In a country that is changing as fast as Laos, it can be comforting to see many traditions standing the test of time. The Lao sinh, a traditional garment regularly worn by Lao women from north to south, is a most vivid example. A sinh will usually adhere to a single, common design – a […]
A peek inside the precise and highly-trained world of airline mechanics. What image springs to mind when you think of an airline mechanic? A burly figure in oil-stained overalls and permanently dirty fingernails? Lots of clanging tools and loose bolts? The reality, as mechanic Soutsakhone Lounsengchanh discovered early in his career, couldn’t be further from […]
It’s a conspicuously new building in a town lauded for its heritage charm, but Azerai, Luang Prabang’s newest luxury hotel, has drawn as much inspiration as possible from the previous building’s footprint. Set back from the street, the graceful two-storey façade is both sparkingly modern, and completely in synch with its surroundings. Hotel manager Gary […]
For a tiny town famous the world over for being sleepy and laid-back, Luang Prabang sure does know how to host a festival. If you’ve ever found yourself there in the midst of Lao New Year, or the end of Buddhist Lent, you’ll know the place can turn it up like no other – being […]
A Luang Prabang artist is breathing life into some alomost-forgotten traditions When Somsanith David first learned that UNESCO would be bestowing his hometown with a World Heritage listing, his feelings were mixed. On the one hand, he was overjoyed that the physical fabric of the town would be preserved and cherished for years to come. […]
These days, Luang Prabang is better known for French café culture and an increasingly cosmopolitan dining scene than it is for Lao cuisine. But writer and photographer, Mick Shippen is having none of it. When in the languid riverside town, he opts for northern soul food. There’s something deeply reassuring about northern Lao food. From […]
Why does the Pa Nang have only one ribcage? It’s just one fish among many in the traditional cuisine of Laos, but the Pa Nang has one physical characteristic that sets it apart – just half a ribcage. And while there is likely a convincing scientific explanation for this arresting detail, the folklore that has […]
It’s a fair bet that most classic cars that fetch up in small, Southeast-Asian countries have a good story to tell. But one look at the vintage Jaguar that lives outside a restored colonial villa in downtown Vientiane, and it’s clear it was once destined for great things. And not just great things, but a […]
From cream-filled sponges to delicate choux pastries, chocolate-drizzled honey toast and homemade coconut ice cream, Vientiane’s dessert table is heaving with mouth-watering delights. Lao people have long subscribed to the sweeter side of life and these days, that means indulging in all kinds of creative cakes and confectionary. New dessert and cake cafes are popping […]
Sengmany Yathotou is on a mission. It’s a weekday morning in Naxayneua village, Vientiane, and on her family farm that borders on a national park, she is overseeing the milking of more than 100 cattle – peaceful, black-and-white Fresian dairy cows that produce around 15 litres of milk each a day. Sengmany wants more people […]
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