Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang is the ancient capital of Laos. A sleepy city full of temples, it comes alive during festival times. In 1995, UNESCO declared the area a world heritage site because of its temples and the fact that it was the seat of the Laotian king.

About a two hour boat trip from Luang Prabang is a site known as the Pak Ou Caves. These caves are a major destination for those interested in buddhism, art, and antiques. Many relief carvings of Buddha cover the walls of the caves, while thousands of discarded figures of Buddha liter the floor. Local people, not wanting to throw away or otherwise destroy their statues of Buddha, instead brought them to the caves and simply left them.

You can get to Luang Prabang easily via air. But for the more adventurous or reckless, there is a second option. Speedboats zip up and down the Mekong between the Thai border and Luang Prabang. If you hire one of these boats, which are basically long canoes with powerful engines, you will be given a life vest and crash helmet to don before the trip starts. There are also slower boats which travel the same route and provide more opportunity for seeing the sights, albeit with less of an adrenaline high.

The former royal palace of Haw Kham is now a tourist attraction while there are some interesting dance and folk music performances next door. There are also many old buddhist monasteries around town. Visitors are able to wander around most, though some, like Vat Xieng Toung, the areas oldest, are more tourist friendly than others.

Finally, Luang Prabang’s night market is worth a visit. Located near the river, this market has lots of crafts. Prices are cheap, but it might take some digging to find something worthwhile. Some of the stall seem to specialize in cheap tourist trinkets. Unlike similar night markets in Thailand, though, things usually shutter up by 10 PM at the latest. Luang Prabang, like the rest of Laos, is a quiet place with little to nothing to do when it comes to nightlife.

There are several cheap-but-well-run guesthouses in town catering to the backpacker set. Most are located near the river and run between 7-15 dollars a night. There is a more luxurious option in Grand Luang Prabang Hotel. It is on the grounds of a palace belonging to a former prince. Sala Luang Prabang is another upscale hotel. Both these hotels are examples of french style architecture.

Luang Prabang is a quiet city compared to places like Bangkok and Ha Noi, but it has its charms, especially for those who appreciate history.