Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre, Luang Prabang

Small museum with well-designed and highly informative displays showcasing Lao tribal culture, folklore and art. Entry for children under the age of 12 is free. Children are offered activity blocks to keep them entertained. The building itself is lovingly restored, even the toilets are “exhibits” (see photo). Excellent museum shop offering authentic and stylish craft, juices made from local berries with bamboo straws, short courses in basket-weaving. There is also a kids corner with the full range of tribal costumes to play dress up.

Very interesting place! Had a lot of local hand made stuff there and had a story and from which region it came from. Really cool to be promoting local stuff and helping get the profits back to the source of production.

Small but interesting museum, a good place to learn about the ethno-linguistic groups that make up the country, where they originally came from, and what makes them unique. An hour is more than enough to see all exhibits. I thought the English descriptions accompanying the exhibits are well-written. The following excerpt perhaps best conveys the message the museum wants to impart to visitors: "Ethnic communities in developing countries are not frozen in time as historical or ‘traditional icons’. In fact, they are developing and changing as much as cultures in Europe, the Americas, or even Vientiane, and have been transforming for hundreds of years. Ethnic people in Laos live in cities, own businesses, hold government positions, and travel overseas. In rural villages, they listen to the radio, trade with other ethnic groups, frequent town markets, adopt new crops, and build cement houses. People adapt their lifestyles and traditions to changing circumstances, globalization, and opportunities to improve their future."

I really enjoyed visiting this museum. It is small but if you really read all the signs and take time to admire all the beautiful hand crafted items is the perfect size. I was specially fascinated with the fabrics and embroidery. Well worth the visit and the entrance fee.

Lovely place! It is absolutely worth going. you can learn about the beautiful tradition of weaving! On top they are helping the Communities 👍🏻