Five Things to do at Sunset in Luang Prabang
Strictly speaking, there isnt that much to do in Luang Prabang. It’s more of a place to not do things. But of the things you can do, I found that most of my favorites took place in the evening. I really enjoyed hiding from the sun in a cafe during the heat of the day and then being more active at night. Here are five ways to spend sunset in my favorite city in Laos.
You can volunteer every day at 5 pm at this local literacy center and publishing house that offers Lao kids the chance to practice their English with visitors. I was there early and so were two eager seventeen year old boys in school uniforms. Hong and Khamdy were respectful, smart, and excited to learn. They were ethnically Hmong and told me that if they could ever visit the United States, they would go to Fresno or Minnesota as that is where many Hmong people live. We worked on new vocabulary words and past participles and the hours passed quickly. At the end of the night, Hong took out a piece of paper with the word ”agony” on it. ”I saw this word in a newspaper, can you tell me what it means?” he asked shyly. ”Agony . . . it can mean extreme physical pain, like what you feel if you get hurt. Or it could be emotional pain, too,” I said, pointing to my head and heart.
”Ah, like girlfriend,” Hong said knowingly.
You need only head down to the river to find a ton of boat operators desperate to get you onto their boats for sunset cruises. I went with the not so pushy Sa Sa cruise, run by a friendly European expat. The boat was quite comfortable and included a Lao mojito made with dubious local whiskey. You can enjoy nice views of the Mekong sunset as you cruise (which for me included a four foot long river snake, eek!)
A Movie at L’etranger Books and Tea
Run by a French Canadian expat and her daughter, this charming cafe sells used books and local art, as well as a nice spread of local Lao food. Every night at 7pm they show a relatively new Western movie in their cozy attic. It is free but they do ask that you purchase something (no minimum, just a drink will do.) It might not be the most authentically local experience you will have in Laos, but especially if you are traveling long term, it is such a delight to enjoy a movie and a glass of wine! Better yet, you can trade in your used books for new tomes or a discount on your drink!
This is the most popular sunset option in LP . . . climb a modest hill to a temple where you can get great views of Luang Prabang and the Lao countryside. It isn’t too bad of a climb and only costs a couple of dollars.
Luang Prabang Yoga offers outdoor classes in two locations, mats and props included. Vinyasa with a view? Om gonna have to say yes!
