• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Go to Expat Living Hong Kong
GET OUR NEWSLETTER

Expat Living Singapore HomepageExpat Living Singapore

Moving to Singapore and not sure where to start? Expat Living is the essential lifestyle guide to living in Singapore.

Menu
  • Living in Singapore
      • Living here
      • Neighbourhood Guides
      • Schools
      • Property
      • Work And Business
      • Finance
      • For Guys
      • Environment
        • mens shirts singapore10 of the best places to buy men’s shirts
        • Woman using phone mobile banking bank for expatsWhich bank should I choose in Singapore?
        • lamos featureOnline gift shopping for everyone
        • Chinese New Year lanternsChinese New Year: What to do (and not do)
      • View all
    Close
  • Things To Do
      • Things to do
      • EL Events
      • Calendar
      • Competitions
      • Noticeboard
        • Divaagar, Render Tender Singapore Art Museum Singapore Art WeekDivaagar, Render Tender Singapore Art Museum Singapore Art WeekWhat’s on this week and beyond
        • Chinese New Year lanternsChinese New Year: What to do (and not do)
        • bookGreat books: What to read this month
        • super soulGreat podcasts we are listening to!
      • View all
    Close
  • Kids
      • Enrichment
      • Kids Things To Do
      • Mums & Babies
      • Schools
      • Tots & Toddlers
      • Tweens & Teens
        • kidsHelping our children deal with stress
        • Mark WenzelMeet the new Superintendent!
        • Performers Ballet Academy ballet dancer on stage activities for kidsExciting enrichment activities for kids
        • childrens mental health covidCOVID Fatigue – How it’s affecting us all
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Home Decor
      • Readers’ Homes
      • Furniture
        • singapore interior designersNeed a bit of help with your home décor?
        • how to do a home makeover tips6 small changes for a big home makeover
        • Bungalow 55Having a party of eight?
        • The Cinnamon roomRugs and carpets – who bought what?
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Asia
      • Australia & New Zealand
      • Rest Of World
      • News
      • Travel Offers
        • The Fullerton Hotel kids room tent4 fun family staycays – with deals!
        • Merdeka - Where to stay in ThailandWhere to stay in Thailand, reviews & more
        • Covid-19 travel woman mask airportCOVID-19 travel: What to expect
        • Hong Kong with kids - SuperParkThings to Do with Kids in Hong Kong
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Asian Cuisine
      • Western Cuisine
      • Bars & Clubs
      • Groceries & Speciality Services
      • Recipes & Classes
        • LyresDry January: Alcohol-free drinks to try!
        • vietnamese food que beef pho singaporeIn the mood for Vietnamese?
        • Barista CoffeeNew Nibbles: Foodie news!
        • online groceries singaporeTop websites to get your groceries
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
      • Beauty Offers
        • jewelleryJewellery gift ideas for all budgets
        • Work wear singaporeEasy ways to revamp your office wear!
        • PabloBlau_6AUG2020-02a5 facials for the new year!
        • mens shirts singapore10 of the best places to buy men’s shirts
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Dental
      • Fitness
      • Medical
      • Wellness
        • kidsHelping our children deal with stress
        • nutritionist in singaporeA nutritionist that gets to the root cause of disease
        • critical illness insurance family and kids at homeA guide to critical illness insurance
        • COVID-19 PCR tests doctor swab testGetting a COVID-19 PCR test in Singapore
      • View all
    Close
  • Shop
    • PRINT MAGAZINE
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINE
    • BOOKS
    • Close
Home » Travel » Need a weekend away? try Luang Prabang in Laos

Need a weekend away? try Luang Prabang in Laos

19th July 2017 by Michaela Bisset 7 Min Read

https://expatliving.sg/long-weekend-luang-prabang-laos/

A visit to the former royal capital of Laos, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a languid lesson in fascinating culture and cuisine.

Laos

The case of the missing “s”

I always feel uneasy travelling to a place whose name I don’t know how to pronounce. (Hence my ongoing reluctance to visit Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland.) I had this same problem before my four-day trip to Laos. “It’s ‘Lao’,” said a whole bunch of people, rhyming the word with “cow”.

Until then, I’d been more inclined to add an “s”, so it sounded like the singular form of lice. Other versions I heard included “LAY-oss” and “LAH-oss”

Who’s right? Backpackers in Laos seem smugly determined to omit the “s”, arguing that it’s how the local people refer to the country so we all should follow suit. Presumably these same backpackers also insist on referring to Albania as “Shqipërisë”. No, of course they don’t.

Bottom line? If you plan to go to Laos (and I recommend you do; it’s brilliant!) and you want to pronounce the “s” at the end, you have my full support.

From hospital to sanctuary

Still on names: Amantaka, the hotel where I spent my three nights in Luang Prabang, comes from aman, the Sanskrit word for “peace”, and tipitaka, “teachings of Buddha” – highly appropriate, since more than 2,000 monks live in the town’s many temples.

Amantaka is equal parts glorious and quirky. Until 2005, this grand, century-old colonial property served as Luang Prabang’s main hospital. When a bigger premises was required for the hospital, the renowned Aman group transformed the site into the town’s most luxurious accommodation.

Laos
One of the resort’s Pool Suites
Laos
Bicycles are available for exploring the town
Laos
The front facade of Amantaka at night
Laos
Interior of a resort suite

Set around a gigantic courtyard of lush gardens and candle-lit paths, the 24 stunning suites – 16 with private pools – are all louvres, high-ceilings, island bathtubs, four-poster beds and gentle gamelan music lilting down from Bose speakers.

Apparently, there are four employees to each guest at Amantaka, but aside from the occasional smiling gardener under a conical hat you barely see them – unless you want to, at which time your request gets handled promptly and cheerily.

There’s no doubt that Luang Prabang (I’ll call it LP from now to save space) has a raft of much cheaper accommodation options – including some quaint looking guesthouses along the river – but if you want to maximise your experience of this special town, Amantaka is the place.

Wat’ll they think of next?

LP is arguably one of the most relaxing non-beach destinations in Southeast Asia. The main part of town is a cigar-shaped peninsula, less than a kilometre long and just a few streets wide, bounded by the mighty Mekong and a tributary, the Nam Khan. Here you’ll find wats galore. Most can be explored for a US$5 entry fee; a few are free.

After climbing Mount Phousi (don’t panic, it’s just a hill) for a spectacular overview of LP and its surrounds, mosey around Wat Xieng Thong, the best known of the temples. Built in 1560, it’s perhaps more remarkable for its exterior, covered with mosaics of coloured mirror-shards.

Laos
Wat Xieng Thong

In this and other wats in town, you’ll encounter Buddha statues with long arms stretched down by heir sides. The pose is called “Calling for Rain”, and it’s a common feature of Buddhist symbolism in Laos. We scarcely needed more rain during my slightly soggy stay, though I’m told this place is parched in the dry season.

Once you’re all watted out, wander along the riverfront lined with colonial buildings and stop at a local cafe for a coffee and a plateful of sweet beignets, or one of the ubiquitous baguettes. (The French ruled LP for half a century and their legacy is evident in the local cuisine). Baguette-sellers are everywhere and they’ll whip you up a monster sandwich for a couple of Singapore dollars. My favourite came with pâté, strips of wok-fried omelette, sliced cucumber, tomato and more, but you can choose any filling under the sun – I even saw Nutella and bacon. (Yes, together. In the same baguette.)

Taking a lichen to river moss

Nearly every visitor to LP takes a half-day trip out of town, either to one of two popular nature areas with waterfalls and swimming holes, or to the Pak Ou caves via a long boat up the river. (Amantaka can organise both on your behalf.)

Laos
Cruising the Mekong in the Amantaka boat

I did the latter, and it’s a leisurely affair; almost two hours up to the caves and an hour back. There’s nothing to do but stare at the rich, reddish Mekong and ponder the day. It’s a perfect antidote to the busier aspects of travel, and it makes you feel a million miles from your office job back home.

The caves themselves, filled with hundreds of Buddhist statues, are interesting rather than astonishing. More fun was lunch at a restaurant on the opposite bank, where the specialty was fried river moss (known locally as khai paen; “skin of the stones”). It’s tasty stuff – like squares of Japanese nori that have been sprinkled with sesame seeds and toasted – and the perfect accompaniment to a bottle of local brew Beerlao.

Early-morning monks

Laos
Monks collecting alms

The clichéd image of LP shows a procession of orangeclad monks collecting alms from the locals at dawn. (As my photo on the following page reveals, I’m a sucker for a cliché.) Called tak bat, this is an interesting ceremony to watch – once you’ve got over the shock of waking at 5am on your holiday. Guidebooks harp on about overzealous tourists sticking their cameras lenses into monks’ faces, but I saw no evidence of this; either it’s a problem reserved for the very high season when the town is busy, or visitors have wised up.

After a sublime breakfast back at Amantaka, it was time to participate in one of the resort’s cultural activities. (These are awesome: don’t miss at least one of them during your stay.) My cooking class took place a 15-minute drive out of town on a peaceful organic farm. Chef Anousith led me to a thatched pagoda beside a rice farm and proceeded to unravel the secrets of four local dishes: moo phak sikai (braised pork in coconut milk), mok pa (steamed fish cakes), keng som kai (clear chicken soup) and tam mak hoong (green papaya salad).

Of the latter, he commented: “Papaya salad is the best thing for a hangover.”

(As good as a Nutella and bacon baguette? I almost asked.)

“But it must be very, very sour, salty and spicy,” he added.

“How spicy?” I asked.

“Ten chillies. At least.” Wow. We used four during the cooking class and it was close to lethal; many Amantaka guests, said Anousith, can tolerate just one.

Laos
Chef Anousith prepping for the cooking class

Once we had chopped, sliced and mortar-and-pestled our way through the one-hour class, I climbed onto a bale overlooking a fishpond, where I was served a cold beer and the four dishes I’d just made.

If I say so myself, this was the best food I’ve eaten in an age: incredible flavours, awesome textures. As spots of heavy rain started to smash onto lily pads around me, provoking a chorus of frogs, I realised that I had literally cooked up a storm.

Feeling blessed

For a final slice of Lao culture, I took part in a traditional Baci ceremony at Amantaka. The ceremony has its roots in animism, and takes place around a sacred silver receptacle (pa khouan ) draped with flowers and food offerings. Amantaka’s cultural advisor and a trio of respected village elders led me through the ceremony which comprised some gentle chanting followed by the ritual tying of my wrists with short lengths of white cotton thread, for well-being and good luck.

A Baci ceremony is a very happy and peaceful note on which to end a holiday. The only issue is that the threads are meant to stay on your wrists for three full days (after which they are untied rather than cut). Because of this, I returned to Singapore looking like a hippie backpacker or an Eat Pray Love wannabe, someone who’d been to a cool part of Asia and “found the answer”.

But I didn’t find the answer. What I did find in Luang Prabang, though, was an easy four-day getaway from Singapore that’s as atmospheric and interesting as anywhere else I’ve travelled to in the region.

FACT FILE

Getting there

For a long time, there was no direct flight between Singapore and LP, but happily that all changed last year. SilkAir now offers three weekly flights to Laos, on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The flights operate in a circular routing, departing from Singapore for Vientiane, followed by LP, before heading back to Singapore, which means you can add other Laos adventures to your trip, should you have the time.

Laos

Nice to know: SilkAir has introduced an All-Time Favourites menu for Business Class customers on flights of three hours or more from Singapore. The 20 specially curated Oriental, Western, Muslim, and Indian meals can be booked 24 hours in advance via the SilkAir or Singapore Airlines websites. silkair.com | singaporeair.com

Other logistics

When to go: Late November to mid-February is best, with warm days and cooler nights. March and April are hot. The rest of the year can be wet, but it’s no biggie – usually just a tropical storm here and there.

Laos Silk Air
Silk Air now has even yummier food for you!

Visas: A visa on arrival at tiny Luang Prabang airport is a simple, five-minute affair; you just need one passport photo and around US$30 in cash (the sum varies slightly for different nationalities; Canadians get charged the most: US$42!). Amantaka For bookings and more information about Amantaka and other Aman resorts, visit aman.com.

 

Like this? Read more at our Travel section

This article first appeared in the June 2017 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase a copy or subscribe so you never miss an issue!

Categories: Asia Travel Tags: Asia Travel Laos

Michaela Bisset

Michaela is the youngest member of the Expat Living team and therefore the best one. She's London born but Singapore grown. Third culture kid. She’s always on the lookout for the best drinking deals and latest vegetarian bites.

You May Also Like

The Fullerton Hotel kids room tent

4 fun family staycays – with deals!

Covid-19 travel woman mask airport

COVID-19 travel: What to expect

A family staycation at MBS!

Primary Sidebar

Editor's Picks

where to buy furniture in Singapore

Where to buy furniture in Singapore – online too!

royal albatross yacht singapore romantic dinner

39 Cool & Fun Things To Do In Singapore

kate marsden facial review iyac med spa aesthetic clinic

Best facials in Singapore: Our reviews!

brunch st regis singapore

Best Brunch Places in Singapore: Champagne Sunday Brunches

hair salon in Singapore before and after

Best Hair Salon In Singapore – Our Favourites

What's On

Singapore International Photography Festival exhibition

Singapore International Photography Festival 2020

Stone Stacks Stefanie Hauger solo exhibition Miaja Art Collections

Stone Stacks

ThisConnect - Threading Worlds

ThisConnect – Threading Worlds

Battle between Rama and Ravana Faith Beauty Love Hope Our Stories, Your ACM Asian Civilisations Museum

Faith Beauty Love Hope – Our Stories, Your ACM

Perfect Stranger by Dawn Ng asian civilisations museum exhibition

Perfect Stranger

thINK exhibition Asian Civilisations Museum

thINK: Chinese Calligraphy, Connoisseurship, and Collecting

Expat Living Singapore 🇸🇬

expatlivingsg

Open
Guys: did you know that your skin is structurally different from that of ladies? For most men, androgen (testosterone) stimulation results in skin that’s thicker and tougher than women’s skin. This also means you might need something more than just your wife’s, mum’s or sister’s moisturiser or face wash! 

Lumin was founded on this concept; this California-based online store offers simple yet effective skincare for men, tailored to different skin types and concerns. So, whether you’re looking for a good face cleanser or a moisturiser for men, this is one brand to check out.

To differentiate Lumin from other men’s skincare brands, founders Richard Hong and Darwish Gani flew to South Korea to work on formulas that benefit the thicker and more stubborn skin constructs of men. Most of the ingredients used are powerful plant-based extracts like ginger root, rosemary, coffee and shea butter. The paraben-free and cruelty-free brand also makes a point of avoiding unnecessary nasties commonly associated with popular off-the-shelf products.

If it’s your first time shopping for men’s skincare, you’ll be glad to know that the Lumin experience is simple and fuss-free. Just fill out a brief questionnaire and you’ll get a personalised skincare regime that’s suited to your skin type and lifestyle. You can choose to go with a one-time purchase or have your products delivered on a subscription basis. Alternatively, shop from the curated range of skincare sets catered to different budgets and preferences.

Read about our readers review on our stories
Open
We are completely in love with the new Bvlgari Parfum Allegra that lets you customise your own scent...how cool is that! 
 
Step 1 - select your base fragrance 
Step 2 - personalise your fragrance with a magnifying essence 

The bottles are so pretty we want them all 💕 
 
The Allegra collection is available online at bulgari.com/en-sg and in-store at the Takashimaya Department Store from 19th January and if you can’t wait they also have a pop up only for today at ION SKY
Open
Say hello to our latest Kids' Guide! Want a free copy delivered to you? Visit 👉 expatliving.sg/KG and place your order before 30 January.
 
🧸 The guide has everything from finding an obstetrician and caring for your newborn, to fun activities and choosing the right schools for your child. There’s also lots of useful advice from other mums and dads.
Open
We love finding cool places to check out at weekends.

The Whiskey Library at the chic Vagabond Club Hotel is a must for Whiskey lovers. 

Be entertained by bespoke adventures such as specially curated (sung and told) Jazz stories, intimate theatre sessions, book readings, artist evenings, musical showcases, and even independent film premieres whilst enjoying delightful small bites. 

With a choice of over 1,000 rare and unique whiskeys you can even book a cool Staycation so you don’t have to travel home! @thevagabondclub
Open
So if you are still managing to cling onto dry January or still pondering whether to do dry February (like some of us here at EL), then you must check out our round up (link on stories) of alcohol free drinks to stock up on...we also spotted some pretty cool cocktail recipes on the links to help you out🍸🍹
Open
We are on the lookout for cute baby pics for our next issue. Have you or a friend just had a baby? Send over a baby pic with the date of birth and parents names to editorial@expatliving.sg and we'll feature them in our next issue (swipe to see an example of our baby noticeboard). Tag some friends in this post to share their news with us. 

All babies will receive a free personalised print from the gorgeous @hellosammyeve worth $150 (see 3rd pic). 

We just can’t wait to see the pics of those cute bubbas👶
Open
We are craving those pineapple tarts from @littlehouseofdreams packaged in a pretty eco-friendly canister with an engraved bamboo lid.

Check out their pretty gifts, hampers and roasts to help you usher in the year of the 🐂 

15% off regular items and 10% off gift sets until 31st Jan
Open
Hunting for new foodie places is a tough job but someone has to do it! 

Check out our stories link for a few new hot spots to try. There are more listed in our January print issue and others springing up next month!

Tag your favourite hot spots in our comments, we are always on the lookout 👀 🍽🍷🍻🍹
Open
We had some wonderful  celebrations today for our amazing Editor in Chief Rebecca. Happy Birthday and lots of love from all of the EL team ❤️ x
Open
We love cocktails in a can, what an easy start to kick off your weekend. Available in Espresso Martini, Margarita, Pineapple Daiquiri & Negroni - yum!  Order @curatif
Open
Time to get moving!

Our fitness experts share top tips helping to stick to those New Years resolutions 🏋️ 🧘‍♀️ 🏃‍♂️ 

Link in our stories
Open
The rain and cold winds getting you down? A warm beverage and maybe a good book to snuggle up to might just chase the blues away!

If hot chocolate is too mainstream for you, could we offer up this red velvet alternative? @littlefarms have a wide selection of oat milks, almond milks and soy milk options. 

Since it's #Veganuary, we recommend using dairy free milks to recreate this recipe....

2 cups non-dairy milk of choice
4 medjool dates (pitted)
1 tablespoon cacao powder
1/2 teaspoon beet powder

Add the milk and dates into a saucepan.
Heat, over medium, until it reaches a simmer. Add the warm milk with the dates and the remaining ingredients into a high speed blender.
Blend until completely smooth and creamy. Serve and enjoy! 

Image and recipe courtesy of @darngoodveggies
Open
Read our January issue on any device for free! To get started, visit 👉 expatliving.sg/digital/IG
In this issue, step inside a heritage shophouse, find out where our readers buy their carpets and dining tables, discover amazing glamping locations, plus find out how you can win a glamorous home decor prize worth over $7K!
Open
🎉 We're so pleased to announce the winners of our Readers' Choice Awards! Congrats to all the companies who were voted among the best in Singapore, and to the voters who won the amazing prizes. See the full results online now at 👉 expatliving.sg/readerschoice

.
#expatlivingsg #sgbusinesses #singaporebusiness #elsgreaderschoice
Open
What better way to choose movers than to get the inside scoop from happy customers themselves.

We hear from some individuals and families about their successful moves. 

Whether you’re relocating across the globe or just moving to the condo next door, you’re probably going to need some professional and reliable help to pack and transport for you so check out some recommendations in our stories
Open
Now, to start the new year off with a bang, @areteculture is excited to give one lucky winner a home décor essentials package to refresh their space!  Read more about this amazing giveaway here 👉🏻 www.expatliving.sg/comp-arete  #expatliving #singaporelife #areteculture #giveaway #expatsingaporelife #beinittowinit #homedecor #goodluck.
Open
Recently engaged? Check out our recent story on how to find a fabulous elegant dress plus wedding tips and details of some upcoming wedding trunk shows.

Congratulations from the EL team 💍🥂🍾
Open
Whilst we are all keen to stay in bed on this drab morning, it’s giving us time to work on our New Year Resolutions for a healthier 2021. 

Take a look on our stories for some fab suggestions to start the New Year.
Open
Happy New Year from the team at Expat Living. 

Let’s raise a glass to welcome 2021 🥂
Open
As we welcome the start of a new year, it’s time to look back at the year that was. 

Obviously, a standard review of 2020 would be dominated by one global issue, however, we’ve decided to avoid any mention of the C-word and instead, we’re taking a look at some of the other things that happened in 2020 
month by month, from pop culture phenomena to mystery objects in our deserts and skies (full link in our stories)

Enjoy – and have a wonderful 2021!
  • Competitions
  • Noticeboard
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy

© 2021 Expat Living Singapore, All Rights Reserved.