Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang, Laos

Set in northern Laos at the heart of a mountainous region, Luang Prabang is a strong contender for the title of Southeast Asia's best-kept secret. Here, in the heart of Laos, life moves in sync with the sun and nature, in a beautiful symbiosis of old and new. With its unspoilt natural wonders and golden temples glistening in the sun, the once royal capital of Laos is becoming one of the most attractive and awe-inspiring destinations in Southeast Asia, already drawing in over 1 million tourists every year.

Population:

Luang Prabang Province: 431,889
Luang Prabang District: 90,313

Currency:

Lao Kip 1/100
₭N10000 ~ $1,14

Emergency Numbers:

Ambulance: 195
Fire: 190
Police: 191
Tourist Police: 192

Opening Hours:

Most restaurants and banks are open Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

Lao Development Bank and BCEL have a 24-hour ATM. The latter offers a currency exchange service.

Newspapers:

Passasson (Lao)
Pathet Lao (Lao)
Le Rénovateur (French)
Viengchanmay (Lao)
Vientiane Times (English)

The City

Luang Prabang is a true cornucopia of treasures, full of beautifully well-preserved French architecture lined up alongside old wooden structures that blend together in a charming combination of styles, interjected with golden Buddhist temples, and topped off with plenty of things to experience.

Distinguished as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995, the "royal Buddha image" city (the meaning of its name) and former royal capital of Laos will awaken your senses and offer a chance to temporarily dive into the past, where life seemingly runs slower and in full contact with nature.

Today, despite the picturesque city of Luang Prabang being well-established on the tourist routes of many travellers to the region, it still preserves much of its pristine beauty and uncharted quality.

Do & See

There are a plethora of things to do in Luang Prabang, even if ambling around the city's beautifully preserved Old Town where French colonial buildings blend with secular wooden structures. Some of the highlights include climbing the 355 steps that lead to Phou Si Mountain, crossing the meandering rivers, and splashing in the mesmerising turquoise waters of Kuang Si Waterfalls, its pièce de résistance.

Restaurants

Luang Prabang's dining scene offers a great variety of eateries to choose from. Internationally-oriented food outlets that offer western-inspired dishes (try Tangor) to home cooked-style Laotian cuisine (e.g. Manda de Laos), you're sure to embark on a fantastic culinary journey.

Cafes

Laos is known in the world for its rich, strong, top-notch coffee: Robusta and Arabica grown at high altitudes, which distinguishes them from varieties elsewhere. With most of its coffee harvested in the Bolaven Plateau, it's Laos' 5th largest export product, with 20,000 tons produced annually.

No trip to Luang Prabang would be complete without paying a visit to some of the coffee shops listed below. Dig into the fascinating Lao coffee culture and history with a guided coffee tour which supports local farmers.