By: Nicole Long – Laos country director 

Traveling to Laos and experiencing new and enlightening cultures and customs can be a great adventure for the whole family.  Now that most countries in SE Asia have modern conveniences, families can feel safe and comfortable to travel with their youngest.

Most of the destinations are chosen for the adult traveler, but when you have the whole family in tow it’s important to remember that the younger ones might want to do something different. One of our amazing travel consultants (who have families of their own) can direct you to choices during your booking process that would make for a fun and safe adventure for everyone.

Once you finally reach your travel destination, where do you go when you have down time after the day’s tour?  Or what restaurants have menus specifically catered to children?  Where can you take the kids so they can interact with other Lao kids?

Below are places in Luang Prabang that we have found to cater to the whole family. If you are traveling with younger ones then you will receive a Kids Cheat Sheet with these suggested destinations upon your arrival. Don’t forget your local guide and Journeys Within Country Director are available for expanding on this list and providing more information and suggestions to meet your family’s specific needs and requests!

RESTAURANTS

La Residence Phou Vao  (Phou Vao Rd) – One of the best restaurants in town with stunning mountain top views shall make the whole family happy. This 5-star hotel not only offers exquisite menu options for the adults, but also has something for the young ones. Children’s Menu items consist of pasta, pizza, burgers, fries and mashed potatoes. The kids should also love the fairytale lights that illuminate the entire hotel and gardens.

Rama Hotel (Visounnarath Rd) – This little lunch spot is great for families for a few reasons. They offer a kids menu (hot dogs, meatballs, chicken and fries combo, mashed potatoes and steamed veggies), cheap dishes for the parents (pastas, sandwiches, Indian, etc.) and has a little padded play room with legos and story books!

JoMa Bakery Café (Chao Fa Ngum) – They may not have a kids menu per say but, this western café has boundless kid-friendly food options. They offer waffles w/ whipped cream, French toast, bagels, pizza, pastries, shakes, brownie sundaes, cookies and much more.   They are also one of the only spots in town with A/C!

Roots and Leaves (Kingitsarath Rd, outskirts of main part of town) – The whole family can enjoy the atmosphere here with outdoor seating that surrounds a lotus pond and shows a traditional Lao dance and music show for free.  This would only be for the families that seek a little adventure in cuisine. The menu consists of traditional Lao and Thai foods. Shows run Mon.-Sat 7-9pm.

ACTIVITIES

Traditional Arts and Ethnology Center (Setthathirath Rd, near Dara Market) – This museum is focused on exploring and educating on some of the multiple ethnic tribes living in Laos today. While the adults go on a guided tour the children are given handouts related to their age group. Fun activities range from a riddle identification worksheet to an item hunting worksheet to coloring pages. They also have a wonderful souvenir shop that has fun dolls and bags for kids.

Big Brother Mouse (Phayameungchan Rd)  – BBM is the first children’s book publishers to make books in Lao with English translations.  Not only do they create this rarity found in Lao, but they also have an outreach program that goes to schools in the countryside to give out books and create libraries. Help support their cause and stop in to buy some books to take home. They have many western classics along with traditional Lao tales. A story book in Lao and English would make for a great show and tell!  If the young traveler is old enough then you might want to stop by their open conversation time, Mon. – Sat. 9am-11am. Allow them to communicate with other Lao students wishing to improve their English speaking abilities.

Children’s Cultural Center (Sisavangvong Rd, near Hmong Market) – Young Lao students come here after school (4pm) to engage in supervised activities like games, song, dance, etc. Bring your young ones by to have a look or join in the fun. There is also an US funded library that they might be interested in checking out.

Swimming – If your hotel does not have a swimming pool, we can recommend you taking a trip to Villa Santi Resort or Paradise Resort to soak in the sun. Give the office a call and we can help to arrange this for you.

Old Stadium (Deun That Luang) – Throughout the year a traveling fair comes through Luang Prabang. They have a big bouncy room and slider, carnival games and bumper cars. If interested, ask your guide or contact the office and we will see if it’s in town.

Peninsula Beach– In the winter season (Oct-April), when the water levels are down in the rivers, there is a bamboo bridge at the tip of the peninsula from the main part of town to across the Nam Khan River. Once you cross you will find a beach area where the Nam Khan and Mekong meet. It is a great spot for kids to run around, dip their feet in the water and watch the sunset.… Read more »