Contact UsTop 10 Must-Visit National Museums in Laos for History Enthusiasts
Traveling is always an amazing experience and if you have a passion for history or you just like to discover the culture of the country Laos is what you need. The country boasts of having many museums that showcase the best of the country’s history from the ancient world to the current day fight and achievements. For art lovers, traditional lovers, or history buffs, Laos has a wide variety of National Museums in Laos to visit. All the museums have their history, and they should be of interest to anyone interested in the essence of this wonderful Southeast Asian country.
Planning a Laos’s tour? You’re in for a treat! It will help you know more about the rich history of Laos if you pay a visit to the national museums. Apart from being cultural museums, these museums also present the country’s spiritual and cultural evolution through time. If you are walking around the Laos tour package that you have chosen or are going on your own, do not forget to visit these top 10 national museums in Laos for an unforgettable experience. Now let’s take a closer look at the museums that every history enthusiast should visit.
Here are the Top 10 Must-Visit National Museums in Laos for History Enthusiasts
1. Lao National Museum – Vientiane
The Lao National Museum is the largest and most important museum in Laos and is situated in the center of the country’s capital city of Vientiane. It provides a comprehensive account of the regional history from prehistoric times up to the revolutionary period in the twentieth century in Laos. Some of the items displayed in the museum are, tools used by early man, sculpture, and other items that were brought by the French during colonization. Tourists can get familiar with the traditional life of the Lao people, their customs and traditions, and the historical significance of Laos.
2. COPE Visitor Centre – Vientiane
Technically not a national museum, the COPE Visitor Centre in Vientiane is one of the most important destinations where tourists get to learn about the problem of unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Laos. The center is focused on spreading the information about the UXO issue that was left after the Vietnam War. As the COPE Visitor Centre offers exhibits concerning the threat of these bombs and the current activities to remove the affected territories, it is an important place for history enthusiasts who want to learn more about the difficult period in Laos’ history.
3. The Royal Museum – Luang Prabang
The Royal Museum is situated in the Lao’s ancient town of Luang Prabang and was the royal palace of the Kingdom of Laos before becoming the current museum of the country’s royalty. It displays a fine display of the Lao monarchy such as the royal clothes, crowns, chairs, and other royal items. People can go into former palace rooms which are tastefully painted with historical paintings and other royal artifacts which give the visitors a feeling of how the Laos royalty once lived.
4. The Museum of Ethnology – Vientiane
Anyone interested in the cultures of Laos should visit the Museum of Ethnology located in Vientiane. This museum presents detailed information about the ethnic groups of people of Laos. And their way of life through the use of customs, and artifacts such as clothes, tools, and musical instruments. It is a great place for anyone who wants to learn more about cultural and anthropological heritage.
5. Wat Phou Archaeological Museum – Champasak
Located close to the temple complex of Wat Phou in Champasak province, the Wat Phou Archaeological Museum is a storehouse of Khmer antiquity. The museum has a fine collection of stone-carved figures, sculptures, and pottery that belong to the 5th century. The Wat Phou temple and its history and importance in ancient Southeast Asia can be studied by the visitors. This is a must-visit museum for anyone who wants to learn about the archaeological past of this area.
6. Savannakhet Museum – Savannakhet
This is a museum located in Savannakhet that provides a glimpse of Lao’s colonial history, especially the French colonialism period. The museum has old photographs, documents, and artifacts from the time of French colonization of the central region. That way, visitors will be in a position to learn on how Laos related with its colonial masters and how this affected the Lao culture and politics. The Savannakhet Museum is an excellent place to visit for this relatively unknown part of Laos’ history.
7. Xieng Khouang Museum – Phonsavan
The Xieng Khouang Museum is of historical and cultural interest and is situated in Phonsavan. Featuring the Plain of Jars, this museum offers the tourist more insights into the importance of these stone jars. The museum has an extensive collection of both ancient and contemporary Lao artifacts that provide a good historical perspective of the country. It is a place that should be visited particularly by those who are fascinated by the history of the region and the mysterious past of the Xieng Khouang province.
8. Luang Namtha Museum – Luang Namtha
For anyone who will be visiting northern Laos, the Luang Namtha Museum provides an insight into the ethnological richness of the area as well as its geographical location at the crossroads of ancient trading routes. The museum has cultural and historical relics that capture the social history of the indigenous people of Luang Namtha and the importance of the area in the trade between China and Southeast Asia. The displays give rich insights into the ethnic complexity of the area. And its past role in the regional system of commerce in Southeast Asia.
9. The Museum of Lao Currency – Vientiane.
Situated in the capital city of Laos, Vientiane, the Museum of Lao Currency gives an interesting insight into the history of money in Laos. Some of the exhibits are banknotes, coins. And other means of payment that are out of circulation, some of which were in use during the French colonial rule. Hence it is a good source of information on the economic history of Laos and the development of its monetary system. Whether you are an economics geek or just have a fascination with the history of money, this museum provides a good look into the money history of Laos.
10. Pha That Luang Museum – Vientiane
The museum at Pha That Luang – one of the most recognizable symbols of Laos – presents the history and cultural functions of the monument. The museum has statues, sculptures. And religious articles or artifacts that depict the history of the temple in Lao and Buddhism. It is one of the cultural sites which depict the strong cultural relationship between Buddhism and the Lao people.
Conclusion:
The visit to the national museums in Laos is a wonderful chance to discover the history, traditions. And legacy of this marvelous South-Eastern country. These museums include temples. And artifacts of the ancient Lao kingdom, the Vietnam War, and the impact of colonialism in Laos. Both the Lao National Museum in Vientiane and Wat Phou Archaeological Museum in Champasak present a different facet of Lao history, which makes them interesting for history lovers.
If you are planning your Laos tour these museums should not be missed by any chance. Not only will you learn more about the multicultural country of Laos. Through the artifacts and histories, you will feel the heart of the country. The visit of these museums during a Laos tour package guarantees a balanced view of Laos’ history. Regardless of whether you want to learn about the historical past of the country or the present-day challenges that Laos faces. You will have a chance to recall the visit to the museums of Laos and gain more profound impressions.
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