The citizens of Luang Prabang believe that many good-natured spirits have their homes in the caves. Thus they undertake short pilgrimages there on special occasions, especially traditional New Year's Day. The best way to visit the caves is by boat tour . The nature along the Mekong is absolutely beautiful, and a boat tour to Pak Ou is likely to be the most commemorable excursion from Luang Prabang. Ban Phanom Ban Phanom is a wavers' village a few kilometres east of Luang Prabang.
Visitors have the opportunity to buy local cloth.
The waterfall is about 30 kilometres from Luang Prabang, on a Mekong tributary. In the surrounding area live a number of hill tribes.