---
type: "Article"
title: "Well-blessed – The Baci ceremony, Luang Prabang"
description: "Justine Tyerman has an enlightening experience at the bacy ceremony at a Buddhist temple in Luang Prabang, the spiritual capital of Laos."
resource: "https://travelmemo.com/laos/buddhist-baci-ceremony-luang-prabang"
author: "Justine Tyerman"
publisher: "Travelmemo"
photo_count: 7
tags: ["Culture", "Laos"]
entities:
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/laos"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/singapore"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/culture"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/itinerary"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/culinary-tourism"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/experience-travel"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/organizations/swiss-international-air-lines"
generated: { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/tyermanj", at: 2026-07-04T13:28:47+00:00 }
sources:
  - id: photos
    resource: buddhist-baci-ceremony-luang-prabang.md#photos
    title: "Original photography by Justine Tyerman"
    author: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/tyermanj"
    last_modified: 2017-07-04
timestamp: 2026-07-04T13:28:47+00:00
---

# Well-blessed – The Baci ceremony, Luang Prabang

> Luang Prabang, the spiritual capital of Laos, is home to the Baci ceremony, a deeply moving Buddhist tradition in which monks chant blessings and local women tie sacred threads around visitors' wrists to call and bind the 32 spirits believed to protect the human body.

## Destination
Luang Prabang, Laos

## Getting there
Singapore Airlines flies from Auckland to Singapore daily, from Wellington four times weekly, and from Christchurch daily. SilkAir flies from Singapore to Luang Prabang three times weekly.

## Why visit
The Baci ceremony offers travellers a rare and intimate encounter with living Lao Buddhist tradition, combining chanting monks, handmade flower offerings, and heartfelt blessings for health, happiness, and safe travels.

## What to see
- **Wat That Luang** — Beautiful temple in Luang Prabang where the Baci ceremony was held, presided over by a splendid gold Buddha.
- **Pha Khuan** — A handmade pyramid of marigold flowers surrounded by food, placed at the centre of the Baci ceremony with white and orange threads tied to it.

## What to do
- **Baci (Sou Khuan) Ceremony** — A traditional spirit-calling ritual in which monks chant mantras and senior local women tie coloured cotton threads around participants' wrists while offering blessings.

## Good to know
Threads tied during the Baci should be kept on for at least three days and untied rather than cut when removed, to avoid severing the good wishes and allowing the spirits to wander. The pha khuan is also kept for at least three days after the ceremony.

## Photos

```yaml
photos:
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Laos-baci-ceremony-Luang-Prabang-6.jpg"
    caption: "A splendid gold Buddha smiled down serenely at the happy ceremony below him"
    keywords: ["Baci", "Buddhist", "Laos", "Luang Prabang", "Wat Tat Luang", "ceremony", "pha khuan", "sou khuan"]
    captured: 2017-06-22
    geo: {latitude: 19.883, longitude: 102.1296}
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Laos-baci-ceremony-Luang-Prabang-3.jpg"
    caption: "Our Innovative Travel-Singapore Airlines tour group at the beautiful Wat That Luang. Guide Vieng (centre), Justine (far right), hosts Bev and Christine (far left)"
    keywords: ["Baci", "Buddhist", "Justine Tyerman", "Laos", "Luang Prabang", "Wat Tat Luang", "ceremony", "pha khuan", "sou khuan"]
    captured: 2017-06-21
    geo: {latitude: 19.883, longitude: 102.1296}
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Laos-baci-ceremony-Luang-Prabang-7.jpg"
    caption: "A monk, kneeling at the foot of Buddha, lit candles and chanted a mantra"
    keywords: ["Baci", "Buddhist", "Laos", "Luang Prabang", "Wat Tat Luang", "ceremony", "pha khuan", "sou khuan"]
    captured: 2017-06-22
    geo: {latitude: 19.883, longitude: 102.1296}
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Laos-baci-ceremony-Luang-Prabang-8.jpg"
    caption: "The ladies placed a ‘pha khuan’, in the centre of the room"
    keywords: ["Baci", "Buddhist", "Laos", "Luang Prabang", "Wat Tat Luang", "ceremony", "pha khuan", "sou khuan"]
    captured: 2017-06-22
    geo: {latitude: 19.883, longitude: 102.1296}
    credit: "Picasa"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Laos-baci-ceremony-Luang-Prabang-9.jpg"
    caption: "The local Lao ladies who came to offer us blessings at Wat That Luang"
    keywords: ["Baci", "Buddhist", "Laos", "Luang Prabang", "Wat Tat Luang", "ceremony", "pha khuan", "sou khuan"]
    captured: 2017-06-22
    geo: {latitude: 19.883, longitude: 102.1296}
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Laos-baci-ceremony-Luang-Prabang-4.jpg"
    caption: "One lady in particular sought me out after the ceremony and gave me a hug"
    keywords: ["Baci", "Buddhist", "Justine Tyerman", "Laos", "Luang Prabang", "Wat Tat Luang", "ceremony", "pha khuan", "sou khuan"]
    captured: 2017-06-21
    geo: {latitude: 19.883, longitude: 102.1296}
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Laos-baci-ceremony-Luang-Prabang-10.jpg"
    caption: "The threads got a bit tatty after a few weeks but I couldn't bear to part with them"
    keywords: ["Baci", "Buddhist", "Laos", "Luang Prabang", "Wat Tat Luang", "ceremony", "pha khuan", "sou khuan"]
    captured: 2017-07-04
    geo: {latitude: 19.883, longitude: 102.1296}
```