Hmong women in Phonsavan | Photograph by Cyril Eberle This is a remarkable story about the third largest ethnic group in Laos — the Hmong people — celebrating their biggest festival of the year. This colorful event showcases the fascinating culture and history of this group of people expressing their unique identity. Phonsavan market and
It was extremely hot and sunny during my first two weeks here in Luang Prabang, a rarity during the ‘rainy season’. For my first weekend, I decided to cool off from the mid-day sun and experience some cultural diversity by visiting the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre. While some may think that the TAEC is
Last Thursday and Friday, Tiger Trail had a two-day tour guide training session at a local college in Luang Prabang. This was one of the few times of the year that all of our guides are together in one room! This training workshop was lead by both Peter Richards and Markus Neuer. Peter was an inspirational speaker and
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This local spot is known as “Pasaneyom Coffee Shop”, and it is very popular among local Lao. It is conveniently located near the banks of the Mekong, and it is very busy in the early morning. This coffee shop seems like it has been around for years, and caters Tuk-Tuk drivers, retired men, and some Thai
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Random things that are awesome about living in Luang Prabang, Laos I’ll be moving out of Laos in a week or two (or three…) and I have grown to love this country more than I ever imagined. It surprised me how quickly Luang Prabang has come to feel like home. Here are some of
Rice is Life Learning how to grow sticky rice at the Living Land Farm near Luang Prabang Living Land Farm The other morning I went to the Living Land Farm just outside of Luang Prabang to experience the Rice is Life program. It was fantastic! Our small group met with Mr. Laut Lee – a phenomenal farmer and
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Coffee Roasters in Laos serve delicious coffee and help communities One of my absolute #1 favorite things in the entire world is a good cup of coffee. When you arrive in Laos, it might seem that 3-in-1 packets of instant coffee are the only option, but let me let you in on a little secret
Breaking Tradition Laos is a country full of history and tradition, and it is also a country full of youth. The median age in Laos is 19 – the youngest in the region. To put that into perspective, the median ages of Vietnam, the United States, and Germany are 29, 37, and 46. Where there
Experience the Lao New Year -the Pi Mai Lao in Luang Prabang – Lao water festival I spent my first week in Luang Prabang soaking wet from head to toe for the better part of every day. I have been blasted with water guns, had buckets of ice water poured down my back, had multi-colored
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4th Annual Luang Prabang Film Festival Celebrates Southeast Asian Cinema For five days the annual Luang Prabang Film Festival (LPFF) transformed The Handicraft Market of Luang Prabang into a bustling open-air theatre. The screening space at the main intersection of this World Heritage town, with its ability to hold over 1500 people, was
Julia M Brennan: Talk in Luang Prabang Highlights 25yrs of Textile Conservation The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Center (TAEC) in Luang Prabang recently hosted a talk by renowned textile conservator Julia M. Brennan, founder and owner of Caring for Textiles, based in Washington, DC. Ms. Brennan specializes in an exhaustive range of textile treatments,
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Luang Prabang Half Marathon: La Procession Belated high five and complimentary ice pack to all those hearty souls that participated in the inaugural Luang Prabang Half Marathon: La Procession on October 5. Even with a 6:30am start time, the heat and humidity can be quite a challenge, so we ll deserved congratulations to
An Intern’s Unforeseen Adventure in Laos…. It all started off as a typical day here in Laos, Luang Prabang…. A colleague, and me (a Tiger Trail intern) drove to Nongkhuay to deliver some clay bricks for our ECO Bungalow being built there. After picking up the bricks, we drove about 40 minutes away from Luang
The Kajsiab Foundation Bokeo Province, Laos The Kajsiab Foundation offers support to locals in the far north east of Laos. This update encourages to give help to this great initiative. “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love” Mother Teresa Do you want to help the
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The Living Land Farm a community Business in Luang Prabang An interview with the project and business founder, Mr. Mark Schnebli The Living Land Farm was created some 7 years ago by combining the rice fields of 9 farmers into a community project. Some of the owners were elderly and found it difficult to
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Bamboo Playground for Ban Noonsavath Primary School! A community project in Luang Prabang with Tiger Trail / Fair Trek / Reach Out Volunteers Some of the fondest memories I have of elementary school were not inside the classroom, but outside, on the playground! I loved jumping on the swing and kicking my legs to get
Akha Culture Experience Tour in North Laos Laos Travel tip on cultural home stay adventure with an Akha community in remote northern Laos, a 4-7 day cultural interaction program. The question has to be asked: Is the drive and all the ‘roughing it’ worth it? I’d have to answer an emphatic YES! The
Community Based Tourism in ASEAN Countries As part of their commitment to social responsibility, Tiger Trail sent me as a Fair Trek representative (as well as a representative from Laos) to join a two day conference in Bangkok organized by the Thailand Community Based Tourism Institute. The conference included researchers, community representatives, government,
No Beers for Bears… A story about an amazing bear brain surgery at the Luang Prabang bear rescue center. The donations that go to Free the Bears have helped create a variety of initiatives in South East Asia that maintain rescue projects and build sanctuaries for those bears that are rescued
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The Living Land Farm Experience in Luang Prabang What do you know about rice? What do you know about selecting the seed, the preparation of the fields, the planting or even just harvesting and treating this precious plant…?? We have visited the Living Land Farm in Luang Prabang and have learned all about it!