The ritual of alms-giving ceremony (Tak Bat) is a ceremony that takes place all day at dawn when the monks get out of their temples to collect offerings from local people. This traditional ceremony is most famous in Luang Prabang – the former capital of Lane Xang, which has 33 ancient Buddhist temples in a total area of 25 ha.

Main features:

Time: Daily at 4: 30 or 5:00 AM
Location: Along all the streets
Where: Nationwide
Offerings: Sticky rice, candies, cookies, Khao Tom (sticky rice steamed inside banana leaves), milk, etc…
Alms Giving Ceremony is held at 4:30 or 5am daily morning. Women dress in traditional way, shoulder is rounded with sweat cloth and flower’s put on hair. Everyone brings food, which is prepared and laid carefully on a silver tray, or in rattan basket, sits on the roadside and wait for silent lines of saffron-clad monks walk down the streets of Luang Prabang to collect alms. The monk pass one by one in front of the devotees and the faithful at the same time, delivered the offerings with their own hands by inserting food inside the metal container that the monks carry. The ritual is done in silence; the monks walk in meditation, and the almsgivers reciprocate with respect by not disturbing the monk’s meditative peace, even when they pass already.
The ceremony is truly an important tourist attraction because of its beauty. However, this is a culture, not a show, being maintained for thousand years.  When tourists don’t know about the customs, their clumsiness can disrupt this ceremony.
Tips for traveler when attending Tak Bat:
•    Observe the ritual in silence and contribute an offering only if it is meaningful for you and can do so respectfully.
•    Please buy sticky rice at the local market earlier that morning rather than from street vendors along the monk route.
•    If you do not wish to make an offering, please keep an appropriate distance and behave respectfully. Do not get in the way of the monks’ procession or the believers offerings.
•    Do not stand too close to the monks when taking photographs; camera flashes are very disturbing for both monks and the lay people.
•    Dress appropriate: Shoulders, chests and legs should be covered.
•    Do not make physical contact with the monks.
•    Do not position yourself so your head is higher than the monks’ heads.
•    Do not make eye contact with the monks.
•    Do not touch the monks’ bowls while placing your offerings.