An event titled “Cycling to Promote Culture” and the second “Oh!! Luang Prabang Simply Beautiful” Exhibition: Lad Xang Khong – Luang Prabang Rice Culture and Art Exhibit took place over the weekend to highlight the city’s cultural attractions.

The Cycling to Promote Culture event was part of activities to promote Luang Prabang’s cultural heritage, mark the 29th anniversary of the inscription of the town’s old quarter as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and part of the Visit Laos Year 2024 programme.

Local government officials and tourism business operators took to bicycles to raise public awareness of the need to reduce environmental pollution and preserve Luang Prabang’s traditional and cultural heritage.

The cycle ride was organised in conjunction with the second “Oh!! Luang Prabang Simply Beautiful” exhibition at the Teahouse in Xang Khong village, which was the final destination of the cycling event.

The “Oh!! Luang Prabang Simply Beautiful” exhibition took place on Saturday and Sunday and included stalls selling local food and handicrafts, as well as stage performances.

The cycle ride was led by the Deputy Governor of Luang Prabang province, Ms Siliphone Souphanthong, Director General of the Luang Prabang provincial Information, Culture and Tourism Department, Dr Soudaphone Khomthavong; Director General of the Tourism Development Department, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mrs Phonemaly Inthaphome; and other notable figures.

Dr Soudaphone said, “We organised this event to highlight the tradition of cycling and other aspects of Lao culture so as to attract more tourists to this beautiful town.”

“We especially wanted to feature the traditional lifestyle of the people of Luang Prabang province and their strong connection to rice cultivation and the many products that are made from rice.”

“We also wanted to teach local people about the importance of preserving these traditions and the area’s cultural heritage so they are preserved for many years to come.”

The Cycling to Promote Culture and the “Oh!! Luang Prabang Simply Beautiful” Exhibition: Lad Xang Khong – Luang Prabang Rice Culture and Art Exhibit are among the main activities on the Visit Laos Year 2024 calendar, Dr Soudaphone said.

Ms Siliphone said the exhibition was an important tourist draw while also serving to publicise the province’s products and crafts.

Luang Prabang is one of the most well-known provinces in Laos and attracts tourists from around the world because of its riverside location, old temples, quaint streets and alleyways, and colourful festivals.

The town’s old quarter was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1995 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), which determined that its architecture was culturally significant and worthy of preservation.

Popular attractions in and around the provincial capital include the Phu Si stupa, the Sae and Kuangxi waterfalls, and the large night market in the town centre.

The province currently has 228 registered tourist sites, 123 tour companies, 384 restaurants, 58 entertainment venues, 41 massage parlours and spas, 196 tour guides, 116 resorts and 435 guesthouses, and accommodates an average of 11,280 tourists each day.

Over 1.9 million Lao and foreign visitors vacationed in Luang Prabang in the first 11 months of this year, an increase of more than one million compared to the same period last year and generating over US$1 billion in revenue.