Situated 4 km east is a small village famous for its cotton and silk hand-weavings. There is a small market set up here, and you can wander in the village and see village women weaving on their hand looms or bargain with them for their finished products.

For years, the Royal Ballet troupe performed Phra-Lak Phra-Lam, the Lao version of the sacred poem, the Ramayana, in the Royal Palace in Luang Prabang. Then in 1975, after 15 centuries of annual performances, the Theatre was banned and the master artists and teachers had to look for other work. In 1993, after an absence of more than 15 years, the Institution of Cultural Research and the Provincial Government Office in Luang Prabang established a committee to revive limited performances of Phra-Lak Phra-Lam for festivals. In 2002, the Theatre was re-established and has been performing at home and abroad since.

To re-establish the theatre, we gathered local youths and taught them dancing, traditional music and folksongs for six months. After three years our team of musicians and performers has grown from 38 to nearly 160.  Between November and March, we perform everyday except Sundays in our 480-seat theatre, and during October and April, four times a week (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat). We also encourage young children to learn traditional music and dance. To share the history of the Ramayana, we perform in small village schools and donate traditional instruments so that they can help preserve traditional Lao culture. In our school for performers, 50 of our students have become professionals.

The Elephant XL Camp near Xieng Lom village was established in 2003 to protect the Asian elephants in Laos. As the forests disappear, the elephants which used to help with logging can become neglected. Our aim is to give these elephants a brighter future. So far six elephants have been freed from logging work and given a new home in the park. Experienced mahouts (elephant keepers) and vets help the elephants adapt to their new environment, with sick or older elephants receiving special attention.

Our project gives the elephants a more comfortable retirement by providing professional medical care, nutritious food, caring staff and a natural environment. It also provides jobs to local people and supports the community, as well as helping to support rural development out of Luang Prabang. Most importantly, our project provides both communities and local businesses with an example of sustainable tourism and how to successfully link conservation with tourism.

F2F, situated in a two-storey shop house, is a small resource centre for those interested in learning about the textiles of Laos' ethnic groups. The ground floor hosts the changing exhibitions whilst the first floor houses a permanent textile collection representing 12 ethnic groups from Laos.  There is also a selection of specialist films and documentaries that can be watched in the upstairs room.

The project conducts valuable research and documentation of the hand fabrication of textiles in Laos. Our vision is to create an informed appreciation and understanding of the cultures and peoples in Laos.

The Children's Cultural Centre caters to children between the ages of 6 and 18 by providing non-formal instruction in a variety of arts and cultural subjects not taught in the regular school system.  The Children's Cultural Centre (CCC) of Luang Prabang opened its doors in January of 1998 and is one of 17 CCC's located provincially throughout Laos.   Activities provided include traditional dance, music, singing, drawing and painting, Lao culture, storytelling, puppetry, reading, games, and handicrafts.   Children's Cultural Centre's throughout Laos are one of few opportunities for children to engage in social activities beyond school or family life and help to deter them from the ever increasing influences of drugs and alcohol.

The Luang Prabang CCC performs regularly in rural villages throughout the province, where, through puppetry, dance and drama, the children are able to convey important messages about the Rights of Children, Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Health Education and the Importance of Vaccinations.   This awareness work is undertaken in partnership with the Department of Health, Luang Prabang Radio and UNICEF.

Studying languages, learning new skills - typing, using different software, recording your own music, growing teak - talking about your culture or mastering English in order to get a job... whatever it is, it's all happening @ My Library.

Even if you have been in Luang Prabang for only a few days, you've probably met someone who has studied @ My Library. He or she may have been your waiter, receptionist, guide, the person next to you at the Internet cafe or the novice monk you talked to at the temple.

The Lao Red Cross Society was founded in 1955 and began working in Luang Prabang Province in 1993, with on-going support from the Swiss and the Austrian Red Cross. Our vision is to prevent and alleviate human suffering and to improve living conditions at the village level and the health of the most vulnerable sections of society. We follow the seven fundamental principles of the Red Cross & Red Crescent Movement - humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

The Lao Red Cross have a massage and steam room open to the public at the building opposite Wat Visoun and next to Villa Lane Xang.

The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre is a museum dedicated to the ethnic cultures of Laos.  The Centre is housed in a heritage building, and exhibits ethnic clothing, household objects, religious artefacts, and handicrafts, with information in English and Lao languages.  Our objective is to help locals and foreigners learn about the different ethnic groups of northern Laos.  Our Museum Shop sells books and exclusive handicrafts and photos from ethnic communities.  The Patio Café serves delicious food and drinks in a relaxing setting. 

The Centre is a completely new and different type of attraction for tourists and locals.  You will see unique objects from various ethnic groups and learn about their lifestyles, beliefs, and traditions.  We also organize seminars and guided tours. 

Tamnak Lao established the restaurant 10 years ago to share with people our unique Lao cuisine. We specialise in offering authentic Luang Prabang-style cuisine. Many of our recipes are handed down from mother to daughter over numerous generations.

A few years ago, after many requests, we opened the cooking school. Here you can learn how to select, blend and cook our wonderfully exotic Laos flavours and take your newfound skills home.