai land in Wiengsa district, Nan province near the Lao border. This is not title but tax deed. Sale and purchase contract will be filed with the Land Department (in the future they will issue titles but not yet). Same ownership for 15 years we will give all the original tax receipts paid by us. 083-483-1000 or email.
Nan District is a District in Luang Prabang Province, Nan District in Laos, Nan District is a District in Luang Prabang Province inLaos
Bargain farm land in Nan near Lao border
Loss sale of big plot of 11 rai land in Wiengsa district, Nan province near the Lao border. This is not title but tax deed. Sale and purchase contract will be filed with the Land Department (in the future they will issue titles but not yet). Same ownership for 15 years we will give all the original tax receipts paid by us. 083-483-1000 or email.
Nan District is a District in Luang Prabang Province, Nan District in Laos, Nan District is a District in Luang Prabang Province inLaos
Xieng Ngeun District, Xieng Ngeun District in Laos
Xieng Ngeun Weather, Lao People's Democratic Republic
Find information of past weather, next 15 day weather, weather text summary, monthly averages and many more to prepare yourself for an outdoor activity or a holiday or your travel to Xieng Ngeun, Lao People's Democratic Republic.
Source :
Xieng Ngeun District, Xieng Ngeun District in Laos, Xieng Ngeun Travel, Xieng Ngeun in Laos, Xieng Ngeun District, Xieng Ngeun District in Laos, Xieng Ngeun Travel, Xieng Ngeun in Laos,Xieng Ngeun District, Xieng Ngeun District in Laos, Xieng Ngeun Travel, Xieng Ngeun in Laos
Find information of past weather, next 15 day weather, weather text summary, monthly averages and many more to prepare yourself for an outdoor activity or a holiday or your travel to Xieng Ngeun, Lao People's Democratic Republic.
Source :
Xieng Ngeun District, Xieng Ngeun District in Laos, Xieng Ngeun Travel, Xieng Ngeun in Laos, Xieng Ngeun District, Xieng Ngeun District in Laos, Xieng Ngeun Travel, Xieng Ngeun in Laos,Xieng Ngeun District, Xieng Ngeun District in Laos, Xieng Ngeun Travel, Xieng Ngeun in Laos
Luang Prabang Province
Luang Prabang Province : The world Heritage City
General Information
Located : In the northern of Laos.
Total Area: 16,875 square meters
Population: 450,000
11 Districts : Luang Prabang, Xieng Ngeun, Nan, Pak Ou, Nambak, Ngoi, Pakseng, Phonxay, Chomphet, Viengkham and Phoukhoune
Capital: Luang Prabang (the former capital of Lane Xang Kingdom during the 13th to 16th Century)
Located in the northern of Laos. Luang Prabang is around 360 kilometers from Vientiane, the capital of Laos. It takes about 8 hours by bus or 35 minutes by Lao Airlines to reach and it is one of the most attractive areas of the country
Nestled in the valley, surrounded by high mountains and situated along the Mekong and its tributaries, the town was once the former capital of Laos, during the Lane Xang Kingdom from the 13th to 16th centuries
Luang Prabang is renowed as the cultural and religious capital of Laos. On the 2nd December 1995, UNESCO inscribed the town on to it’s World Heritage List, ensuring the preservation of a mixture of traditional Lao and French colonial architecture. The unique character and charm of Luang Prabang helps to make it the one of the most popular tourist destination in the country. The magnificent temples in Luang Prabang are considered among the most beautiful in South East Asia
It is increasingly popular for both Lao and foreign tourists to visit Luang Prabang for Pimao Lao (the Lao New Year Festival), which takes place in mid April. The boat Racing Festival, which takes place in August, is also celebrated with an emphasis on features that are unique from other regions in Laos
Source : http://www.laotourism.org
Luang Prabang Province : The world Heritage City, Luang Prabang Province : The world Heritage City
General Information
Located : In the northern of Laos.
Total Area: 16,875 square meters
Population: 450,000
11 Districts : Luang Prabang, Xieng Ngeun, Nan, Pak Ou, Nambak, Ngoi, Pakseng, Phonxay, Chomphet, Viengkham and Phoukhoune
Capital: Luang Prabang (the former capital of Lane Xang Kingdom during the 13th to 16th Century)
Located in the northern of Laos. Luang Prabang is around 360 kilometers from Vientiane, the capital of Laos. It takes about 8 hours by bus or 35 minutes by Lao Airlines to reach and it is one of the most attractive areas of the country
Nestled in the valley, surrounded by high mountains and situated along the Mekong and its tributaries, the town was once the former capital of Laos, during the Lane Xang Kingdom from the 13th to 16th centuries
Luang Prabang is renowed as the cultural and religious capital of Laos. On the 2nd December 1995, UNESCO inscribed the town on to it’s World Heritage List, ensuring the preservation of a mixture of traditional Lao and French colonial architecture. The unique character and charm of Luang Prabang helps to make it the one of the most popular tourist destination in the country. The magnificent temples in Luang Prabang are considered among the most beautiful in South East Asia
It is increasingly popular for both Lao and foreign tourists to visit Luang Prabang for Pimao Lao (the Lao New Year Festival), which takes place in mid April. The boat Racing Festival, which takes place in August, is also celebrated with an emphasis on features that are unique from other regions in Laos
Source : http://www.laotourism.org
Luang Prabang Province : The world Heritage City, Luang Prabang Province : The world Heritage City
Romantic autumn in Hanoi
Romantic autumn in Hanoi
The scorching heat has gone and a temperate climate has pervaded Hanoi, particularly at night and in the early morning as a sign of the start of autumn - or the romantic season as many people call it.
The capital’s beauty lies in its quiet streets full of yellow leaves, leaves on trees having turned yellow or red and picturesque sunsets at the city’s many lakes.
The signs of Hanoi in autumn are hoa sua (milky flower) in blossom on Nguyen Du Street, the scent of hoang lan flower overwhelming Phan Dinh Phung Street and its vicinity. These integral parts of Hanoi have inspired a large number of poets and musicians, including Phu Quang.
Hanoians say a stroll on Thanh Nien Street between West Lake and Truc Bach Lake will help visitors fully understand what autumn in Hanoi is like and why it brings lovers closer. Autumn in Hanoi is very beautiful but many argue it is an even more romantic setting in October.
Capital folk say the autumn there has to be felt to be properly appreciated. This is why numerous poems and ballads have been produced but are considered unfinished stories, leaving the chance for others to continue the next chapters.
http://www.dtinews.vn
Romantic autumn in Hanoi, Romantic autumn in Hanoi, Romantic autumn in Hanoi
The scorching heat has gone and a temperate climate has pervaded Hanoi, particularly at night and in the early morning as a sign of the start of autumn - or the romantic season as many people call it.
The capital’s beauty lies in its quiet streets full of yellow leaves, leaves on trees having turned yellow or red and picturesque sunsets at the city’s many lakes.
The signs of Hanoi in autumn are hoa sua (milky flower) in blossom on Nguyen Du Street, the scent of hoang lan flower overwhelming Phan Dinh Phung Street and its vicinity. These integral parts of Hanoi have inspired a large number of poets and musicians, including Phu Quang.
Hanoians say a stroll on Thanh Nien Street between West Lake and Truc Bach Lake will help visitors fully understand what autumn in Hanoi is like and why it brings lovers closer. Autumn in Hanoi is very beautiful but many argue it is an even more romantic setting in October.
Capital folk say the autumn there has to be felt to be properly appreciated. This is why numerous poems and ballads have been produced but are considered unfinished stories, leaving the chance for others to continue the next chapters.
http://www.dtinews.vn
Romantic autumn in Hanoi, Romantic autumn in Hanoi, Romantic autumn in Hanoi
Staying the night at Dao Village
Staying the night at Dao Village
Just spending one night with a Dao minority family is a great experience for tourists.
In the Nam Choong village of Xin Man Commune, Ha Giang Province, tourists can do just that as they can easily find a cozy homestay for the night and enjoy the hot spring that runs through the village during the day as they experience the daily routines of Dao people.
Xin Man Commune is located in the north-west area of Ha Giang Province but tourists can reach it from the city of Ha Giang or Lao Cai.
Nam Choong village is special not only thanks to the hot spring, but also because it’s the living place of Dao Ao Dai and its villagers still keep the old traditions alive on a daily basis.
Staying the night at Dao Village, Staying the night at Dao Village
http://www.dtinews.vn/en/news/019002/25374/-staying-the-night-at-dao-village.html
Just spending one night with a Dao minority family is a great experience for tourists.
In the Nam Choong village of Xin Man Commune, Ha Giang Province, tourists can do just that as they can easily find a cozy homestay for the night and enjoy the hot spring that runs through the village during the day as they experience the daily routines of Dao people.
Xin Man Commune is located in the north-west area of Ha Giang Province but tourists can reach it from the city of Ha Giang or Lao Cai.
Nam Choong village is special not only thanks to the hot spring, but also because it’s the living place of Dao Ao Dai and its villagers still keep the old traditions alive on a daily basis.
Staying the night at Dao Village, Staying the night at Dao Village
http://www.dtinews.vn/en/news/019002/25374/-staying-the-night-at-dao-village.html
Binh Thuan will soon become a fascinating destination
Binh Thuan will soon become a fascinating destination
The goal of “the overall planning for developing Binh Thuan tourism up to 2020 with a vision toward 2030” approved by Binh Thuan provincial People’s Committee is to construct Binh Thuan to become a fascinating destination.
Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Mr. Le Tien Phuong has lately signed the decision on approving the project of “Overall planning for developing Binh Thuan tourism up to 2020 with a vision toward 2030”. Accordingly, sustainable tourism development is an important strategy to form the locality to be a considerable brand name. Binh Thuan is expected to become an attractive national and international destination by means of continuing to popularize its potential and strength.
Under the approved project, the provincial authorities will focus on building Mui Ne to be a national tourist area and Phan Thiet as a major tourism city of the country. From the oriented development, Binh Thuan, which can reach a large tourist center of national and international stature, plays an important role in the promotion of the whole country’s tourism…
With the available advantages, the specific products also identified by the locality are sea tourism associated with forest ecotourism, high-grade resort center. To be on the high level, Phan Thiet tourism urban should be built into high-class sea resort center, sport- recreation. Besides satisfying the conditions of national and international activities and events, Binh Thuan authorities should also invite the investment in Casino and develop a typical center of food and drink. With respect to the broadcasting strategies, the provincial authorities will also attach much importance to creating the brand name of “Mui Ne tourism” in association with the famous center of business – sailboat entertainment.
(Source: Binh Thuan Newspaper) / http://www.vietnamtourism.com
Binh Thuan will soon become a fascinating destination, Binh Thuan will soon become a fascinating destination
The goal of “the overall planning for developing Binh Thuan tourism up to 2020 with a vision toward 2030” approved by Binh Thuan provincial People’s Committee is to construct Binh Thuan to become a fascinating destination.
Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Mr. Le Tien Phuong has lately signed the decision on approving the project of “Overall planning for developing Binh Thuan tourism up to 2020 with a vision toward 2030”. Accordingly, sustainable tourism development is an important strategy to form the locality to be a considerable brand name. Binh Thuan is expected to become an attractive national and international destination by means of continuing to popularize its potential and strength.
Under the approved project, the provincial authorities will focus on building Mui Ne to be a national tourist area and Phan Thiet as a major tourism city of the country. From the oriented development, Binh Thuan, which can reach a large tourist center of national and international stature, plays an important role in the promotion of the whole country’s tourism…
With the available advantages, the specific products also identified by the locality are sea tourism associated with forest ecotourism, high-grade resort center. To be on the high level, Phan Thiet tourism urban should be built into high-class sea resort center, sport- recreation. Besides satisfying the conditions of national and international activities and events, Binh Thuan authorities should also invite the investment in Casino and develop a typical center of food and drink. With respect to the broadcasting strategies, the provincial authorities will also attach much importance to creating the brand name of “Mui Ne tourism” in association with the famous center of business – sailboat entertainment.
(Source: Binh Thuan Newspaper) / http://www.vietnamtourism.com
Binh Thuan will soon become a fascinating destination, Binh Thuan will soon become a fascinating destination
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Sightseeing in hanoi
Sightseeing in hanoi
Any guidebook can provide you with the top tourist sites. I think the following are not to be missed:
-EARLY MORNING WALK AROUND THE LAKE- Start off your day by taking an early morning (between 5:30-7:00) walk around one of Hanoi’s many lakes to see how Hanoians start their day-- tai chi, badminton, stretching is everywhere and participants seem to range in age from a few months to 80+. In May and June I love walking to the lotus ponds aroundWest Lake (near Sadona Suites Hotel and also near the Hanoi water park) to see the flowers being harvested from small boats (see picture above).
-THE TEMPLE OF LITERATURE is a nice place to wander around. This ancient Confucian place of learning also provides a quiet, calm oasis. Try to plan your visit around lunch time because there are two restaurants across the street that are good, not only for their food but also for the worthwhile cause. KOTO (Know One Teach One) takes in street children and provides them with education and vocational training. On the same street is Cafe Smile, part of the Hoa Sua School group. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds are provided education and vocational training in the hospitality industry. And while you are spending your money on worthy causes, shop at Craft Link, a few doors down from each restaurant. This non-profit focuses on poverty alleviation by providing outlets for traditional handicrafts. A great place to purchase your souvenirs! KOTO, Cafe Smile, and Craft Link (Craftlink closes for lunch from 12:00-1:15) are all located on Van Mieu Str.
-HOAN KIEM LAKE AND NGOC SON TEMPLE- Hoan Kiem (Lake of the Restored Sword) is the heart of Hanoi. Unless its sweltering or raining, take a leisurely stroll around the lake and people watch. On the southwest shore there is a nice beer garden and at the northwest end a lakeside restaurant that used to be the French Club, where the French colonials would meet with Vietnamese to do business back in the days of Indochine. Today, they have good ice cream. And speaking of business, Australia-New Zealand (ANZ) Bank and its ATM’s are on the western shore if you need to refresh your dong supply. At the northeast end of the lake is Ngoc Son temple with its colorful red bridge. On the southeast edge is the international post office if you need to mail some purchases home or buy stamps for post cards. Keep and eye out for the lake’s famous turtle. Seeing him is considered good luck so if you do spot him go out and buy a lottery ticket. Click here to read a L.A. Times article on the turtle in Hoan Kiem lake.
-THANG LONG WATER PUPPET THEATER is on the northeast side of the lake and is a great place to see this traditional art form. As you take your walk around Hoan Kiem stop here for tickets, its definitely something you should see while in Vietnam. In rural areas flooded rice paddies were used as the ‘stage’ for the puppet show. Before the lights dim read your play bill so you have a rough idea of the stories that will be shown. Show times are at 3:30, 5:00, 6:30, and 8:00. Just don’t sit in the first few rows unless you want stagnant water splashed on you.
-THE OLD QUARTER AND DONG XUAN MARKET- After you’ve made the loop around the lake head through the Old Quarter towards Don Xuan market. This area was originally made up up guilds with each street specializing in a certain product. Now it seems like every other building is being torn down to build a hotel or restaurant and only six streets remain that specialize in their original product (Hang Thiec, Lo Ren, Hang Hom, Hang Bac, To Tich, and Lan Ong). Do make your way away from the shopping streets to get a glimpse of daily life in this area. According to the 2009 Vietn Nam Census, the population density of the Old Quarter is around 82,300 people per square kilometer! Plans are currently in place to spend US $288.4 million to relocate 1,800 households to a new urban area 8km away. Here’s an excerpt from the Viet Nam News describing life in this area: “Nguyen Hong Tam, 60, resident of the Old Quarter’s Hang Duong Street, said 21 different families live in his house, which was built over 100 years ago. His six member family, including his 90-year-old parents and his two grown up sons, live in a 10sq. meter room.” There are plenty of cafes to duck into when you need refreshment (many with free wifi). If you are in town on a Friday or Saturday night stroll through parts of the old quarter at night when streets are closed to traffic and tons of stalls selling everything imaginable get set up in the middle of the street (from about 7:30pm to midnight Friday and Saturday).
-THE HO CHI MINH MAUSOLEUM, One-pillar Pagoda, and Ho Chi Minh Museum. For me, the value of going to see Uncle Ho is to watch the reactions of the Vietnamese around you. Seeing an 80 year old woman and a 14 year old boy brought to tears at the sight of him speaks volumes to the place he holds in their hearts. Note that the mausoleum is closed on Mondays and Fridays and all of November.
-THE VIETNAM MUSEUM OF ETHNOLOGY should not be missed, especially if you will be visiting areas with minority groups, such as Sapa. Vietnam is home to 52 different ethnic minority groups, comprising about 18% of the population. This museum will give you some insights into the different cultures in this mutli-ethnic country. The museum also has water puppet performances on Saturday and Sunday, at 10:00, 11:30, 2:30 and 4:00.
OTHER SITES: In addition to the not to be missed places above, these following ones make for a nice outing.
-THE HANOI COOKING CENTER (44 Chau Long St) gets rave reviews for its hands-on Vietnamese cooking classes. In addition to the cooking skills and information, classes give you a little more knowledge about the cuisine you’ll be eating during your trip. On the same property as the cooking center is the absolute gem of a bookshop, Bookworm. Run by a young Vietnamese man, this is the place to pick up some additional reading material or the wonderfully detailed map of Hanoi called “Xin Chao, Hanoi” produced by two expat friends. Bookworm also stocks brief guides/books produced by the Friends of Vietnam Heritage. Titles include: “Walks around West Lake”, “The Temple of Literature”, “Bat Trang Pottery Village”. These books are very well researched and provided detailed information for those wanting a little more background.
- RED RIVER TOURISM (42-46 Chuong Duong Do, Hoan Kiem, (04) 3826-1479) has boats that cruise down the Red River to different spots along the river. The company that runs this is Du lich Song Hong. Departures are at 7:30am and they return at 4:30pm. In addition to seeing the scenery along the banks of the river you will also stop at Dam Temple where they worship mother water. Next is Dai Lo temple that worships four ladies that were saved by a monk when their boat capsized while they were traveling along the Red River. Lunch is then served on board as you cruise to the final stop, Bat Trang pottery village. A ticket costs 325,000 which includes lunch, drinks are extra.
In addition to sight-seeing in Hanoi, there are various half- and full-day trip options:
-CRAFT VILLAGES. There are several traditional craft villages a few kilometers from Hanoi that are fun to visit. These villages are interesting partly for seeing the products they specialize in being made and partly to observe village daily life. Although many craft villages have seen their incomes rise dramatically in recent years (especially Bat Trang pottery village and Dong Ky wood working village), life remains challenging. Largely because of pollutants involved in the craft making process, the life expectancy of craft village residents is 10 years lower than the rest of Vietnam, cancer rates are significantly higher, and respiratory problems are commonplace. If you’re visiting, keep in mind that most workshops/shops will close at lunch and for an hour or two afterwards.
*Van Phuc is a traditional silk weaving village about 12km southwest of Hanoi. This village has specialized in silk since the 18th century. You’ll hear the clanking of the mechanized looms as soon as you arrive. There are also lots of shops in the village with prices cheaper than what you’ll find on Hang Gai. You don’t need a guide. This village has been absorbed by Hanoi so its not at all rural. If you are taking a taxi, make sure your driver knows where you are going. There is another Van Phuc in Hanoi, the diplomatic quarters near the Dawoo Hotel, and you don’t want to be taken there by mistake. You can ask someone at your hotel to explain to the driver where you need to go. In Van Phuc, much of the fabric is made there. There is another fabric village called Ninh Hiep, but it has very little silk and mainly offers fabrics imported from China. Ninh Hiep is sort of a whole sale village where shops in Hanoi come to purchase products. Its interesting to visit, but not at all as interesting as Van Phuc.
*Bat Trang is a traditional pottery village on the banks of the Red River 13km southeast of Hanoi. This traditional ceramic village dates back 5 centuries. You can walk around and see the ceramic making process and buy as much as you can carry back. If you don’t want to carry, they can arrange for shipping. If you’re heading to Halong Bay you can ask your tour company to include a stop at Bat Trang on your way back to Hanoi. No guide is needed. If you want a self-guided tour of Ba Trang, purchase the Friends of Vietnam Heritage publication on Bat Trang at Bookworm.
*Dong Ky village used to specialize in fire crackers until the government banned them in the mid 1990s. Now they produce traditional furniture inlaid with mother-of-pearl. In addition to watching the amazing wood carving process, its fun to visit the village around rice harvesting time. A guide is helpful.
*Ha Thai specializes in lacquer. If you are curious about how all those colorful products for sale on Hang Gai are made, this is the place to come. A guide is useful.
*Cu Da specializes in making vermicelli noodles. As you want through the village you can see different stages of the product being made. Cu Da is in the same direction as Van Phuc, so its possible to combine them into one trip. A guide is useful.
-If you’re visiting Hanoi a few weeks after Tet, definitely head to the Perfume Pagoda. This all day trip from Hanoi has beautiful scenery, and the beautiful scenery combined with the sight of all the boats overflowing with pilgrims heading to the pagoda is amazing. The water is only a few feet deep so no worries about drowning.
-If it’s not close to Tet you can take a similar trip to Tam Coc-- similar in terms of the scenery. Once you arrive at the jetty you’ll board a row boat and be rowed along by a woman (no men, just women). This is often referred to as inland Halong Bay.
What To See and Do / http://www.personal.psu.edu/rxj9/Hanoi/Sightseeing.html
Any guidebook can provide you with the top tourist sites. I think the following are not to be missed:
-EARLY MORNING WALK AROUND THE LAKE- Start off your day by taking an early morning (between 5:30-7:00) walk around one of Hanoi’s many lakes to see how Hanoians start their day-- tai chi, badminton, stretching is everywhere and participants seem to range in age from a few months to 80+. In May and June I love walking to the lotus ponds aroundWest Lake (near Sadona Suites Hotel and also near the Hanoi water park) to see the flowers being harvested from small boats (see picture above).
-THE TEMPLE OF LITERATURE is a nice place to wander around. This ancient Confucian place of learning also provides a quiet, calm oasis. Try to plan your visit around lunch time because there are two restaurants across the street that are good, not only for their food but also for the worthwhile cause. KOTO (Know One Teach One) takes in street children and provides them with education and vocational training. On the same street is Cafe Smile, part of the Hoa Sua School group. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds are provided education and vocational training in the hospitality industry. And while you are spending your money on worthy causes, shop at Craft Link, a few doors down from each restaurant. This non-profit focuses on poverty alleviation by providing outlets for traditional handicrafts. A great place to purchase your souvenirs! KOTO, Cafe Smile, and Craft Link (Craftlink closes for lunch from 12:00-1:15) are all located on Van Mieu Str.
-HOAN KIEM LAKE AND NGOC SON TEMPLE- Hoan Kiem (Lake of the Restored Sword) is the heart of Hanoi. Unless its sweltering or raining, take a leisurely stroll around the lake and people watch. On the southwest shore there is a nice beer garden and at the northwest end a lakeside restaurant that used to be the French Club, where the French colonials would meet with Vietnamese to do business back in the days of Indochine. Today, they have good ice cream. And speaking of business, Australia-New Zealand (ANZ) Bank and its ATM’s are on the western shore if you need to refresh your dong supply. At the northeast end of the lake is Ngoc Son temple with its colorful red bridge. On the southeast edge is the international post office if you need to mail some purchases home or buy stamps for post cards. Keep and eye out for the lake’s famous turtle. Seeing him is considered good luck so if you do spot him go out and buy a lottery ticket. Click here to read a L.A. Times article on the turtle in Hoan Kiem lake.
-THANG LONG WATER PUPPET THEATER is on the northeast side of the lake and is a great place to see this traditional art form. As you take your walk around Hoan Kiem stop here for tickets, its definitely something you should see while in Vietnam. In rural areas flooded rice paddies were used as the ‘stage’ for the puppet show. Before the lights dim read your play bill so you have a rough idea of the stories that will be shown. Show times are at 3:30, 5:00, 6:30, and 8:00. Just don’t sit in the first few rows unless you want stagnant water splashed on you.
-THE OLD QUARTER AND DONG XUAN MARKET- After you’ve made the loop around the lake head through the Old Quarter towards Don Xuan market. This area was originally made up up guilds with each street specializing in a certain product. Now it seems like every other building is being torn down to build a hotel or restaurant and only six streets remain that specialize in their original product (Hang Thiec, Lo Ren, Hang Hom, Hang Bac, To Tich, and Lan Ong). Do make your way away from the shopping streets to get a glimpse of daily life in this area. According to the 2009 Vietn Nam Census, the population density of the Old Quarter is around 82,300 people per square kilometer! Plans are currently in place to spend US $288.4 million to relocate 1,800 households to a new urban area 8km away. Here’s an excerpt from the Viet Nam News describing life in this area: “Nguyen Hong Tam, 60, resident of the Old Quarter’s Hang Duong Street, said 21 different families live in his house, which was built over 100 years ago. His six member family, including his 90-year-old parents and his two grown up sons, live in a 10sq. meter room.” There are plenty of cafes to duck into when you need refreshment (many with free wifi). If you are in town on a Friday or Saturday night stroll through parts of the old quarter at night when streets are closed to traffic and tons of stalls selling everything imaginable get set up in the middle of the street (from about 7:30pm to midnight Friday and Saturday).
-THE HO CHI MINH MAUSOLEUM, One-pillar Pagoda, and Ho Chi Minh Museum. For me, the value of going to see Uncle Ho is to watch the reactions of the Vietnamese around you. Seeing an 80 year old woman and a 14 year old boy brought to tears at the sight of him speaks volumes to the place he holds in their hearts. Note that the mausoleum is closed on Mondays and Fridays and all of November.
-THE VIETNAM MUSEUM OF ETHNOLOGY should not be missed, especially if you will be visiting areas with minority groups, such as Sapa. Vietnam is home to 52 different ethnic minority groups, comprising about 18% of the population. This museum will give you some insights into the different cultures in this mutli-ethnic country. The museum also has water puppet performances on Saturday and Sunday, at 10:00, 11:30, 2:30 and 4:00.
OTHER SITES: In addition to the not to be missed places above, these following ones make for a nice outing.
-THE HANOI COOKING CENTER (44 Chau Long St) gets rave reviews for its hands-on Vietnamese cooking classes. In addition to the cooking skills and information, classes give you a little more knowledge about the cuisine you’ll be eating during your trip. On the same property as the cooking center is the absolute gem of a bookshop, Bookworm. Run by a young Vietnamese man, this is the place to pick up some additional reading material or the wonderfully detailed map of Hanoi called “Xin Chao, Hanoi” produced by two expat friends. Bookworm also stocks brief guides/books produced by the Friends of Vietnam Heritage. Titles include: “Walks around West Lake”, “The Temple of Literature”, “Bat Trang Pottery Village”. These books are very well researched and provided detailed information for those wanting a little more background.
- RED RIVER TOURISM (42-46 Chuong Duong Do, Hoan Kiem, (04) 3826-1479) has boats that cruise down the Red River to different spots along the river. The company that runs this is Du lich Song Hong. Departures are at 7:30am and they return at 4:30pm. In addition to seeing the scenery along the banks of the river you will also stop at Dam Temple where they worship mother water. Next is Dai Lo temple that worships four ladies that were saved by a monk when their boat capsized while they were traveling along the Red River. Lunch is then served on board as you cruise to the final stop, Bat Trang pottery village. A ticket costs 325,000 which includes lunch, drinks are extra.
In addition to sight-seeing in Hanoi, there are various half- and full-day trip options:
-CRAFT VILLAGES. There are several traditional craft villages a few kilometers from Hanoi that are fun to visit. These villages are interesting partly for seeing the products they specialize in being made and partly to observe village daily life. Although many craft villages have seen their incomes rise dramatically in recent years (especially Bat Trang pottery village and Dong Ky wood working village), life remains challenging. Largely because of pollutants involved in the craft making process, the life expectancy of craft village residents is 10 years lower than the rest of Vietnam, cancer rates are significantly higher, and respiratory problems are commonplace. If you’re visiting, keep in mind that most workshops/shops will close at lunch and for an hour or two afterwards.
*Van Phuc is a traditional silk weaving village about 12km southwest of Hanoi. This village has specialized in silk since the 18th century. You’ll hear the clanking of the mechanized looms as soon as you arrive. There are also lots of shops in the village with prices cheaper than what you’ll find on Hang Gai. You don’t need a guide. This village has been absorbed by Hanoi so its not at all rural. If you are taking a taxi, make sure your driver knows where you are going. There is another Van Phuc in Hanoi, the diplomatic quarters near the Dawoo Hotel, and you don’t want to be taken there by mistake. You can ask someone at your hotel to explain to the driver where you need to go. In Van Phuc, much of the fabric is made there. There is another fabric village called Ninh Hiep, but it has very little silk and mainly offers fabrics imported from China. Ninh Hiep is sort of a whole sale village where shops in Hanoi come to purchase products. Its interesting to visit, but not at all as interesting as Van Phuc.
*Bat Trang is a traditional pottery village on the banks of the Red River 13km southeast of Hanoi. This traditional ceramic village dates back 5 centuries. You can walk around and see the ceramic making process and buy as much as you can carry back. If you don’t want to carry, they can arrange for shipping. If you’re heading to Halong Bay you can ask your tour company to include a stop at Bat Trang on your way back to Hanoi. No guide is needed. If you want a self-guided tour of Ba Trang, purchase the Friends of Vietnam Heritage publication on Bat Trang at Bookworm.
*Dong Ky village used to specialize in fire crackers until the government banned them in the mid 1990s. Now they produce traditional furniture inlaid with mother-of-pearl. In addition to watching the amazing wood carving process, its fun to visit the village around rice harvesting time. A guide is helpful.
*Ha Thai specializes in lacquer. If you are curious about how all those colorful products for sale on Hang Gai are made, this is the place to come. A guide is useful.
*Cu Da specializes in making vermicelli noodles. As you want through the village you can see different stages of the product being made. Cu Da is in the same direction as Van Phuc, so its possible to combine them into one trip. A guide is useful.
-If you’re visiting Hanoi a few weeks after Tet, definitely head to the Perfume Pagoda. This all day trip from Hanoi has beautiful scenery, and the beautiful scenery combined with the sight of all the boats overflowing with pilgrims heading to the pagoda is amazing. The water is only a few feet deep so no worries about drowning.
-If it’s not close to Tet you can take a similar trip to Tam Coc-- similar in terms of the scenery. Once you arrive at the jetty you’ll board a row boat and be rowed along by a woman (no men, just women). This is often referred to as inland Halong Bay.
What To See and Do / http://www.personal.psu.edu/rxj9/Hanoi/Sightseeing.html
MoCST agrees the opening of Korea Tourism Organisation’s representative office in Viet Nam
MoCST agrees the opening of Korea Tourism Organisation’s representative office in Viet Nam
(TITC) - On October 2nd, at the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism’s headquarter, Deputy General Director Nguyen Manh Cuong gave the Decision of Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to Mr. Park Iearak, Head of KTO’s representative office in Viet Nam.
Accordingly, KTO is permitted to open its representative office in Viet Nam, based in Ha Noi, and implement tourism promotional activities in conformity with laws of Viet Nam. The MoCST also authorises the VNAT’s supervision over the operation of the representative office.
Addressing at the ceremony, Deputy General Director Nguyen Manh Cuong said, in the first 9 months of 2012, the Korean tourist arrivals to Viet Nam increase by 38% over the same period last year, making Korea the 2nd position among top source markets of Viet Nam tourism. The opening of the KTO’s representative office would facilitate the promotion of Korea image to Vietnamese public and enhance the exchange and relationship between the two countries, Cuong stressed.
Mr. Park Iearak emphasised the MoCST’s permission to the opening of KTO’s representative office brings significant meaning in the context of 20th anniversary of Viet Nam – Korea diplomatic ties and celebration of Republic of Korea’s National Day (October 3rd). He also hoped that there would be abundant opportunities for tourism cooperation and development between the two sides in the coming time.
Translated by Truyen Phuong http://www.vietnamtourism.com
(TITC) - On October 2nd, at the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism’s headquarter, Deputy General Director Nguyen Manh Cuong gave the Decision of Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to Mr. Park Iearak, Head of KTO’s representative office in Viet Nam.
Accordingly, KTO is permitted to open its representative office in Viet Nam, based in Ha Noi, and implement tourism promotional activities in conformity with laws of Viet Nam. The MoCST also authorises the VNAT’s supervision over the operation of the representative office.
Addressing at the ceremony, Deputy General Director Nguyen Manh Cuong said, in the first 9 months of 2012, the Korean tourist arrivals to Viet Nam increase by 38% over the same period last year, making Korea the 2nd position among top source markets of Viet Nam tourism. The opening of the KTO’s representative office would facilitate the promotion of Korea image to Vietnamese public and enhance the exchange and relationship between the two countries, Cuong stressed.
Mr. Park Iearak emphasised the MoCST’s permission to the opening of KTO’s representative office brings significant meaning in the context of 20th anniversary of Viet Nam – Korea diplomatic ties and celebration of Republic of Korea’s National Day (October 3rd). He also hoped that there would be abundant opportunities for tourism cooperation and development between the two sides in the coming time.
Translated by Truyen Phuong http://www.vietnamtourism.com
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