Ban Muang Keo
Loatian cottage industry on the Mekong River

   



Earthenware jars for the preparation of lao-lao, the Lao whisky at Ban Muang Keo.


Your base for this tourist attraction is the Unesco World Heritage town of Luang Prabang, Laos. For tourist information about Luang Prabang, go to Luang Prabang Travel Guide. To prepare for a trip to Laos, read also the Laos Travel Guide. Looking for budget accommodation there? Use AsiaExplorers Budget Accommodation Guide, the no-frills website to cover your budget accommodation needs.


Ban Muang Keo Travel Info

Ban Muang Keo is a small village by the bank of the Mekong River on the way to the Pak Ou Caves. When I explored Laos with a group of AsiaExplorers members, we stopped by Ban Muang Keo for a short visit..

Ban Muang Keo is one of the two villages along the Mekong that is famous for producing lao-lao, the Laotian whisky which is the local moonshine rice wine. Earthenware jars are covered over a period with water and rice, so that the rice ferments to produce the liquor. The other village with a similar cottage industry is Ban Xang Hai, translated as Jar Maker Village.

At Ban Muang Keo, we were given an explanation - which was very much lost in translation - about how lao-lao was distilled. I must honestly say that I wasn't paying too much attention, as I was busy taking photographs of the surroundings. I find the rustic architecture of the village sheds extremely charming.

In addition to lao-lao, Ban Muang Keo also has a thriving weaving industry. Looms were woven into fabric with local patterns. These hand-made textile is sold to the tourists that stream through Ban Muang Keo.



Jars for making lao-lao, the Laotian whisky.



Textile are offered for sale.



A traditional Laotian cottage.



A Laotian villager lighting a fire.



Elderly Laotian woman on the steps of her home.



Young Laotian boy at Ban Muang Keo.






















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How much have you explored Laos? Through AsiaExplorers, you can now explore these places in Laos from the comfort of your desk: Laos, Luang Prabang (Ban Muang Keo, Ban Pak Ou, Haw Kham, Luang Prabang Royal Palace Museum, Haw Pha Bang Chapel, Kiu Kacham @ Kiou Kacham, Kuang Si Waterfall, Laotian Cottage Industries, Mount Phousi, Namphou Square, Pak Ou Caves, Wat Aphai, Wat Ban Pak Ou, Wat Chom Phet, Wat Chom Si, Wat Choum Khong, Wat Hosian, Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham, Wat Meunna, Wat Monorom, Wat Nong Sikhounmuang, Wat On, Wat Paa Khaa, Wat Pa Khe, Wat Pa Phai, Wat Pak Huak, Wat Pak Khan, Wat Phan Luang, Wat Phonesaat, Wat Phone Xai, Wat Phra Bat Tai, Wat Phra Phome Phao Santi Chedi, Wat Sensoukharam, Wat Siri Moung Khoung, Wat Sop, Wat Souvanna Khiri, Wat Tao Hai, Wat Tham Phu Si, Wat That, Wat That Luang, Wat Wisunalat (Wat Vixoun), Wat Xieng Mouane, Wat Xieng Thong (Monastery of the Golden City), Mekong River, Phou Khoun). Vientiane (Buddha Park (Xieng Khuan), Ho Phra Keo, Patuxai, Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge (Mittaphap Bridge), That Luang, Wat Si Saket), Xieng Khouang (Phonsavan, Plain of Jars, Plain of Jars Site 1: Thong Hai Hin, Plain of Jars Site 2: Hai Hin Phu Salato, Plain of Jars Site 3: Hai Hin Laat Khai)

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