National Museum

• + National Museum Open daily: 08:00AM – 11:30AM and 13:00PM – 15:30PM (They close for cleaning on Thursday at the end of every month)
  Counter ticket: 08:00AM – 11:00AM and 13:00PM – 15:00PM
• Entrance fee: Laotian 10,000kip/person; Foreigner 60,000kip/person.
• +Pha Lak & Pha Lam Theatre Open on Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Satauday: 18:00pm from October to February / 18:30pm from March to SeptemberCounter ticket: start from 08:00am until 18:00pm.
  Entrance fee: there are 3 different price depends on the row seat; start from 100,000kip, 120,000kip and 150,000 kip/person

• Located on the main street, it takes about 5 minutes walk from Tourism Information Center.

King Sisavangvong died in 1959 and was succeeded by his son, Sisavang Wathana. For the coronation ceremony, the crown prince enlarged the throne room by adding two equal-sized rooms, One on each side. He commissioned a mosaic decoration on the interior walls and modernized the whole compound. The latter included rearrangement of the partition walls in the residence area, installation of new ceilings, renovation of electrical installations, and the construction of a new building for large receptions.

However, the establishment of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic on 2 December 1975 prevented the coronation from taking place. The king abdicated and was appointed Supreme adviser to the president. On his return to Luang Prabang he moved to his private residence close to Xiengthong temple and offered that the palace could be converted into a national museum, the main aims of which are to preserve the palace and the royal collection and inform the public of the history of the former monarchy.

Today, the National Museum is among the best places to learn about the history of Luang Prabang.

The Prabang has been a chief source of spiritual protection for Lao since it was brought from Cambodia in the 14th century. According to legend it was made from pure gold In India, and then presented to the king of Sri Lanka and subsequently to the king of Cambodia. Eventually, king Fa Ngum, founder of the kingdom of Lane Xang, obtained it through his wife, who was a daughter of the king of Cambodia.

The Prabang is now housed in a temple in the right hand corner of the palace grounds on entering the main gate. The room contains stone statues of Buddha from 12th century, among offerings and other objects associated with the Prabang.

History of Tradtional Dance Performance (Phralak Phralam)

One of the best places to see traditional dance in Laos is at the Phralak Phralam Theatre on the grounds of the National Museum. There, four times a week, dancers, accompanied by a live orchestra, peroform the episodes of the Ramakien, or the Lao Ramayana.

The Ramayana, popular throughout South and Southeast Asia, was first brought to Luang Prabang centuries ago by Buddhist missions. Since that time, the story has taken on a distinctively Lao style and is most popular in dance. The long traditions of the music and the performance persisted through the 20th century in Laos, as dancers, musicians, and artists continued to play the scenes outdoors on a variety of special occasions and as a part of annual Pi Mai (Lao new year) celebrations.

In 2003, the Phralak Phralam Theatre was established by the Lao PDR with the cooperation and support of the international community, ensuring the survival of the Lao Ramayana and giving visitors and Lao people alike the opportunity to experience this vitally important part of Lao culture.

For more information about performance schedules and the story of the Lao Ramayana, visit the Phralak Phralam website.