South East Asian Trips

Luang Prabang (pronounced LOH proh-BAHNG, also spelt "Luang Phabang", "Luang Phrabang", "Louang Phrabang", etc) is the former capital of Laos and a UNESCO World Heritage city. The main road, Xiang Thong, of Luang Prabang is a wonderful patchwork of traditional Lao wooden houses and hints of European architecture - reminders of when Laos was part of the French colony of Indochine. Golden-roofed wats (temples), decorated with mosaics and murals of the life of Buddha sit under the gaze of wrap-around balconies and 19th century shuttered windows. A tourist trail is forming between the capital city of Vientiane, the small riverside village of Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang, and Huay Xai at the Thai border to the west. This loop can easily be covered by combination of road and river in a week, but 10-15 days is best to fully appreciate the lush countryside, magnificent temples, and friendly people. Opinion seems divided about the boat ride between Luang Prabang and Huay Xai. Some consider it the high point of their tour of South-East Asia, but given the potentially cramped conditions for the two day slowboat ride (see below) others consider it over-hyped and worth skipping.

The oldest and loveliest of Lao cities, Luang Prabang was founded between the 6th and the 7th centuries when it bore the name Muong Sua.

In 1353 Luang Prabang became the capital of King Fa Ngum's Kingdom, Lane Xang (the Kingdom of a Million Elephants). The king, raised at the royal court at Angkor, was presented with a golden image of the Buddha, the Phra Bang, said to have been cast in the 1st century in Sri Lanka. As Buddhism spread throughout Laos, the image became the city's talisman, and so Muong Sue became Luang Prabang to reflect this important symbol of the new faith.

Luang Prabang was the capital of Lane Xang, the first Laos kingdom during the reign of Far Ngum. Situated at the confluence of the Mekong and the Nam Khan Rivers, Luang Prabang is a charming little town, known for its rich cultural heritage, relaxing atmosphere, stunning scenery of the valley and friendly people. Wat Xieng Thong is one of the finest pagodas in Luang Prabang. Built in 1559 by King Setthathirat, it represents the most typical example of the Luang Prabang style. The National Museum (former Royal Palace) contains a collection of 15th to 17th century Buddhist statues including the famous Golden Buddha and the a rare Khmer bronze drum. This small wooden palace was built in the early 20th century by the French in Khmer Style. Phousi Hill, a hill-top temple, provides a panoramic view of Luang Prabang. Other interesting sites around Luang Prabang include: Pak Ou Cave, Ban Sanghai Village, Ban Phanom and the Kuangsi Waterfalls.

Haw Kham is the former royal palace. There's also sometimes local drama or dance performances in the adjacent theatre. Phou Si is the main hill, from which you have a good view of the whole area. It's quite a steep climb from the bottom, so i wouldn't recommend going up in the heat of the day - sunrise and sunset probably make both the most sensible and the most rewarding times to go up, as there is a pretty much panoramic view from the top. Vat Xieng Toung is the oldest monastery in town and one of the most beautiful. Kuang Si Falls, 29 Km south of Luang Prabang is a large multi-stage waterfall system, accessible by boat or truck hire. There are food and touristy stalls outside the waterfalls. It is worth putting a whole day aside (or more) for seeing these because they are a great place just to chill out and meet other travellers. There are multiple pools at different levels, all of which seem safe to bathe in, and are extremely picturesque. Bear Rescue Center is located on the way to the Kuang Si Waterfalls, and has a bear enclosure where lots of endangered Asiatic Black Bears were rescued from poachers. There is also an Indo-Chinese tiger that was rescued from poachers and nearly died. You can also buy shirts of the Center too. Pak Ou Caves - the famous "Buddha caves" are some Km north of town on the Mekong and can be reached by boat or road. Alternatively, you could hire canoes and a guide for the day. This means you both get to see the beautiful scenery and visit the caves without throngs of other tourists. It's also possible to finish the trip at the 'whisky village' where the local Laolao (lao rice spirits) is made.

Rent a bicycle (and cycle around the countryside (motorcycles can no longer be rented). It's quite easy to cycle to Kuang Si Falls on a decent bicycle, but more difficult on a single-speed bike. Check the general condition of rented bikes before setting out. There is a 'night-market' selling all the typical lao arts and crafts, some more touristy than others, every day all the main street parallel to the river. This is very pretty and worth a visit, but be warned that it packs up by about 9pm, unlike the similar markets in thailand that go on well into the early hours. The local market, on the other hand, sells all kinds of fresh (and live!) food,

Luang Namtha

Luang Namtha is the largest city in Luang Namtha Province, Laos. It lies on the banks of the Namtha river, and the meaning of the name is "The area (luang) around Namtha river". The city all tho has sites in within is generally used to go trekking in the hill tribe villages in the area. There are at least 3 Internet shops in the city all offering the same prices while K.N.T Internet offers 20% discount for more than 30 minutes. Luang Nam Tha is not a party town, Manychan guesthouse have the most action when it comes to drinking, it seems to be the most visited restaurant and many people pass by it. Seems to want to close before 23 PM, but you'll be able to overstay a bit longer. You will have to wake your guesthouse up though, as they probably have shut down already.