Bamboo Bridges of Luang Prabang

[reader]

From Atlas Obscura

Luang Prabang was named a UNESCO world heritage site for its well-preserved French colonial architecture, but its true charms spring from the Lao culture. The streets are filled with Saffron-robed monks, local handicrafts, Buddhist temples, and hawker stalls selling river fish and sticky rice. Visitors flock to the old town’s famous Sai Bat almsgiving—a daily tradition unbroken for hundreds of years, but those who go wandering after the ceremony might discover a new tradition a short walk away—the seasonal bamboo bridges across the Nam Khan River.

The Nam Khan winds through Luang Prabang before joining the wide Mekong, and during the rainy season residents and visitors use shuttle boats or the Old French Bridge to cross the swollen river. But when the dry season comes along, quicker and more charming options arise—two narrow bamboo bridges. In 2006, a local family erected the twin bridges for the first time and they’ve kept the practice going every November since. Although the bridges are designed primarily for tourist use, the construction is very traditional. Each bridge is made entirely of bamboo and rope (except for the lights), and though they might look (and feel) wobbly, they’re actually quite strong. They rely on bamboo’s natural strength and building techniques employed by Laos for generations. The bridges span the Nam Kahn until rainy season, when they are dismantled until the next year.

The larger bridge, set at the picturesque bend of the Nam Khan just as it reaches the Mekong, connects Luang Prabang with two villages noted for their artisans—the weaver’s village of Ban Xieng Lek and the paper-making village of Ban Xiang Khong.

The smaller bridge is slightly upstream and connects the old city to the newer side of town, as well as to restaurants and craft shops overlooking the river. This side arguably has the best view; visitors who take the bridge to the Dyen Sabai restaurant at sunset are in for a beautiful view of the fleeting bamboo structure.

The larger bridge can be found at the bottom of the path starting below the Riverpoint Cafe on Khem Khong road. The smaller bridge extends from the old steps leading down from Wat Siphoutthabath on Kingkitsarath Road. Make sure you check with a hotel or tour guide if planning a visit to include the bridges; their presence follows the whims of the river. Note that traversing the bridges is not free. Tickets are sold at small booths on the old town side of each bridge. Passage costs 10,000 Kip (about sixty cents U.S.) for a round trip ticket. It’s a pittance well-spent — the money goes to the families who build and maintain the bridges.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/bamboo-bridges-of-luang-prabang

[PeterRS]

I visited Luang Prabang before the bridges were built. It is a glorious town (it seems too small to be a city) and well worth a visit. Just walking around there seemed to be quite a few gay guys when I was there. Sitting by the river late one afternoon, a cute young guy wandered over to my table and said his equally cute young friend fancied me! Sadly I was leaving for Bangkok in 30 minutes.

[xpaulo]

I was there about 15 years ago and loved it. Despite the many western tourists, it had a tranquility about it and didn't feel overrun or any less authentic. There was an outdoor food stall that sold big bowls of rice and veggies every evening for about 50 cents. The bánh mì sold on the streets was fantastic. A list of tips for tourists posted on the street said giving a donation to the monks during the almsgiving should include at least a bit of a sacrifice to mean something so buying a little bag of cooked rice from the women selling it on the street doesn't count. Instead, I gave one of the monks enough cash to make me think twice about it. I was pretty much broke at the time so it wasn't much. A couple of the women selling rice noticed however and it was like I had stolen that money out of their pockets. They were furious. I should bought some of the rice from them too. It's one of the places I've been to in my life that I remember more than most. Also in Laos, the drunken tube float on the river at Vang Vieng. I gave my wallet and passport to a Canadian woman to carry in her drybag and somehow we found each other at the end. I was going as fast as I could on the tube, and as a good looking young British guy passed me, I told him I was trying to find a Canadian woman with my wallet and he replied, I'm trying to get away from the woman I slept with last night. Ah, straight men, how can their casual cruelty be so hot at the same.  A little kid had to help me out of the tube at the end because I was too drunk to do it. He noticed I gave him all of the cash in my wallet and he made me take some back because he knew I would need it for the taxi back to town. What a day that was.

[vinapu]

I was just there last month, attached are pictures of the bamboo bridge in question , that' s the one closer to Old City. Yes , admission 10000. Sandal is mine.

Full report from Luang Prabang is coming up soon  so check this space if you care