2026 – 2028 · Luang Prabang, Laos

Vocational training in French for tourism

A lasting bridge between training, internships and jobs in French-speaking tourism in Luang Prabang.

Support the program

The project at a glance

Building a lasting bridge between training, internships and jobs

The program runs from September 2026 to August 2028 in Luang Prabang, led by NK Seeds.

17

Young Lao people in training

2

Years of study

25 h

Of intensive training per week

1 850 h

Over the whole program

Classes start

September 14, 2026

Per year

About 725 h of teaching + 200 h of internship, i.e. 925 h a year

Alongside

Internships, study visits and work placements

Why we created this program

Education support that goes all the way

In Luang Prabang, tourism offers many career opportunities, not least with French-speaking visitors. Yet there is no training anywhere that is specifically dedicated to French applied to tourism jobs, bringing together the language, professional skills and hands-on experience.

This program was created to answer that need: to prepare young Lao people from modest backgrounds to really get into French-speaking tourism jobs.

An identified need

Suitable training, which does not exist in the area today.

A complete approach

French + tourism + professional skills + fieldwork.

A concrete goal

To train young people who are directly employable in the tourism sector.

Getting into education does not on its own guarantee a quick route into work. This program extends our education support with concrete preparation for employment.

The context

Luang Prabang, a fast-growing tourism market

2.3 M

2024

3.5 M

2025

Growth of nearly 52%

In a single year, visitor numbers in Luang Prabang grew by about 52%, from around 2.3 million visitors in 2024 to around 3.5 million in 2025.

That rapid growth increases the need for reception, booking, support, guiding and communication with demanding international visitors.

An expanding market creates real openings for trained professionals.

France, the 5th largest foreign tourism market in 2024

Out of 1,551,334 foreign visitors recorded in 2024, France ranks 5th among source markets. Nearly 90,500 French visitors in a single year create a real need for professionals able to welcome, inform and guide demanding French-speaking visitors.

90 499

French visitors to Luang Prabang in 2024

China — 459,297

Thailand — 175,575

South Korea — 151,189

United States — 113,164

France — 90,499

Source: Laotian Times, May 28, 2026 — figures presented by the provincial authorities of Luang Prabang.

The local economy

More than 1,000 tourism businesses

123

Agencies and tour operators

116

Hotels and resorts

435

Guesthouses

384

Restaurants

1 058

Businesses recorded in these four categories

An estimate reported by KPL: around 80% of residents are said to depend on tourism, directly or indirectly.

17 students for a pool of more than 1,000 businesses

The first cohort has 17 students, for a local economy of more than 1,000 businesses in the main tourism categories recorded at the end of 2024 in the province of Luang Prabang.

Source: Luang Prabang Provincial Information, Culture and Tourism Department, end-2024 figures, quoted by Vientiane Times, January 2025.

The need

A recognized shortage of French-speaking skills

“Luang Prabang is the leading tourist destination in Laos, but there are far too few French-speaking tour guides to meet demand.”

Agence universitaire de la Francophonie, February 2026

A need confirmed from outside

This is not just what NK Seeds sees. It is stated by an institution outside the project, the Agence universitaire de la Francophonie, which gives it independent weight and strengthens the case for the program.

An economic and cultural issue

Demand for guiding and support in French outstrips what is available. Training new French-speaking tourism professionals answers a real economic need, documented by a recognized institution of the international French-speaking world.

In the words of professionals

A need confirmed on the ground

According to Charly Renaudin, managing director of ORLA Tours, a travel agency based in Luang Prabang, Laos as a destination grows more popular with the French market every year.

“We receive more and more travel inquiries from French visitors. At the same time, though, the sector loses French-speaking guides every year, largely because the profession is aging. There is almost no new generation coming through today — not, to my mind, for lack of ambition, but above all for lack of training and support.

Training new guides is therefore essential. Speaking French is not enough on its own to make a good guide: the job also calls for knowledge, technique and real craft, which the right training can give.”

Charly Renaudin, managing director of ORLA Tours

Generational renewal

Not enough French-speaking guides

73

French-speaking guides active in Laos

53 years

Estimated average age

70%

Are 50 or older

14%

Are under 40

Figures gathered from the guides’ association identified 73 French-speaking guides and allowed their age distribution to be analyzed. Nearly 7 French-speaking guides out of 10 are 50 or older, against only 14% under 40.

In the words of Valounsopha, lead teacher — former French-speaking guide, close to 10 years of experience

“In high season I worked almost every day and regularly had to turn tours down because I was not available.

That is why I wanted to put myself into this program: we need to train a new generation of French-speaking guides.

Training these young people answers a real need in the sector, but it also keeps the French language alive here, gives value to our heritage and creates new career opportunities in Laos.”

Source: figures gathered from the guides’ association and consolidated by NK Seeds, 2026. The average age is estimated from the available age brackets.

The ecosystem

A French-speaking ecosystem to draw on

1 550

French nationals on the consular register in Laos in 2026

95

French nationals registered in Luang Prabang in 2026

Consular registration is voluntary. These figures do not cover the whole French community present in Laos.

The CCIFL, a strategic partner

With its new office in Luang Prabang and its network of French and French-speaking companies, the CCIFL is a strategic partner for strengthening the link between training and employment. NK Seeds wants to work with it to build a program as close as possible to what companies actually need, and to help students into work.

Identify what companies need and which skills they look for
Draw on the professional network: meetings, visits and talks
Develop placements and internships within partner companies
Help students into work and put them in touch with employers

Source: Embassy of France in Laos — consular register figures provided in 2026.

Where the program sits

A program that complements what already exists

Several universities in Laos offer courses in foreign languages or in tourism. Those courses remain mainly oriented towards English. French applied to tourism jobs is still barely developed.

Souphanouvong University is also looking at offering an optional module in French for tourism from 2026. That initiative has yet to be confirmed, but it shows the growing interest in French-speaking skills in the tourism sector.

Where NK Seeds stands

Not to replace the university
Not to compete with what already exists
To offer a complementary, intensive course
To combine French, tourism, digital skills, AI and fieldwork
To create a direct link with the realities of the sector

Source: Agence universitaire de la Francophonie

Where it leads

17 young people prepared for several jobs

17 young Lao people, mostly from rural areas, will be supported for two years. They will be trained to welcome and communicate with French-speaking visitors, while building the skills they need to make their way in a multicultural working environment.

Guiding and excursions

French-speaking tour guide, assistant guide, tour leader, excursion operator.

Reception and accommodation

Front-of-house, hotels, guesthouses, customer relations and booking.

Agencies and services

Travel agency adviser, booking staff, tour operators.

Culture and heritage

Cultural and heritage organizations, any tourism role that uses French.

The curriculum

Three strands over 25 hours of training a week

Strand 1 — French

15 hours a week

French as a foreign language: 10 h
French in practice: 5 h

Strand 2 — Tourism and professional skills

7 hours a week

General knowledge and civilization: 1 h
Introduction to tourism: 1 h
Tourism and heritage in Luang Prabang: 2 h
Professionalism and employability: 1 h
Digital skills and AI for tourism: 2 h

Strand 3 — Personal development

3 hours a week

Art and creativity: 2 h
Open module: 1 h
Running the bilingual classes and taking part in the association’s projects

Strand 1 in detail

French applied to tourism jobs

French as a foreign language — 10 h a week

Listening and reading comprehension
Speaking and writing
Spoken interaction
French applied to tourism
Communication in professional situations
Step-by-step preparation for the DELF, from A1 to B1

French in practice — 5 h a week

Conversation and exchange in small groups
Role play and simulations
Drama and spoken expression
Public speaking
Oral presentations and talks
Cultural workshops and intercultural exchange
Practicing French with French-speaking volunteers

Teaching is delivered by a Lao teacher of French, with teaching support from the Institut Français of Luang Prabang. Target: level B1 by the end of the two years.

Strand 2 in detail

Tourism, heritage and professional practice

Introduction to tourism

The history and development of tourism, the different kinds of tourism, the jobs in the sector, the major destinations, international trends, the economics, and the economic, social, cultural and environmental impacts.

Culture and civilization

UNESCO World Heritage, traditions, ways of life, cultural diversity and interculturality, the great civilizations, geography, world cultures.

Tourism and heritage in Luang Prabang

Historical and cultural heritage, visiting the sites, putting tours together, guiding technique, speaking in front of a group, reception, looking after visitors and professional simulations.

The heritage of Luang Prabang becomes a real teaching resource: the students practice directly in the setting that will be their future workplace.

Strands 2 and 3 in detail

Employability, digital skills and personal development

Professionalism and employability

Xilearn program

Self-confidence, professional communication, conduct and bearing at work
Welcoming international visitors and cultural differences
Teamwork, managing time and responsibilities
Managing a personal budget, an introduction to project management and entrepreneurship
Preparing for interviews, CVs and cover letters

Digital skills and artificial intelligence

Xilearn program

Digital skills and AI for tourism
Artificial intelligence, digital productivity and content creation
Multilingual communication: ChatGPT, DeepL
Platforms: Booking, Agoda, Airbnb
Digital marketing and social media
Canva, CapCut, Google Workspace, Microsoft Office

Art and creativity

In partnership with Pasom Pasan: painting, drawing, traditional crafts, making objects, discovering local know-how, personal expression, self-confidence and pride in Lao cultural heritage.

Employability

Skills tied directly to what employers need

What the employer needs	What the program provides	Possible jobs
Communicating with French-speaking visitors	Intensive French, spoken practice and step-by-step DELF preparation	Guiding, reception, booking, customer relations
Knowing the area and its heritage	Tourism, culture, civilization and field trips	Guiding, excursions and heritage
Professional bearing and conventions	Professionalism, employability and simulations	Agencies, hotels and tour operators
Designing and presenting tours	Guiding technique and practical work	Guides, assistant guides and inbound agencies
Digital skills	Digital skills and AI applied to tourism	Booking, communication, sales, marketing
Experience before hiring	Visits, placements and internships	Seeing the students at work before a possible hire

The journey

Training, visits, placements, internships and career openings

01

Training

Building targeted skills

02

Visits and simulations

Discovering the working world

03

Placements

Supervised practice in real settings

04

Internships

A longer spell in a company

05

Openings

Potential job prospects

NK Seeds Funds & Travel

NK Seeds Funds & Travel, a local travel agency, is a further professional setting for practicing languages, learning how tours are put together and building real experience. The first conversations with companies are still informal: offers of visits, internships or jobs have yet to be formalized.

The expertise

A program built on several kinds of expertise

NK Seeds — Overall coordination

Support and educational follow-up for the students, a Lao teacher of French, specialist contributors, textbooks and tools, a dedicated budget, a two-year grant for the students, two Service Civique volunteers and full operational management.

Institut Français of Luang Prabang

A classroom, outdoor space, language expertise, French teaching material and programs, teaching support, an institutional setting. Preparation for, and possible access to, the DELF and DALF certificates under the applicable rules.

Loire Mékong

Support in designing the curriculum, keeping the content coherent, contributions to the general knowledge and civilization modules, occasional teaching and a part in continuous assessment.

Xilearn

The Digital skills and AI for tourism program, teaching resources and digital tools. Professional conduct and entrepreneurship. A Xilearn certificate for students who complete the program under the conditions set out.

Pasom Pasan

Two hours of art workshops a week, specialist teachers, a focus on Lao art and craft, materials depending on what the center can provide.

Tourism professionals

Talks and first-hand accounts from professionals, company visits, feedback on the skills they look for, placements, internships and career prospects. Several of these collaborations are already confirmed, while others are being formalized with the partners.

Follow-up

Assessment, certificates and calendar

Assessment and the certificates envisaged

Monthly tests
End-of-term exams
Oral presentations
Practical work
Individual and group projects
Professional simulations

Certificates envisaged

DELF B1 for students who reach the required level
A Xilearn certificate under the conditions set out
An NK Seeds course certificate

Yearly calendar

September	2 weeks of classes
October	4 weeks of classes
November	4 weeks of classes
December	2 weeks of classes; 2 weeks of holiday
January	4 weeks of classes
February	3 weeks of classes; 1 week of assessments
March	4 weeks of classes
April	3 weeks of classes; 1 week of holiday
May	3 weeks of classes; 1 week of final exams
June — July — August	Holiday, internships and work placements (2 months)