Luang Prabang City

Boat race in Xieng Men

Benolaos — 2010-09-06T02:27:17Z

This boat racing occurs in September, 15 days after the racing boat in the Nam Khan River. It happens in Xieng Men village located on the opposite bank of the Mekong River. From Luang Prabang, people have just to cross the River to participate to the festivities.

As usual, a little market stands along the streets, selling Lao food and Chinese products.

A lot of people meet there. This race is not considered as a major one, but one of the fun one in the area. Live broadcast by the official Lao TV, ususally generously sponsored by Beerlao, while boat are privately sponsored by local businesses as travel agencies, restaurants...

People standing on the right bank of the Mekong River cheer for the teams when dancing to the Lao (and sometimes techno!) beat.

This racing boat begins around 11:00 and ends with the sunset.

Luang Prabang Film Festival (LPFF)

Benolaos — 2010-09-01T07:21:10Z

With cooperation from the Department of Cinema (a division of the Ministry of Information and Culture) of the Lao PDR, the annual Luang Prabang Film Festival (LPFF) will present 30+ films on a Southeast Asian theme to tourists and locals over 8 nights in December. The screenings will take place in non-traditional venues (both indoor and outdoor) in the former royal capital of Laos, as Luang Prabang has no working cinemas. After the festival, a smaller selection of films will tour other major provinces in Laos, with screenings and mini-festivals held over 2-night stops in each city. Between the yearly events, there will be ongoing educational projects that attempt to raise awareness about film in Laos, creating a long-term, sustainable project that seeks to support a burgeoning industry and art form.

Event Venues

Luang Prabang currently has no working cinemas, so screenings will take place in non-traditional (mostly outdoor) venues that will be equipped with projection equipment, screens, and seating. For the traveling festival, the provincial governments will work together with LPFF to determine the best possible location for screenings and a community-centered event. Possible venues in Luang Prabang include the following locations:

1) That Luang: Luang Prabang's old stadium, which is the main locale for smaller sporting events. The grassy field is quite large, and accommodates the traveling fairs whenever they come to town. The area could be divided into different sections to house different events happening simultaneously. This space could easily accommodate over 7,000 people.

2) Siengsavan: A former movie theater turned restaurant/performance space, this building is not currently being used. One of the largest buildings in town, Siengsavan could be an interesting space to pay homage to its original purpose. The building has a stage inside, with plenty of room to accommodate vendors. The space could accommodate around 800 people.

3) Le Tam Tam: Another former cinema turned karaoke bar, and is now being used as a restaurant. Near the town's main intersection, this space has a stage and is a more intimate venue. The space could accommodate around 500 people.

4) The Handicraft Market: This outdoor space sits on the main intersection in town, at the end of the night market. It is very central, and easy to access. The space could accommodate around 400 people.

5) The Governor's Office: Inside the grounds of this government building is a conference room. It is quite large, with a stage and seating. The space could accommodate around 500 people.

6) The Fountain: Not far from the main intersection in the town sits a fountain in the center of the road, which widens by a considerable amount at that point. In the past, the road has been blocked off here, and events have been staged. This space could accommodate around 1,000 people.

7) The National Museum: The former Royal Palace has a large area near Wat Ho Phabang that is sometimes used for events. This space could accommodate around 400 people. Alternatively, the grounds also have an indoor theater that is currently being used by the Royal Ballet. This space could accommodate around 200 people.

8) The French Cultural Center: This recently restored colonial building has a garden that could be a smaller venue. The space could accommodate around 200 people.

More information on LPFilmFest.org

The elephant festival

Benolaos — 2009-01-29T16:06:45Z

This event takes place on February, every year in the Sayaboury Province thqt is located a couple of hours by boat and by car from Luang Prabang.

The elephant is the animal emblem of Laos. Laotians and elephants have created the history of their country together. Unfortunately, the biggest mammal on earth, this pillar of culture in Laos, is threatened with extinction.

All over Asia, the loss of the elephant's natural traditional habitat menaces its survival in its natural surroundings in the wild. As a domestic animal, it is menaced by mechanization and the loss of its traditional job in wood logging. The future is unpredictable for the numerous mahouts (elephant drivers) who live from their work with the elephants.

So that the public is aware of the conditions of elephants in Asia, the province of Sayaboury decided to bring back the Elephant Festival to Paklay, due to the huge success that this festival had in 2007 in Hongsa and in 2008 in Paklay. The elephant is an essential part of our natural and cultural patrimony.

Paying homage to the elephants along with the men and women that live at their sides seems important today at a time when the natural and cultural riches of our country are attracting more and more visitors from all over the world. The “Country of a Million Elephants” opens wide its doors !

Go and meet these giants that people our forests and the legends of Laos since the beginning of time ...

Web-site : festival.elefantasia.org

The beginning of the Lao New Year

Benolaos — 2009-01-29T16:04:25Z

From the 13th to the 15th of the 4th month of our Gregorian calendar, (or the 5th month of the Buddhist calendar) is the Lao New Year festival, which coincides with the water festival, which is very popular in S.E. Asia and especially at Chiang Mai and Luang Prabang.

The water festival is historically the time for the women (and only the women) to throw water on the men, so as to remind them of their strength, and in a certain way, their dominance. Today, the ritual is deformed, and everybody throws water on everybody else, and not only for three days, but for a whole week.

On the first day, there is the large morning market in the main road, which starts at 8 o'clock in the morning, to finish just after midday.

Then there is a big festival on the "Island", on the Mekong, at Xieng Men. The Laotians gather together there to build a small sand castle, on which they place streamers representing the 8 animals that make up the cycle.

Black Day

Benolaos — 2009-01-29T16:03:05Z

This is the second day of the festival at Luang Prabang. Its called Black Day, or the day without a year. Being as the 14th of April 2008 is the last day of the year 2551 for Buddhists, the 15th is a day without a year, and the 16th is the first day of the year 2552.

On this second day, a parade takes place re-uniting all the ethnical groups together, the dancers and the musicians playing folk music, Miss Luang Prabang and other groups that want to parade from the Wat Noy to the Wat Xieng Thong, at the end of the peninsular.

The parade starts preparing itself round about 13h00. As from then, and for at least an hour, participants arrive. Bonzes, young boys and girls in traditional costumes, all jostle together cheerfully, whilst the spectators continue to throw water, on themselves and also on the people in the parade and who will soon be very hot underneath their costumes.

The Lao New Year

Benolaos — 2009-01-29T16:00:14Z

The Lao New Year festival, better known under the name of "Fifth month celebration", is a time of merriment which takes place during the month of April.

The horas (astrologists) wanted to put the New Year under a favourable sign. As from the Zodiac sign Thanou (Sagittarius), nights get longer and the days shorter, so that as we go towards the obscurity, in other words, symbolically, towards misfortune.

On the other hand, as from the Raci Mét (Aries), which corresponds to the 5th lunar month, the days get longer until we get to the Raci Somphout Athit sign Taurus (anomaly of the sun) which by formulae of astronomic calculations according to the rasi, the ongsa and the lubda. And so, the year that starts in April opens up onto horizons of light and prosperity.

The Lao New Year's Day takes place on the sixth day of the rising moon in the sixth month. Certain years have two neutral days (Mou Nao), which are determined by astronomic calculations. On this day a parade takes place with the same participants as the day before but this time on the return journey from the Wat Xieng Thong to the Wat Noy.

It should be noted, that by a happy throw of the dice, the date so obtained coincides with the renewal of nature (Spring) : trees and flowers shoot and the earth wakes up after months of heat and dryness and everything starts getting green again under the first showers of rain.

It is with a sense of general elation the these ritual festivals are celebrated by the whole country.

On the last day of the year (Sangkhane Louan), each house is cleaned, everything arranged properly, so as to drive away bad luck and bad spirits.

On New Year's Day (Sangkhane Khûn) the Buddhist Laotians go to the pagodas to sprinkle water on the effigies of Buddha. Men and women bow before them and pray that the new year will be good for them, bringing them good health, wealth and happiness.

There are visits to friends and family during the day and, in the case of important personalities, the ceremony that we call Baci (the call of the souls) and which is done by no other country in the world.

Taken from the text 2008.

Personal blogs & Websites

Benolaos — 2008-11-12T18:02:03Z

More and more travellers become bloggers, make a web-site from their trip. They can give you advise, answer questions or even advise travelling options through thier own experience. If you want to sign up your site, contact us.

Information sites

Benolaos — 2008-11-12T18:01:50Z

Here is a non exhaustive list of sites gathered on the Internet while doing different researches, as well as other addresses sent by internautes who want to share their sources of information. Please don't hesitate to send us other references. To do so, leave us a message on the contact page.

Information sites on Laos

Le Laos, par l'encyclopédie libre Wikipédia
Ecotourime au Laos
Le rénovateur, journal officiel du Laos
KPL, Lao News Agency
Vientiane Times, The gateway to democracy
Laos Online
L'office du Tourisme du Mékong
Mouvement Lao des Droits de l'Homme
Gastronomie, culture et paysages

Some addresses of sites of Luang Prabang

La Maison du Patrimoine : le respect de la charte UNESCO
Mekong Estate : Résidences en location donnant sur le Mékong
Inthado : Société de promotion, construction immobilière
El Gecko : restaurant espagnol
Tamlaylao.com : textiles au Laos
Sanlao.org : commerce équitable au laos

Professionnal sites on Luang Phabang

Prévisions météorologiques à 5 jours pour Luang Prabang
Les cartes postales anciennes du Laos
Photographers Direct, photos sur Luang Prabang
Terragalleria, galerie de photos sur Luang Prabang
Photos du laos et autres informations
Seven Orients : Culture and Services

Guides (on Internet)

Le guide du Routard - Le Laos
Lonely Planet - Le Laos
ABM, conseils pour choisir son guide de voyage

Official sites

Benolaos — 2008-11-12T18:01:46Z

A certain number of sites must inevitably serve as references to our readers. They can bring a certain amount of complementary information complémentaires to the commercial guidebooks. They can also serve as a relay for questions that everybody ask themselves before leaving on a trip.

Very Official Sites

Le Ministère français des Affaires Etrangères
L'ambassade de France au Laos
L'ambassade des USA au Laos
L'ambassade du Laos en France
La Maison du Patrimoine - UNESCO Office of Luang Phabang
The National Tourism Authority of the Mekong
Mekong Private Sector Development Facility

Airline companies servicing Luang Prabang

Lao Airlines
Thai Airways
Vietnam Airlines
Bangkok Airways
PB Air

ONG intervening in Laos

ACFL : Amitié-Coopération France-Laos
CCL : Comité de Coopération avec le Laos
EED : Enfants et Développement
ESF : Ecole Sans Frontière
Santé France-Laos

Books

Benolaos — 2008-11-12T18:01:43Z

Because books are THE complement to Internet, we can suggest to you, a large range of books dealing with Luang Prabang and Laos. You can find many references on the better known commercial sites : FNAC, Amazon, Alapage, Chapitre.com, Rare books, etc.

Tourist Guides

Le Guide du Routard (Laos + Cambodia)
Lonely Planet
Laos Handbook
Le Footprint
Le Petit Fûté
Les Guides Arthaud (Cambodia + Laos)
Olizane (Laos + Cambodia + Vietnam)
Culture Shock (in English)

Documentaries

Henri Mouhot : Voyage dans les royaumes de Siam
Auguste Pavie : Au royaume du million d'éléphants (éditions l'Harmattan)
Eléonore Brisbois : Le Laos (éditions Peuples du Monde)
Catherine Hahn : Le Laos (éditions Karthala)
Sophie Clément-Charpentier et Pierre Clément sur l'architecture du Laos
Sophie Ladame : Lao, peuple des hauteurs
H.G. Berger : Cérémonies sacrées de Louang Prabang (éditions de l'Oeil)
1er visite d'un representant de la france au souverain du luang-prabang
Paul Lévy : Histoire du Laos (Paris, PUF, 1974)
Phou-Ngeun Souk-Aloun : Histoire du Laos moderne (1930-2000) (éditions L'Harmattan)
Saveng Phinith : Histoire du Pays Lao, de la préhistoire à la République (éditions L'Harmattan)
Françoise Oukeo-Souvannavong : Traditions culinaires du Laos (éditions Maisonneuve & Larose)
De Vienne : Laos 1975-1995, restructurations et develop-pement (éditions Olizane)
Madeleine Giteau : Art et archéologie du Laos (éditions Picard)
Atlas de la République Populaire du Laos
Erwan Bergot : Mourir au Laos (éditions Pocket)
Y.Goudineau, F.Engelmann, S.Sibert : Laos, sur les rives du Mékong (éditions Le Chêne)
F.Engelmann, T.Renaut : Luang Prabang (éditions ASA)
Françoise Capelle : Luang Prabang, la cité du Bouddha d'or et du flamboyant (édition Thalia)

Books on learning the language

Lamvieng Inthamone : Je lis et j'écris lao (édition You-Feng)
Lao phrasebook (collection Lonely Planet, in English)
Chou Norindr : Parlons lao (éditions l'Harmattan)
Lamvieng Inthamone : Je parle Lao (édition You-Feng)
Marc Reinhorn : Dictionnaire laotien-français (édition You-Feng)
Pratique du Lao (édition l'Asiathèque)

Other references

Jean Larteguy : Les tambours de bronze
Philippe Franchini : Le Sacrifice et l'espoir (Cambodia, Laos, Viêt Nam)
Jean Hougron : la trilogie
Bouali, enfant du Laos