Morning Alms in Luang Prabang - My most impressive sight in Laos

June 22nd, 2006

You got to be an early riser to see this! If not - you’d better try to as this will be once-in-your-life-time scene!

At dawn (6.00 a.m. in the morning - can be earlier or a bit later depending on the season)…as the mist swirls, the Laotian people (old and young) as well as tourists do gather to give alms to a procession of nearly 500 monks who walk through the street in the orange saffron robe offering a chance to devout Buddhist to offer sticky rice for making their merit of the day. Its absolutely stunning sight when you see hundreds of monks walk gracefully and silently at that moment.

One of the best places to see is in front of the Royal Palace. There are also some vendors on the street selling the sticky rice (some also selling some food too but I do not recommend you offer food to the monks as according to Laos tradition, food should be given to the monks after they return to the temples not when they are in the morning alms). It should cost you around US$ 1-2 for a bowl of sticky rice. With that basket of sticky rice - you will have to pick up some of it by using your clean hands to take it out from the basket - I always do a small portion enough for one bite for each monk so you can offer as many as 20-30 monks from the whole basket that you buy).

As soon as the sun comes up - all the monks will disappear into their monasteries to pray and study before eating their first meal of the day.

If you are 100% awake by now (after seeing this sight - am sure you are!), finish your morning with a walk through the local market near the Nam Khan River front. Here you will see the real life of the Laotian people selling and buying fresh produce from vegetables, fruits, rice, snacs to even snakes (some people do eat that - ugh!). Try the local coffee (extremely good taste!) and some French baquette for breakfast (there are several small restaurants near the market). What a nice end for your morning tour! 

Tags: Laos, Luang Prabang, Luang Prabang Sightseeing, Luang Prabang Holiday, Luang Prabang hotels

Entry Filed under: Laos Destination