Ock Pop Tok
This ethical cooperative, founded by a Laotian woman and an Englishwoman, has become a benchmark. Here you discover the secrets of traditional weaving, natural indigo dyes, symbolic patterns and wooden looms. The Living Crafts Center allows you to meet the artisans, observe every stage of the creative process, and even try your hand at weaving or dyeing during a workshop. A café terrace lets you extend the experience, with a view over the river.
Ban Xang Khong village
A few kilometres from the city, this village specialising in weaving and mulberry paper (saa) making lives to the rhythm of bamboo looms and vats of plant pulp. Here you encounter artisans at work, children sorting dried fibres, sheets of paper adorned with petals or gold leaf drying in the sun.
Ban Chan
On the other side of the Mekong, this village has for generations made the terracotta jars, bowls and lamps that adorn the houses and temples of the region. The potters, hands immersed in local red clay, shape their pieces by hand.
The Luang Prabang night market
Every evening, along the main Sisavangvong Avenue, stalls spread out beneath paper lanterns. Here you will find embroidered Hmong textiles, Ikat weavings, silver jewellery, bamboo and wood objects, and of course pieces from the surrounding villages. While some goods are aimed at tourists and may come from China or Thailand, genuine works of craftsmanship can also be found, provided you take the time to talk with the sellers.
