galeforce
newbie
Posts: 1

#1 Posted: 15/5/2008 - 19:39


I am planning a trip to Laos and Vietnam in September 08. Does anyone know any buddhist monasteries in Laos (preferrably) or Vietnam that offer accommodation and/or meditation retreats for lay people?

wanderingcat
noodle lady
Posts: 47

#2 Posted: 18/5/2008 - 10:32


don't know of any Lao monasteries that offer accommodation to tourists.

for meditation, Wat Sok Pa Luang in Vientiane has short sessions for foreigners by English-speaking monks on Saturday afternoons. think that's the closest thing Laos has to the type of meditation retreats for non-locals offered in Chiangmai & Northeast Thailand.

for longer retreats, you'll hafta ask around in Vientiane (there's a Wat that has meditation instructors but i cannot recall the name, maybe starts with 'N') or Luang Prabang. but can you speak Lao? the retreats that i know of are meant for training Lao monks & novices, not laymen.

agarlao
newbie
Posts: 4

#3 Posted: 19/6/2008 - 08:25


Your best bet is Wat Pah Nakoon Noi outside Vientiane. This is the main forest monastery in Laos and oversees Wat Sok Pah Luang mentioned above. Several foreigners have spent time there, mainly French. Some of the monks who live in the monastery speak English and are very experienced in teaching meditation. If you need any help, contact me at agarlao@yahoo.com.