Ban Thapene

[1][2] Like many other upland inhabitants in Luang Prabang, the livelihood and culture of ethnic groups such as Lao Loum, Kha Hok, Yao and Hmong in Ban Thapene is dependent on natural resources.

Natural resources, notably forests play a vital role to the material and spiritual values of the ethnic groups in Ban Thapene.

[8] Ban Thapene has established its community regulation based on customary law[9] and government policies in order to preserve such livelihood and cultural sites for future generations.

Before 1994, the livelihood[3] of families in Ban Thapene was largely based on natural resources, upland farming[10][11] or rotational shifting cultivation,[12] planting wet rice, raising cows and buffalo, and collecting non-timber forest products.

[1] Besides the regular income generated from tourism services, villagers also make items, e.g., traditional brocade, clothing, baskets, and wooden arts for selling as souvenirs to tourists.