Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre, Luang Prabang

They do a great job of providing history of the area and explaining the aspects of each culture. The displays are well thought out and description are interesting. Well worth the 25,000kip admission.

Prepare to sweat in here! They have fans but it was an oven. It's a short visit, only taking maybe half an hour if you go through everything. Seemed pricey for what you get but it's for a good cause.

The entrance is inexpensive, only 25000 Kip, (£2.50, COP9000). The TAEC is engaged in research, artefact preservation, exhibitions, education and handicraft development. The TAEC building was constructed in 1920 during the French colony. Even though the museum is quite small, it consists of only three rooms, it still allowed me to get an insight into ethnic groups, rural lifestyles, traditional clothes and customs of Lao tribes. The information is orderly exhibited and easy to go through with English labels. It includes feature text, photographs and objects from villages of northern Laos. I learnt about the distribution of the four ethnolinguistic groups: Tai-Kadai, which includes ten subgroups; Hmong-Yao, which includes three subgroups; Sino-Tibetan, includes in another nine subgroups; and the Austro-Asiatic, includes in another thirty subgroups The museum also has a small souvenir shop which promotes sustainable livelihoods. It has authentic handicrafts directly sourced from ethnic artisans, primarily ethnic minority women who earn a fair share. 50% of the shop income goes back to the villages across Laos. I purchased a beautiful double-sided textile cap made by Tai Lue women, as a present for my sister Sandra who loves hats, for 200000 kip (£19, COP71000). Tai Lue group is devoutly Buddhist and famous for their handwoven cotton and silk textiles.

Interesting to learn more about the etnic groups before purchasing handicrafts or visiting the village. The information is well displayed and easy to learn. Fair priced the souvenir shop. However they could expand to include more local women at work, explaining the tye dye process or the weavinh there was no one when I went.

Great place to learn about the cultures and textiles in Laos. Entrance is very cheap for a museum at $2.5. Gift shop is also very reasonably priced with handicrafts where the producers earn a fair share.