Free things to do · Luang Prabang · Laos
5 free things to do in Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Christophe95, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 2 days in Luang Prabang without paying an entry fee: Morning alms giving (Tak Bat), Night market, Wat Sene and UXO Laos Visitor Centre are all free. The kip loses value quickly; withdraw or exchange modest amounts and pay in kip where prices are listed in kip.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 5
- Low-cost extras
- 9
- Cost level
- Affordable
- Lowest hotel prices
- May–September
Free sights and experiences
Experience · Old Town centre
1.Morning alms giving (Tak Bat)
Keep at least a few metres away, never use flash, and only take part if it is meaningful to you, with rice bought from a trusted source rather than street hawkers.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- History
Market · Old Town centre
2.Night market
Bargain gently, and look for weavers selling their own work; prices are lower than in the boutiques.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- After dark
- Food
- Kids
Religious site · Old Town centre
3.Wat Sene
Visit after the alms round, when novices return to the compound and the light is soft.
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Museum · Luang Prabang town
4.UXO Laos Visitor Centre
Entry is free; donations support clearance work in the provinces.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
Market · Old Town centre
5.Morning market
Go straight after the alms giving, around 6:30am, when the stalls are fullest.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Photo spot
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Old Town centre | Morning alms giving (Tak Bat), Night market, Wat Sene and Morning market | 30 minutes + 1–1.5 hours + 20–30 minutes + 30–45 minutes |
| Luang Prabang town | UXO Laos Visitor Centre | 45 minutes |
Worth a small ticket
Religious site · Xieng Thong end of the peninsula
Wat Xieng Thong
Visit early in the morning, before the tour groups arrive, and walk round to the back of the main hall for the mosaic.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Architecture
- Art
- History
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Palace · Old Town centre
Royal Palace Museum (Haw Kham)
Bags and cameras go into lockers; shoulders and knees must be covered, and shorts are not allowed.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Viewpoint · Old Town centre
Mount Phousi
Sunset is very crowded; sunrise or late afternoon gives the same view with space to breathe.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Iconic
- Photo spot
- Active
- Kids
Religious site · Old Town centre
Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham
Look closely at the golden facade in the late afternoon sun, when the reliefs are easiest to read.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Architecture
- History
Religious site · Around Wat Visoun
Wat Visoun
Combine it with the neighbouring Wat Aham and the herbal sauna nearby.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
Museum · Around Wat Visoun
Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre
Visit before shopping at the night market to learn how to recognise authentic textiles.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Art
- Off the beaten path
Experience · Nam Khan riverside
Nam Khan bamboo bridge
Cross in the late afternoon and return at sunset; the bridge only exists from roughly November to the start of the rains.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Experience · Mekong riverfront
Mekong sunset cruise
Shared sunset boats are inexpensive; hire a boat privately for a group or a quieter evening.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- Views
- Kids
- Photo spot
Neighbourhood · Chomphet
Chomphet across the Mekong
Take the local passenger ferry, wear good shoes for the dusty lanes and carry water; there are few shops.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Off the beaten path
- History
- Outdoors
- Views
More ways to save
- The kip loses value quickly; withdraw or exchange modest amounts and pay in kip where prices are listed in kip.
- Some hotels and tour agencies quote in US dollars or Thai baht, so compare the price in kip before paying.
- Share a minivan to Kuang Si rather than hiring a private tuk-tuk if you are alone or a couple.
- The night-market food lane and morning noodle shops are the best-value meals in town.
- Room prices fall sharply in the May–September rainy season.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Luang Prabang expensive to visit?
Luang Prabang is affordable for most visitors, but 5 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Luang Prabang?
Morning alms giving (Tak Bat): Keep at least a few metres away, never use flash, and only take part if it is meaningful to you, with rice bought from a trusted source rather than street hawkers.