Volunteer Laos: Luang Prabang

Travel to Teach is located in the small UNESCO World heritage site of Luang Prabang. Surrounded by the typical Laos hilly and mountainous terrain, and situated on the banks of both the Nam Song river and the Mekong river, the landscape is absolutely breathtaking. The scenery, combined with the old colonial French architecture and mixed with the beautiful Buddhist Temples makes Luang Prabang an easy town to fall in love with.

Travel to Teach's volunteer program is based in the main town’s library which is shared with one of the schools.

Volunteer Projects in Luang Prabang

Teaching Conversational English and reogranising of the library

The library is set within the grounds of one of Luang Prabang’s largest secondary schools about 2 kilometers outside of the city center and a 5-10 minute bicycle ride from the volunteer accommodation.

The library is situated in the grounds of the Santipub high school which is Luang Prabang's largest school and is used by it's students as well as students from other surrounding schools. The library is under the jurisdiction of the National Libraries of Laos and is supported by us as well as a sister NGO.

Up until recently books were not been seen to be important to the Laos education system so it is only in recent years that there has been a revival within this area.

This project needs volunteers to help with a variety of tasks including volunteer English teachers, computer teachers, a computer repair instructor, and librarians.

The library contains 4 computers which were recently donated, a number of word games such as Boggle, Scrabble, a CD player and a mixture of around 300-400 books in various states of repair.

This is a unique venture where any input by the volunteers will be greatly appreciated. Volunteers will be expected to reorganize

There is also the opportunity for volunteers to get involved in teaching general computer skills and to help the Laos students with their Learn English computer Program.

Photo Gallery: Luang Prabang

Standing Buddha at Wat Xiengthon

Traditional Laos dancing

Santiphub Library

Students at Santiphub Library

Somsouk at Santiphub Library

Somsouk at Santiphub Library

More Luang Prabang images.

General Luang Prabang Info

Where Will I Stay?

Volunteers will stay in a family run guesthouse.

This Laos guesthouse was one of the first guest houses in this area. The owners, Sy and Somphone are very friendly hosts, and their manner is typical of the Laos style of hospitality, offering free water and bananas and sharing their food with you at every possible opportunity.

The rooms in the guest house are comfortable and equipped with fans and have en-suite bathrooms with electric hot water showers and western style toilets. There is a simple but well equipped kitchen where volunteers can keep some small essentials in the fridge, there is also a menu where the volunteers can order food from the family and they will cook for them (meals costs between US$2-US$4) .The kitchen is also equipped with an automatic washing machine where volunteers can do their own washing for just over US$1 per kilo.

The guest house is a short ten minute walk away from the shops where you can buy most every day essentials and also from the library where you will work. Popular bars and restaurants are only a 5 minute walk away from the Guesthouse. There are internet cafe’s within the town center that cost just over US$1 per hour for access. Should volunteers wish to rent a bicycle this is a most effective way of getting around town and costs only US$2 a day to rent from our in-country coordinator. Once our bikes are paid off we donate them to the children from the surrounding villages.

Food

There are many Western and Laos restaurants around the town with prices varying from US$2 to US$20.

There is a great food market only ten minutes walk away from your accommodation, and a nightly all you can eat vegetarian street buffet for just US$0.75 (€0.50)! .

Weather

There are many Western and Laos restaurants around the town with prices varying from US$2 to US$20.

There is a great food market only ten minutes walk away from your accommodation, and a nightly all you can eat vegetarian street buffet for just US$0.75 (€0.50)!

Free Time

There are several excursions available within the surrounding area including kayaking, white water rafting, visits to beautiful waterfalls and elephant trekking.

Where Is?/ Getting To Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang is situated 425km north of the Laos capital Vientiane along the Mekong river.

By far the easiest way to get to Luang Prabang is by air. Thailand's Bangkok Airways flies almost daily from Bangkok to Luang Prabang. For domestic air travel, Lao Aviation is the only carrier, and fly’s to Luang Prabang from both Vientiane and Phonsavan.

There are regular VIP buses (coaches with toilets) that run between Vientiane and Luang Prabang costing 100.000-125000 kip (US$12- US$15) please note this bus takes a minimum of 9 hours. There are also regular buses that run between Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang.

Boats up and down the Mekong are an increasingly popular mode of travel. You can travel downriver from Thailand to Luang Prabang as well as upriver from Vientiane. Although speedboats can make the trip from the Thai border in just a few hours, this is probably a trip best taken slowly. Various operators offer two and three day cruises between Chiang Kong in Thailand and Luang Prabang.