Pak Ou Caves

According to the village elders of Ban Pak Ou, the people living here now were originally from Nong Sae Kingdom in China who moved down to live along the bank of the Mekong River. There have been scattered settlements in this area for more than 800 years. When they arrived in this area they saw rich natural resources which were suitable for their livelihood. It was located at the confluence of the two rivers – the Mekong and the Ou River. The inhabitants built their homes to reside here and named this place “Xua District or Champa District”. It is said that historic documents mention that prior to the immigrants from Nong Sae, the original settlement of the ethnic group here can be dated back to a Khmu ethnic group from the 13th century. Currently, Ban Pak Ou is one of the villages with tourism potential in the Pak Ou District. It is about 25 kilometers north of Luang Prabang District along Road No.13. Pak Ou is adjacent to the Ou River to the north, Xang Hai village to the south, agricultural area to the east and the Mekong River to the west. The people in this village’s main jobs are animal breeding and making a living from the banks of the Mekong and Ou Rivers. In Ban Pak Ou, there is a house built in 1930 with historical associations with important religious rituals. For example, during the Lao New Year festival, Nang Sangkan (Miss Luang Prabang) has to throw water at the Buddha statues and make a sand stupa, which is a ritual performed by the Kings in ancient times. In addition, Ban Pak Ou is also known for the Pak Ou Buddha Cave and Ane Cliff, which are popular attractions amongst tourists in the region.