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Alms Giving Ceremony, Luang Prabang

3.4

#5 of 171 in Things to do in Luang Prabang

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In a World Heritage-listed city, you can take part in one of most sacred and ancient Lao traditions known as Alms Giving Ceremony. The ritual begins at sunrise with around 200 devotees departing from their temples and spreading out all over the city to hand out alms. Before participating in the spiritual ceremony, purchase the simple offerings of rice, traditional sweet snacks, or fresh fruit. Should you wish not to give any alms, keep an appropriate distance from the monks and behave in a respectful manner. Cover your chest, legs, and shoulders in modest clothing, and turn off the flash on your camera. Plan to visit Alms Giving Ceremony during your Luang Prabang vacation using our convenient Luang Prabang online tour itinerary planner .

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Alms Giving Ceremony Reviews

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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

4,236 reviews

Google

4.0

• By bejinda

  If you’re going to watch the alms giving procession find a quiet side street and watch from afar. In what should be a peaceful time of the day in Luang Prubang you have tuk tuks and mini vans zooming ...  more »

• By wanderingel

  In the early mornings, the monks of Luang Prabang walk single file down streets by the temples carrying bowls to collect alms. People stand on the side of the street carrying small baskets of cooked "...  more »

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Google

• By 鄒岳宏

  We visited here in February. They started the ceremony at 06:00 in the morning, finished at 06:30. You are recommended to be here 30 minutes before monks are coming. There were lot of street vendors on the sidewalk, selling alms for tourists. If you want to see the “authentic traditional” alms ceremony, you would need to seek for other streets where probably just right next to fews blocks from the night market street.

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• By Koem Rathbormey

  During summer the almsgiving starts at 5:30, while in the winter months the sun doesn’t start rising until 6:30. I recommend getting there a bit early to find a spot and spend some time watching the locals set up and prepare the food for the monks. When seated, shoes and socks must be removed with your feet tucked underneath as you observe the ceremony in absolute silence. Female attendees must keep their head lower than the monks when giving alms and they must not talk to or touch the monks at any time, even when making an offering.

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