| Luang Prabang, Laos |
We enjoyed a good dinner and interesting show of traditional Lao dances in the Villa Santi
Restaurant, located in French colonial house.
Luang Prabang is one of the most attractive town we have visited anywhere. A very scenic
setting, many beautiful Buddhist Wats (temples), enjoyable walks in the town and
surrounding areas, several good restaurants, and pleasant people. We spoke with many
European and Australian backpackers, one of whom told us he came to Luang Prabang for a
few days but decided to stay until his money runs out.
It is very long and difficult to go overland by bus from Luang Prabang to Hanoi and at the
time of our trip there were no direct flights. So we flew back to Vientiane and took a
connecting flight to Hanoi; US$137 per person.
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Restaurant, located in French colonial house.
Luang Prabang is one of the most attractive town we have visited anywhere. A very scenic
setting, many beautiful Buddhist Wats (temples), enjoyable walks in the town and
surrounding areas, several good restaurants, and pleasant people. We spoke with many
European and Australian backpackers, one of whom told us he came to Luang Prabang for a
few days but decided to stay until his money runs out.
It is very long and difficult to go overland by bus from Luang Prabang to Hanoi and at the
time of our trip there were no direct flights. So we flew back to Vientiane and took a
connecting flight to Hanoi; US$137 per person.
Click here for the next page, "Hanoi and Halong Bay"
Click here to return to "Indochina Trip Menu"
Click here to return to "Our Travel Journals Main Menu"
Luang Prabang, Laos --- 27 to 29 January
Aboard a 16-passenger Lao Aviation plane ($69 p/p) we took the one-hour flight to Luang
Prabang, the traditional Royal capital of Laos, on the banks of the Mekong River. We
checked into the attractive Phousi Hotel ($35 per night), located in beautiful garden in
the center of this pleasant small town of 25,000.
Like Vientiane, Luang Prabang has a large number of European/Australian backpack
travelers staying there, apparently for weeks, most probably spending well under $20 per
day. The main street, Thanon Phothsarat, has many small restaurants, guest houses and
shops, generally in one or two story buildings. The streets have little traffic and nearly
everything is a short walk from everywhere. The town is excellent for taking scenic walks.
Aboard a 16-passenger Lao Aviation plane ($69 p/p) we took the one-hour flight to Luang
Prabang, the traditional Royal capital of Laos, on the banks of the Mekong River. We
checked into the attractive Phousi Hotel ($35 per night), located in beautiful garden in
the center of this pleasant small town of 25,000.
Like Vientiane, Luang Prabang has a large number of European/Australian backpack
travelers staying there, apparently for weeks, most probably spending well under $20 per
day. The main street, Thanon Phothsarat, has many small restaurants, guest houses and
shops, generally in one or two story buildings. The streets have little traffic and nearly
everything is a short walk from everywhere. The town is excellent for taking scenic walks.
Out for a spin in Luang Prabang, Laos.
Temple at the Royal Palace, Luang Prabang, Laos.
Roadside snack bar near Luang Prabang.
Virginia with boys near Luang Prabang reading
bilingual pages in our Lonely Planet guidebook.
bilingual pages in our Lonely Planet guidebook.
Needleworkers near Luang Prabang.
In Luang Prabang we visited the outstanding Wat Xieng Thong and several other Buddhist
temples. We also went into the beautiful Royal Palace Museum, the traditional home of
the Lao royal family until the Pathet Lao (Lao Communists) took over the country in 1975.
temples. We also went into the beautiful Royal Palace Museum, the traditional home of
the Lao royal family until the Pathet Lao (Lao Communists) took over the country in 1975.
By private boat ($10) we took an
excursion about 15 miles up the
Mekong River to the Pak Ou Caves,
which contain hundreds (maybe
thousands) of Buddha figures retired
from temples in the Luang Prabang
area. We enjoyed the scenic river
cruise more than the destination.
excursion about 15 miles up the
Mekong River to the Pak Ou Caves,
which contain hundreds (maybe
thousands) of Buddha figures retired
from temples in the Luang Prabang
area. We enjoyed the scenic river
cruise more than the destination.
Pak Ou Caves near Luang Prabang, Laos.
Boat builders near Luang Prabang.
One morning we took a
motorized-canoe-ferry across to the
other side of the Mekong and had a
very enjoyable walk along a path
paralleling the river. We went
through several small villages,
examined a temple or two, and
entertained some of the locals by
providing them with a couple of
strange people to look at. Virginia
had a great time with a group of
three or four boys reading several
pages of our Lonely Planet guidebook
which has the names of local
landmarks in both English and Lao;
neither Virginia or the kids could
speak a word of each other's language.
motorized-canoe-ferry across to the
other side of the Mekong and had a
very enjoyable walk along a path
paralleling the river. We went
through several small villages,
examined a temple or two, and
entertained some of the locals by
providing them with a couple of
strange people to look at. Virginia
had a great time with a group of
three or four boys reading several
pages of our Lonely Planet guidebook
which has the names of local
landmarks in both English and Lao;
neither Virginia or the kids could
speak a word of each other's language.