FREE BOOK - The Laotian Cook: Traditional Recipes From Northern Laos

Title:  The Laotian Cook:  Traditional Recipes From Northern Laos - With voices from the smallholder farmers supported by IFAD and GAFSP-funded projects
By:  Camilla Zanzanaini and Ritik Joshi
Lao translation by:  Vinata Sayavong
Publisher, Year:  International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), 2023
Cost:  FREE (download links below)

Image:  Book cover

This book truly does a great deal.  It beautifully encompasses promoting Lao food, the farmers, and IFAD's programs - all in one.

Blue Chair - the Luang Prabang film festival returned in 2024

In December 2-9, 2024, Luang Prabang saw the return of its film festival, which had been renamed Blue Chair Film Festival 2 years ago.  At the beginning of 2024, we wrote about our hopes that it would return and thankfully it did.

Explosion rocks Nami village in Oudomxay - see the explosion and the aftermath

The number of casualties are still to be fully confirmed but most sources are reporting at least one  person is dead and several injured.  The explosion took place in Ban Nami, Muang Xay, Oudomxay province.  Here's a video of the explosion.

Source:  ອ.ອ້າຍນຸ ຄົນໂຕດຳ via Facebook, February 14, 2025

A Lao tradition - the blessing of the home

Source:  Lao Heritage Trails, 2022

In Laos, there are many spiritual ceremonies for all sorts of life events and they often intertwine animism with Buddhism.  One of those rituals is the blessing of the home which is typically done when you move into a new home or are about to build a new one.  Have a look.

Lao Food Festival 2025 in Vientiane

Source:  PadupDin, January 23, 2025

From January 22-26, Vientiane again hosted the Lao Food Festival.  An exciting event for all the foodies out there.  And it was free to attend!

The Fascinating Cuisine of Laos: From Sticky Rice to Mekong Stingrays

Source:  OTR Food & History, January 29, 2025

Take a deep dive into Lao food intertwined with history, culture, and travel from this awesome Youtube channel, OTR Food & History.

The Race to Save Luang Prabang: A Battle Between Progress and Preservation

Source:  Robloak (August 3, 2024)

Luang Prabang became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.  However, development, investors and an influx of tourists are reshaping the town.  It's now at risk of losing its title and being delisted.  Have a look to see why that is.