Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang, the jewel of Laos, is a former capital of Laos. The city is named after the Pha Bang, the golden Buddha that the Khmer gave to King Pha Nugum. Even after the relocation of the capital to Vientiane, Luang Prabang remained the main city of Laos for a long time. Luang means royal. From 1707 to 1975, Luang Prabang was also the capital of the kingdom of the same name. And yes, Luang Prabang's old town has something grand about it. It is a city that you would like to visit every year. The beautiful French colonial buildings, stately wooden villas and the boulevard with temples make just strolling around a pleasure. Wherever you are green and palms are never far away and give a bit of a jungle feel. Take a trip to the Pak Ou caves and the Kuang Si waterfalls. Across the Mekong is the small village of Xian Men. Here the city is far away, it is again rural, village and small-scale. In the nearby jungle you can find a small shrine in the jungle.

Nearby are the Pak Ou caves, small villages near the Mekong, boat dwellers and the Kuang Si Falls.