Luang Prabang is one of our favourite locations in Southeast Asia — with its natural beauty, friendly locals and comfortable accommodations this town is real a charmer. And only getting better! One of the newest tour options in town is opening up old Lao customs to new visitors …
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Recently a couple of our team members in Siem Reap, Cambodia went to inspect some of the courses offered by a new tour supplier, Backstreet Academy. You can read about Miranda and Anna’s experiences painting and brass jewelry making here.
Backstreet Academy provides the opportunity for people to learn traditional arts and crafts from local artisans. These community based tours provide exceptional experiences for tourists while allowing artisans to preserve their craft and supplement their income.
I was very excited about Backstreet’s arrival here to Luang Prabang and am looking forward to the courses they will offer in Vientiane next year. When reading through the many choices, I was overcome with indecision on which one to try first. I narrowed the choices down and asked which ones the rest of the team in Luang Prabang would be interested in taking and we ended up with their Fruit Carving and Hmong Kaen Music Playing courses.
I have to say that these courses were some of the most fun (and challenging) we have had doing an inspection in a long time. I knew that I would likely enjoy them, but was pleasantly surprised to how much fun Phaeng and Sone had, even though these art forms were not new to them. I think it was such an enjoyable experience because we not only got to try our hand at the crafts, but were able to meet and learn from the artisans about their life and their craft, as well as observe their master techniques.
It was definitely a challenging experience learning the art of intricate fruit carving and the impressive multitasking it takes to perform a Hmong traditional song on the Kaen. None of us walked away from the course as master technicians, but we did walk away with a much greater appreciation for the art forms. Do you have any idea how to play a bamboo wind instrument half your body size, with both hands, while hoping and dancing in a circle? We didn’t look as graceful as our instructor Mr. Yang, but it was quite hilarious watching each other try to emulate him.
Even though I took pleasure in the courses, what I love the most is the idea behind Backstreet Academy. They are providing a platform for artisans to retain their skills and an opportunity for Luang Prabang to sustain its cultural and artistic identity. While doing this, travelers have the chance to personalize their experience on a deeper level by spending time with a local artist and learning a tradition that could be ages old. responsible travel at its best — it’s all around brilliant and I love it! I CAN’T wait for my next course!
Here is a list of the courses you can take at Backstreet Academy through Journeys Within. Please contact us if you have any further questions on a particular course.
- Palm Weaving
- Wood Carvinv
- Pencil Sketching
- Water Colour Painting
- Lao Music Instruments
- Bamboo Weaving
- Lao Traditional Dance
- Crossbow Making
- Bamboo Hats
- Knife-making
- Oil Painting
- Cement Bag
- Hmong Kaen Music Making
- Jewellery Making
- Hmong Embroidery
- Lao Wine Making
- Lao Cooking
- Fishing
- Lao Song Writing