Laos - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget

Travel Reference

In-Depth Information

5

Phralak Phralam Theatre Royal Palace Museum.

Demonstrations of classical Lao dance are given four

times a week (Mon, Wed, Fri & Sat 6pm) at the Royal Ballet

Theatre. Performances include excerpts from the Lao

version of the Ramayana and cost 100,000-150,000K/

person depending on the seat.

Massage and herbal sauna The Red Cross Sauna on

Visounalat Rd (daily 8am-8pm; T 071 252856) has

traditional Lao massage at 40,000K/hr and an excellent

sauna for 10,000K. For a wider choice of massages in less

spartan surroundings, Spa Garden, Ban Phonheuang (daily

9am-9.30pm; T 071 212325), is highly recommended.

Post o ce GPO, Chao Fa Ngum Rd (Mon-Fri 8am-noon

& 1-5pm, Sat 8am-noon).

Volunteering Big Brother Mouse, Phayameungchan Rd

( T 071 254937, W bigbrothermouse.com), is a project that

runs programmes to teach and encourage Lao children to

read and write. You can go and visit the centre, help the

children with their English (daily 9am & 5pm; 2hr), and buy

books and donate them to the cause.

SHOPPING

Many of the town's souvenir shops are on Sisavangvong

Road, especially in Ban Jek, near the museum. Textiles

are one of the best buys, sold by shops throughout town;

the nicest are of high quality and thus will have corres-

ponding prices.

MARKETS

Handicrafts night market Sisavangvong Road. The

city's biggest draw is undoubtedly the handicrafts night-

market, between the post o ce and the Royal Palace

Museum, which sells, among other things, silk scarves,

bags, lamps, Beerlao T-shirts and Hmong silver. Haggling

is expected, but do be reasonable (and friendly) through-

out, and don't enter into a discussion about price unless

you're prepared to buy. Daily 5-10pm.

Hmong Market The small Hmong Market, on the corner

of Sisavangvong and Kitsalat roads, sells much of the same

produce as the night market, usually with less pressure

from the sellers. Daily 9am-9pm.

DAY TRIPS FROM LUANG PRABANG

Luang Prabang's most popular excursions

are to the Pak Ou Caves , 30km north

of the city, and Kouang Si waterfall ,

around 25km to the southwest - both

are typically half-day trips. In addition,

tour agencies in town offer a wide variety

of trips and activities out of the city

(see p.373).

Kouang Si

he best day-trip from Luang Prabang is

the picturesque, multi-level Kouang Si

waterfall (daily 8am-5.30pm; 20,000K),

tumbling 60m before spilling through a

series of crystal-blue pools ideal for

swimming; there are basic changing

facilities at the lower pools. he steep

path on the opposite side of the falls leads

to the top in about thirty minutes,

though it can get quite slippery, so be

very careful - and don't attempt it in the

wet season. Numerous simple restaurants

and food stalls crowd around the

entrance to the falls and there are a

couple of basic places to eat inside; better

still, bring a picnic.

here are several ways to reach Kouang

Si. he cheapest option is by minibus ,

booked via a tour agency or direct with

Naluang bus station (see p.372; daily

11.30am & 1.30pm; 45min; 60,000K).

Taking a tuk-tuk can also be an economical

way to go if you can assemble a group

- drivers charge a flat fee of 200,000K

(for up to five people), though you can

usually pay a bit less if there's just one or

two of you. he slowest but most scenic

SHOPS

Monument Books Sathouyaithiao Rd. Great little

bookshop stocking a good range of magazines, local and

international fiction and non-fiction, travel guides, maps

and children's books. Mon-Fri 9am-9pm, Sat 9am-7pm.

Ock Pop Tok Branches on Sakkaline and Sathouyaithiao

roads. Though the textiles here are a little pricey, there's no

denying the superb quality of the craftsmanship. All of the

products have been made in Laos - either in the shop's Living

Crafts Centre (see p.372) or through their Village Weaver

Projects which support local communities. Daily 8am-8pm.

SA Paper Handicrafts Off Souliyavongsa Rd. Tucked

down a tiny lane opposite Wat Xieng Mouane, this is

one of a number of shops selling colourful traditional

mulberry-paper lanterns, including collapsible models,

plus books and cards. Daily 9am-9pm.