Free Things to Do in Luang Prabang
THE 10 BEST Free Things to Do in Luang Prabang
Best Free Things to Do in Luang Prabang
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50 places sorted by traveller favourites
- Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.
Flea & Street Markets • Farmers Markets
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Lessons & Workshops • Educational sites
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Speciality & Gift Shops • Visitor Centres
Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
Speciality & Gift Shops • Speciality Museums
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Architectural Buildings • Religious Sites
Speciality & Gift Shops • Lessons & Workshops
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Architectural Buildings • Religious Sites
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Monuments & Statues
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What travellers are saying
- lagrandfromage24 contributionsA small but very powerful display which shows very objectively the devastation wrought on individuals, families, communities, and the economies of countries. As a Brit, I'm ashamed to say I was unaware of this amazing organisation. It does fantastic work all over the world and deserves significant support.Written 17 October 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Rayhan M9 contributionsWe spent 3 nights in Luang Prabang during our trip to Laos and did almost a day just walking around to explore the city. Very nice place to visit.Written 29 November 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- ljpereAuckland, New Zealand60 contributionsThis is a great place to pick up a few souvenirs and try some street food. Lots of choices of food and big seated area at one end. The smallholders were friendly without being pushy and great place to people watch and enjoy the atmosphere.Written 1 April 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Patrick GMarina del Rey, CA10 contributionsWorth experience if you can get up just before dawn. Somehow we were able to do that even though we both like to sleep in. One of the best ways to feel like you are part of their community, and support their culture. Although we both bought sticky rice for the monks from local merchants, you might want to explore other ways of giving.Written 25 November 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Steve BuckleyLondon, UK6,301 contributionsMy wife and myself are currently holidaying in Luang Prabang staying at the excellent Avani Hotel (Review to follow) and early this morning (after giving the Monk their alms) we visited the nearby Morning Market which by 0700 hours was in full swing.
The market is mainly full of a wide range of foods tipoffs but a whole host of other products. It is certainly popular and a great way to immerse yourself into the Lao Culture.
Strongly recommended!Written 9 March 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - LowderjNewcastle upon Tyne, UK11 contributionsPop in and buy Childrens books which they then donate to village schools .. lovely way to give back locallyWritten 30 March 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- milliesmum2016Christchurch, New Zealand1,811 contributionsActually, I visited this Wat in the evening, in the dark. It was lovely. Everything was softly lit so you could look carefully and at leisure at the lovely carvings and applied decoration. There is a lovely standing Buddha of not inconsiderable height.
You will doubtless stumble across this Wat whilst wandering around town in the slightly cooler evenings.Written 27 March 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - RalyvejeRotterdam, The Netherlands25 contributionsA great initiative to help those kids (14-20 y) to improve their English. Reason: they want to get a better life than their parents have. They are thankful that you want to just chat with them. 9-11 and 17-19 h every day.Written 12 August 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Stephan OEnschede, The Netherlands660 contributionsWhile dryving around on our scooter, we discovered this temple on the outside of Luang Prabang. There was nobody else on the complex, just a young monk inside where you can sign in. There is no entree fee but you can give a donation. Inside are beautifull Darwins, and jou can club up, four stories high. The fourth floor can be reached by a very small and steep stairs. It is to small to stand on this floor or reached it with more then one person at the time. From the first floor there is a nice view over Luang Prabang.Written 31 July 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Bill B3 contributionsWonderful space sharing information about the Lao Friends Hospital for Children in Luang Prabang. Sales help support this important service for local families. Easy to find across from the Dara market. Staff is friendly and helpful. A short video tells you more about the hospital and its work.Written 22 December 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- LuizDutraNetoRio de Janeiro, RJ8,621 contributionsAt only 3 kms out of the city's center (just 10 min by tuk-tuk), on the banks of the Nam Khan River, you will find the weaving village of Ban Phanon - the royal weaver of Luang Prabang's Court! You will see entire families working on their looms and weaving Lao traditional cotton and silk wares. The ancient art of weaving will be in front of your eyes! The whole village works on co-operative basis and its production is on sale right on the spot. A little haggling is always possible, if you feel like doing so ... There are other nearby weaving villages, as Luang Nam Tha and Sam Neava. Their products can also be found at Luang Prabang's Morning and Night markets. As a curiosity, while in Ban Phanon, it will be possible to visit the tomb of France's legendary explorer Henri Mouhot. He was the first occidental naturalist to explore the ruins of Angkor in Combodia. His memories - "Voyages dans les Royaumes de Siam, de Cambodge et de Laos", published posthumously, helped to popularize Angkor in the West. Henry Mouhot died of malaria in Naphan, near Ban Phanon, in 1861. Enjoy!Written 9 October 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Wandering WonderingsHastings, UK3,247 contributionsA great little temple to visit in Luang Prabang. Well maintained and intricate gold leaf, it really is worth a little of your time to visit.Written 17 September 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- skyisbluMontreal, Canada2,538 contributionsThe Whisky Village, Ban Xang Hai, famous for distilling their own alcohol, made from the sticky rice we have become so accustomed to eating with our every meal here in Laos. They grind it into a powder which they turn into yeast balls, and these are fermented in large blue drums covered with squares of cotton. January is not the harvest season for rice, so it is also not the time for whisky - what we get to taste is last season's product. There is the first whisky, the strong stuff that is the first pass through the still - very potent, this stuff clocks in at a staggering 55 proof! They boil the rice again to make a second whisky. Cloudy and often purple-coloured, depending on the rice used, this whisky is more akin to a sake in flavour: you taste the rice, the alcohol, the fermentation. It's not bad. For the novelty factor, there are bottle of whisky stuffed with snakes, and scorpions, and centipedes in the bottles, which is clearly done for the photo opportunity and the sale. Supposedly, the men in the village drink THAT stuff to make them "stronger".
The whisky-producing area is right off the boat launch, but you can walk further into the village, too. The main corridor leading away from the water is lined with tables where the village women have laid out their scarves and other textiles for sale. It's clear that this village sees a lot of tourist traffic. Some of the women are embroidering cloth by hand, others are weaving on big looms - we learn from our guide that some of these villagers pack up their products in the afternoon and drive into Luang Prabang for the night market, so don't fret if you don;t make your purchases here.
Keep walking through the stalls of scarfs, and you'll emerge out into the village, right in front of their temple. It's a nice visit, beautifully painted and small in comparison to Luang Prabang, but real. It's the only authentic experience in this little village, which has become much too fixated on the tourism industry, welcoming boat-loads of day-trippers doing the Pak Ou Caves every day. My suggestion? Save your money and try the products in Luang Prabang - the visit here was not worth it.Written 16 June 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - KGB777Singapore, Singapore41,727 contributionsThis is another attractive temple in the old quarter of Luang Prabang. Confusingly it is also known as Wat Souvannakhiri. It's a peaceful place and doesn't seem to get too many visitors (at least certainly not in the mid afternoon on a hot weekend in June when I visited).Written 2 July 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- milliesmum2016Christchurch, New Zealand1,811 contributionsThis is a pretty little Wat on a peaceful, quiet street in the Old Quarter of Luang Prabang. It is in a pleasant compound with a pretty garden and small monastery attached and has a lovely, intimate feeling about it. The steps of the Wat are flanked by some splendid multi headed serpents. I think they're called Nagas.Written 27 March 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
