Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang is one of the most beautiful cities in Southeast Asia.  Filled with wats (temples), an interesting mix of Lao and European architecture, numerous coffee shops and fun street markets, you could spend several days exploring Luang Prabang and it's surrounding countryside.

A "must-see" includes the early-morning almsgiving, when the monks walk throughout the city, collecting rice from locals (and now, also tourists).  Hint: travel outside of the city core to view this daily almsgiving ceremony.  Due to the recent influx of visitors, the almsgiving that happens in the city center is mostly for the benefit of tourists.

You could spend several days visiting all the wats, but make sure you see Wat Xieng Thong (at the northern end of the peninsula) and climb to the top of Phou Si hill.

And, make sure to dedicate lots of time to relaxing in coffeeshops, walking (or biking) along the rivers, getting massages, eating delicious Lao food, and shopping at the Night Market.

Mulberries' Farm in Phonsavan, Laos

If you're traveling to Phonsavan to see the Plain of Jars, be sure to also set-aside at least a half-day at Mulberries' Silk Farm, just outside of town.

Mulberries is a fair trade organization that sells beautiful silk products, with stores in Vientiane and Luang Prabang.  But Phonsavan is where you can see it all happen.  From the mulberry plants, to the silk worms, to the spinning, dyeing and weaving, you can see (and participate in) the silk-making process from start to finish.

Mulberry Plant

Silk Worms eating Mulberry Leaves

Worms spinning their cacoons

Spinning

Spinning

Recently dyed silk hanging to dry

Woven silk scarf still on the loom