Luang Prabang Travel Guide

  Kids bike past a colonial home
by stamporama
 
  • Kids bike past a colonial home
      Kids bike past a colonial home
    by stamporama
  • One of many ornate wats
      One of many ornate wats
    by stamporama
  • amazing history & architecture
      amazing history & architecture
    by josephescu
  • refined styles
      refined styles
    by josephescu
  • Mai Temple at night
      Mai Temple at night
    by DSwede
 

Pro

thedouglas profile photo

  Atmosphere - atmosphere - atmosphere 


Con

xuessium profile photo

  But for how long? 


In a nutshell

Rodan44 profile photo

  The most charming city in all of Asia! 

 

Explore Luang Prabang

Things to Do  

Ride through the jungle with an elephant

Ride through the jungle with an elephant, Luang Prabang

 Ramonq Says:  Visit one of the elephant camps around the city and you'll have an opportunity to ride around the jungle for around an hour. It's not the most comfortable ride but the view from atop an elephant is great. You even get to cross the river with these beasts of burden and see... 

RIVER TRIP TO PAK OU CAVES

RIVER TRIP TO PAK OU CAVES, Luang Prabang

 davidjo Says:  We booked a boat trip the previous night to visit Pak Ou Caves, which is an hour or so up-river. Sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery until you reach the caves which are located in the side of a limestone cliff. There are 2 caves containing 1000's of Buddhas, mostly old but... 

BIG BROTHER MOUSE

BIG BROTHER MOUSE, Luang Prabang

 davidjo Says:  Big Brother Mouse Bookshops are to be found in several cities in Laos. This is an organisation that sells books to tourists so they can give them to Laotian children on their travels. Local children cannot usually afford to buy a book and many don't possess any, so please... 

Souvenir market

Souvenir market, Luang Prabang

 davidjo Says:  The market at Thanon Sisavangvong comes alive around 5pm. The street is closed off to traffic and the locals erect their stalls which sell every kind of souvenir/handicraft available in the country. The place is crowded with tourists searching for a bargain. It is quite easy... 

Who is Big Brother Mouse?

Who is Big Brother Mouse?, Luang Prabang

 planxty Says:  Big Brother Mouse, a strange name I know. Big Brother Mouse is a charity which specialises in trying to attain literacy in the poorer areas round Luang Prabang. I had read in the Vientiane Times that 30% of females aged 6 - 25 have never been to school. They commission books... 

Hotels  

La Residence Phou Vao

 4 Reviews and 280 Opinions  TOUGH MANAGEMENT While this facility may be nice, I know the management is tough and does not have... 

Villa Santi Hotel

 9 Reviews and 63 Opinions  Was there for 3 nights in Nov 2007 and booked through Gulliver's Travel at about $80/night. The... 

Restaurants  

The House - Restaurant and Belgian Beer Bar: Best food for the money!

The House - Restaurant and Belgian Beer Bar: Best food for the money!, Luang Prabang

 Ai-B Says:  The House Restaurant in Luang Prabang, Laos is simply the best food for the price. Friendly staff, beautiful garden seating and a great beer selection. A must go! Kebab, Steak and Beef Stew hits the spot every time. 

BBQ by the bridge: Fantastic BBQ duck at local hangout

BBQ by the bridge: Fantastic BBQ duck at local hangout, Luang Prabang

 boholdave Says:  This is a really small local hangout tucked away next to the old bridge in Luang Prabang. Run by a young couple (Loulou and Vanphaeng) its a great place to meet the locals and have some great food. No menu, no restaurant name sign but easy to find next to the river. Just ask... 

all-u-can-eat, vegetarian

all-u-can-eat, vegetarian, Luang Prabang

 davidjo Says:  While at the night handicraft market you may come across an alleyway on the Mekhong side that is lined with many stalls where you can eat. Halfway down on the right hand-side there are 2 vegetarian stalls with perhaps a selection of 20 different foods to choose from. Grab a... 

try the restaurants by the river

try  the restaurants by the river, Luang Prabang

 davidjo Says:  Try taking your breakfast at one of the restaurants by the Mekhong where you can idle over your meal and watch the activities on the river. Many boats will be jamming the tourists in for trips upriver and other will be crossing to the other side. There are many restaurants... 

various stalls: food stalls at handicraft night market

various stalls: food stalls at handicraft night market, Luang Prabang

 davidjo Says:  When strolling around the night market you will come across a few hawkers selling baguettes stuffed with ham, cheese, veg, eggs, tuna or just about anything you desire. These are probably the best baguettes in the whole of Laos, and very filling too!! Also purchase a fresh... 

Arisai: French/Thai Fusion

Arisai: French/Thai Fusion, Luang Prabang

 triplehelix Says:  After a long day of tromping around Luang Prabang, I was ready to settle in for the night. At the last minute, I decided to check my email and headed to the lobby. I met one of the hotels owners who struck up a conversation with me. The conversation gravitated toward... 

Saibaidee Restaurant.: Do it yourself dining.

Saibaidee Restaurant.: Do it yourself dining., Luang Prabang

 planxty Says:  Whilst all the Lao standards are on offer here, along with a few concessions to Western palates, the speciality is the "Lao barbecue", very similar to a meal I had had in Thailand a few weeks before. As it was Xmas Day the first time I visited, I thought I would treat myself... 

Transportation  

Ariving in luang Prabang

Ariving in luang Prabang, Luang Prabang

 davidjo Says:  Most buses and mini-vans arrive in LP a few kms from the centre, where many tuk-tuk drivers or representatives of guest houses will pounce on you as soon as you step off your bus. Most will show fotos of accommodation and will try to persuade you to stay there. Pick a... 

TRAVEL BY BUS HERE..NO RAIL..

TRAVEL BY BUS HERE..NO RAIL.., Luang Prabang

 DennyP Says:  LUANGPRABANG Whenever I can when travelling I always, if possible ,travel by train as I beleive it is the best and most comfortable way to travel...unfortunately there are no more trains in Laos so the next best cheapest thing is a bus..The busses are generally I found to be... 

Shopping  

Ban Lao Natural Products - Ban Lao Center: Fair Trade in Luang Prabang

Ban Lao Natural Products - Ban Lao Center: Fair Trade in Luang Prabang, Luang Prabang

 jerematokyo Says:  We came across what is probably the sole Fair-trade organization based in Luang-Prabang and it is just GREAT ! While fair-trade stores pop up in most of the developed world's capital cities doing a fantastic job in building awareness of how conscious customers can... 

Night Market

Night Market, Luang Prabang

 tigertribal Says:  The colourful night market starts at 1700-1800 and ends at 2200-2300 or earlier if it begins to rain, which it did for the 4 nights we were there.They sell local and ethnic handicrafts made mostly by the Hmong. They are not hard to haggle with and it is done good naturally... 

Warnings Or Dangers  

Don't use Manifa Travel Company!

Don't use Manifa Travel Company!, Luang Prabang

 Tinaleeloo Says:  The short version: Do not buy any trips or tickets at Manifa's. They are incompetent, don't understand English and they will lie to your face.The slightly longer version:We booked a boat trip (110.000 kip per person) to Nong Khiaw, seven hours north of Luang Prabang for... 

Don't end up in jail!

Don't end up in jail!, Luang Prabang

 planxty Says:  This tip has no photo attached for obvious reasons, insofar as I don't think it is a brilliant idea to stick a camera in a drug dealers face. You will frequently be asked "smoke weed?" and cannabis / marijuana seems to be freely available. Your call whether or not to indulge... 

What to Pack  

ALWAYS CARRY A STRONG MOSQUITO REPELLANT

ALWAYS CARRY A STRONG MOSQUITO REPELLANT, Luang Prabang

 DennyP Says:  WHEN TRAVELLING HERE IN THE TROPICS THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT I ALWAYS CARRY WITH ME..: ALWAYS MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE A STRONG AND RELIABLE MOSQUITO AND INSECT REPELLANT. AS DENGUE AND MALARIA ARE PREVELANT:ANOTHER MUST IS FRESH BOTTLED DRINKING WATER AND MAKE SURE TO... 

Favorites  

exchanging money in LP using an ATM or Visa card

exchanging money in LP using an ATM or Visa card, Luang Prabang

 seagypsy Says:  Sorry, I don't use MC (although I have one but I prefer to use only one major VISA) but I had no problems using my USA banks ATM in Luang Prabang to withdraw funds. Also VISA is linked to both BCEL Bank and Lao Development Banks' ATMs (these are the 2 main banks in Luang... 

 
Explore Deeper into Luang Prabang

The Place

Plan a Luang Prabang vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Luang Prabang locals

Experience Luang Prabang
  •   1,103 Tips and Reviews
  •  2,377 Photos
  •  1 Videos
  Share your Travels  
Map of Luang Prabang
 

The People

2 Members Live Here
 
Our Members Say
 profile photo

 Sorry, I don't use MC (although I have one but I prefer to use only one major VISA) but I had no problems using my USA banks ATM in Luang Prabang to withdraw... 

2 members live in Luang Prabang

 

Questions and Answers

roster26 profile photo

Q:  We're going to Siem Reap and onto Laos in October and want to know the best way to get from SR to either Pakse or Luang Prabang. ... 

cachaseiro profile photo

A: You will either hve to take your time or fly there. From Siem Reap you will need to travel towards Phnom Penh and then make a left turn north along the Mekong River and... 

Read 3 Replies

postQuestion_button

Top Luang Prabang Writers

1

It Really is the Jewel of the Jewel of SE Asia

thedouglas profile photo

 This scenic little town is surrounded by mountains at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers - making for eye candy every which way you look! Whethere you are at ground level, or tackle the... 

2

Luang Prabang: The Cheeky Monk

richiecdisc profile photo

 “This is the BEST place in Southeast Asia,” the smiling face beamed at us after she assured us she had been traveling in the region for eons to bolster her credentials. Though an Asian by ancestry,...... 

3

A rare jewel in the Mekong Jungles

SirRichard profile photo

 You will find this city's name written in both ways. LP is a nice old colonnial town in the shore of the Mekong River, roughly in the middle of the north part of the country. There you can find... 

4

World Heritage wonderland.

planxty profile photo

 I first visited Luang Prabang or LP, as travellers here tend to refer to it, seven years ago. I was amazed by it then and continue to be amazed by it now. It was, for some time, the capital of Lao... 

5

IMPREXXION: LUANG PRABANG

xuessium profile photo

 ..."The golden land was retreating at every second of my thoughts. Ridz was sitting on his side of the Tuk Tuk, lulled to sleep by the cool blanket of cold air blasting into the truck. I sat further... 

View all rated pages

View newest pages

Build your own Luang Prabang page

Travel Editors for Luang Prabang

juliapickar profile photo