Visitez Luang Prabang, et le reste du Laos

The weaving village of Ban Na Ngan

Benolaos — 2018-01-02T12:57:40Z

The small village of Ban Na Ngan is located near Nong Khiaw (30 minutes drive) after couple of kilometers of dusty road. The village, Thai Lu ethnic group, specializes in the making of cotton products.

The cotton grows in neighbouring fields, and all the spinning, dyeing, including natural indigo is home-made, handmade, and natural.

The village itself is beautiful and should be noted as a Must see village.

The village of the blacksmiths

Benolaos — 2018-01-02T12:52:09Z

Located a short distance from Luang Prabang Airport, the village of Ban Hat Hien specializes in the production of machetes which every inhabitant of Laos has at least one copy. The (secret) story says that steel was made of bombs and other remnants of the war raging around it was a while already ...

Today, by the Chinese competition and the production relocated in the north, the village of the blacksmiths counts hardly more than 4-5 families still carrying out their activity with pride, without any protection (neither spectacles, neither gloves, boots) and especially without illusion about the future. If the achievements are better billed, with a steel of better quality, if each copy and its case are customizable, the demand is no longer the one before.

Many shapes, sizes, weights are available.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/01XAWVP1444

Blacksmith around Luang Prabang

We will go to the village in the morning before 10am. We will not come the days of Van Sin (full and new moon, nor quarter moon).

We will make a tour to the temple, built on the banks of the Nam Khan River, and overlooking the well known place to host the pirogue races.

We can visit the Allen's World page on Ban Hat Hien with comments (in English) and photos ...

The pottery village

Benolaos — 2012-06-19T00:24:52Z

Situated on the opposite bank of the Mekong River, at a 10 minute boat-ride downstream from Luang Prabang (expect to pay 3 to 7 dollars for the return fare) the 300 inhabitants of the small village of Ban Tchan (written also Ban Tjan or Ban Chan), have specialized themselves on manufacturing pottery and bricks (which are much used in Luang Prabang) as well as terracotta tiles.

The raw material is taken from the surrounding area, mixed, processed, handled, shaped and fired on the site. Everybody participates in this activity, even the children amuse themselves by creating small objects representing animals, vases and ash trays… Prices can easily be negotiated for these small items.

If you insist, you can try and create something for yourself with help from little expert Laotian hands.

The local manufacturing techniques have stayed a natural craftsmanship and are worth while seeing. To heat the ovens, they need at least 4 whole days, during which time, they work out a relay system to burn several dozen wooden beams (see photo).

When the ovens have reached the right temperature, that is stocked enough heat, it's time to put the items in the oven. When they've been fired, they are left to settle, several days below ground (see photo). This is a process that has been done in this way, for generations.

The village and its pagoda that has been undergoing renovation for 7 years (with the contribution of the French travel agency, "Maison d'Indochine", is distinctive. Only the bungalows that have been constructed along the Mekong river's banks, remind us of tourism and its inherent luxuries.

My advice : Go preferably in the morning

The village of Ban Xang Khong

Benolaos — 2012-06-18T23:00:33Z

The villages of ban Xang Khong & Ban Xieng Lek have specialised for many years in manufacturing and selling products made from silk and Saa Paper (paper made from the bark of the Saa Tree).

Many "big" stores have grown in recent years in the neighborhood, but there is also some private little house runned by local people who are using looms in the traditional the techniques.

There are also 3 magnificent pagodas to be seen (Wat Sang khong, Wat Nong Sai, Wat Xieng Lek), which are amongst the oldest in Luang Prabang and are made up of beautifully renovated buildings and a stupa (mound-like structure), which has been kept in its original state. In the last temple, lives one of the eldest and most venerable and persons of the town (he is nearly 70 years old, and has been a bonze since the age of 14).

The shops

Walking through a village, like in Ban Phanom, you will be amazed at the number of weaving looms. There are many shops here; but also many weavers who only have one skein of yarn. To be able to appreciate the diversity of products, you will have to look at everybody's goods ...

The silk all comes from Laos. And so, you will be able to find goods made in Luang Prabang (in the shops there are very few of them), as well as from Vang Vieng, Luang Nam Tha or Sam Neua or ... China.

How to get there

Go to the North station (you can take the little wooden bridge if you go by bicycle). At the North station, continue for about 50 yards, and turn left (just after the petrol station). Then, go straight on. The village is on the left, along the Mekong. To find Luang Prabang again, continue on the dirt track, which will bring you back to the little wooden bridge.

My advice : Its easy to go by bicycle because the road is pretty flat even though it's a little bit congested around the station. Its best to avoid the tourist crowds (9h00 - 11h00)

The village of Ban Phanom

Benolaos — 2012-06-18T22:57:54Z

A little more than a mile from the Phon Phao Temple, this small and very typical village exists mainly due to the manufacture of woven goods which they expose on the night market.

This village very quickly became one of the acknowledged suppliers of the King (at the time when the country was ruled by a King) who was said to have bought a large quantity. The village is full of history, culture, and a weaving experience that you can still find in some other villages in Laos (Luang Namtha, Sam Neua, etc.) where methods, techniques, and patterns are still those of old times.

The majority of the village's production is done according to a technique that uses cotton and silk. The weave is done with thick cotton threads, that are often of different colours, which gives a shimmering effect, whilst the patterns are woven from silk.

Nearly all families possess 1 or more weaving looms. Some have even created small workshops. A sort of a co-operative was set up at the end of the village, which groups together a few dozen manufacturers. The prices are affordable, and are open to discussion.

How to get there

The village of Ban Phanom is on the outskirts of the town, in the direction of the airport, before the bridge, to the right on a renovated road. It overlooks the temple Wat Phon Phao on the hill that leads to the weaver's village. There's about 2 ½ miles between Luang Prabang and Ban Phanom.

The village of Ban Phanom is situated on the banks of the Nam Khan River, one of the largest tributaries of the Mekong. You can get there by renting a tuktuk (remember to also pay after trip finishes...)

My advice : The co-operative, O.K. if you really insist …. The village on the other hand, has kept a lot of its initial charm ... Further on, you can see the grave of Henri Mouhot* beside the river Nam Khan ; the site is beautiful and wild. Further on, you can visit the elephant camps.

* Henri Mouhot (1826 - 1861) was the first occidental to have explored Angkor Wat, then Laos, before dying there, prostrated with yellow fever.