We found ourselves lured into the Hive Bar in Luang Prabang by the promise of a free, nightly “ethnic fashion show” followed by a “hip hop dance show”. This could go either way, we thought, but hey we don’t really have any plans for the next few hours so let’s give it a shot.

What followed was a surprisingly well-executed, 45-minute long fashion show in a lovely, stylish setting showcasing 15 of Laos’ 49 ethnic groups’ traditional wear. The models are local students, all of whom looked gorgeous and professional despite no formal training.

After the show finished and the models did their finale, the music changed, and it was the boys’ turn. A dozen or so teenage boys (some were even younger!) came out and did their thing. They were actually some of the most talented b-boys we’ve ever seen perform.