Lao Pottery House, based in Luang Prabang, is on a mission to inspire the younger generation to engage in a 400-year-old craft. 

After a very long sleeper bus from Chiang Rai, my partner and I finally arrived in Luang Prabang on a balmy morning. A (half-asleep) stroll through the streets took us to Lao Pottery House, a lovely little cafe and shop that advertised trips to a local pottery village. Having little knowledge of pottery and eager to get to know the communities that shape Laos’ personality, we signed up for a trip the next day. 

After a tuk tuk and a ferry over the river, we arrived at Ban Chan Nua, a village that has been working with pottery for over 400 years. It’s a beautiful place full of lush greenery and children running around.

Before we turned our focus to the pottery wheel, our guide, Thiem, showed us around the village where we met the six pottery families still dedicating themselves to the ancient craft. We were able to buy crafts from them and saw the immense kiln the families take turns using to fire the pottery they make. 

We sat and watched as husband and wife, parent and child, manipulated clay to create beautiful lanterns and vases. It was amazing to see a community performing a centuries-old craft in real time. 

Thiem explained that in recent years young people have begun to lose interest in their ancestral craft and have been leaving the village to pursue other opportunities (particularly with the railway now connecting Laos to China).

This is where Lao Pottery House comes in. The Lamphet family opened the centre in November 2025 with the hope that welcoming tourists and employing young people from the village would inspire the younger generation to preserve their village’s traditions. 

One tour, a couple of dodgy vases made, and a delicious Laotian lunch later, I was besotted with the place. After just one day, I saw a glimpse of how deeply Laotian people value community and tradition. I also learnt how they are adapting to growing tourism whilst trying to preserve their way of life.

The sleeper bus felt a long way away, and I felt a profound gratitude to people like the Lamphet family who trust us enough to share their culture with us. I hope they will be there for many years to come.