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Luang Prabang, also spelled "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.
Get in Luang Prabang.
By plane
The airport is just north of town and has scheduled flights from/to
Vientiane, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hanoi and Siem Reap.
* Bangkok Airways [1] offer flights from Bangkok and Siem Reap.
Visa-on-Arrival is available at the airport - price is variable based upon
your nationality. You need a passport picture to obtain a visa. If you
don't have one, they'll scan your picture from your passport and charge
you an additional $1.
ASEAN nationals do not need a Visa to enter Laos for stays not exceeding
30 days.
Taxis into town cost about $6, whether you are by yourself or with 3 other
people. By road
Highway 13 connects Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng and Vientiane in the south
and via Highway 1 to the north. Highway 13 is sealed and in good shape all
the way to Vientiane. Though there have been incidents of violence along
this stretch of road in the past, presently it is safe.
There are three bus stations, each a little bit out of town, which serve
different directions. Tickets can be bought at every travel agent in town,
at the bus station, or when boarding the bus (if there's space). Booking
bus tickets through travel agents usually incurs hefty surcharges compared
to doing it yourself. Just plan to arrive at the bus station between 30-45
minutes before your departure, and you should have plenty of time to make
your purchases before you bus leaves. Tuk-tuk drivers know which bus
station to go to for which destination. Ask around for bus schedules.
* Vang Vieng - The air-conditioned so-called VIP bus costs 70,000 kip to
* Vientiane - Air-con VIP bus costs 115,000, more if booked through an
agent. It should be noted that tickets purchased in Vientiane to Luang
Prabang are more expensive than those purchased in Luang Prabang.
Travelers have reported that the VIP bus can been a bit of bumpy ride, but
is generally more reliable than the public bus. Those prone to motion
sickness should know that this trip travels a winding, mountainous road.
* Muang Xay - Takes about 5 hours. Costs 40,000 kip and points onwards,
such as Luang Namtha, is done by public minibus only. Big backpacks are
carried on the roof. Reservations are usually not necessary, just take
care to go early in order to secure a good seat.
* Luang Namtha - Takes 8-9 hours in good conditions. Direct local bus via
Muang Xay at 09.00. Otherwise take bus to Muang Xay and switch there.
* Nong Khiaw - 3 hours away by public bus from the Northern Bus Station.
From there boats connect to Muang Ngoy.
* Huay Xai - 15 hours away. Public buses leave at 09.00 (arrive 12
midnight) or 17.00 (arrive 08.00, normal sleeping bus, not sleeper). Costs
135,000 kip.
By boat
Boats ply the Mekong to and from Huay Xai at the Thai border, stopping in
Pakbeng where you can catch overland connections towards the northeast and
the border with China. The trip takes 2 days by slow boat, or 6
bone-rattling hours by speedboat. There are also operators now offering
2-day "luxury" cruises.
If you have the opportunity, purchase a pillow from a local market before
embarking on any boat ride that lasts longer than 2 hours. Expect to spend
the night in Pakbeng if you're taking a slow boat (the safest option), or
to arrive in Huay Xai deaf, shaken and either exhausted or exhilarated
from three hours in a speedboat. There is also a twice-weekly "one day
comfortable boat" between Luang Prabang and Huay Xai, but the cost is
significantly higher.
Slow boats leave every day, usually around 8-9AM. The trip to Huay Xai
costs 220,000 kip (Dec. 2008). If you can, just purchase your tickets at
the boat landing because all the tour agencies in town charge a
commission, and agents usually don't have reliable information about the
quality of the boats. It is not uncommon to have to switch to a new boat
in Pakbeng, so you may end up in a boat of higher or lower quality for the
second half of the journey.
The slow-boat is generally packed - so much so that there may not enough
seats to go round. Arriving early will mean a longer day, but most likely
a better seat, towards the front and away from the engine. Earplugs are
recommended, regardless of where you end up sitting. Travelers report that
those who show up better-dressed may end up with better seats.
If you choose to travel on the speedboat (a light canoe with a very
powerful engine), a crash helmet and life-jacket should be provided - it
is not recommended to travel in a speedboat without this essential safety
equipment. It is also recommended that you make your bags as
waterproof/water-resistant as possible and wear a rainjacket - the boat
can generate quite a bit of spray, plus any small showers you might
encounter along the way will sting like needles against any exposed skin.
On sunny days, sunscreen is invaluable as there is no roof/shade on these
speed machines. The journey to Huay Xai can be reduced to as few as 4
hours in the wet season, with a lunch stop at Pakbeng. However, some
consider this means of transportation less safe, especially in the dry
season. Earplugs are strongly recommended. Travelers who are concerned
about creating as little environmental impact as possible may want avoid
speedboats, as they are heavier polluters than the slower options.
The third option is to take a "luxury" cruise. The major operators are
Luang Say and Nagi of Mekong . As of 2009, both operate two-day
cruises to Hauy Xai that stop in Pak Beng for the night. Although the
journey takes as long as taking the slow boat, both operators offer vastly
superior facilities and equipment than public slow boats, and you should
be prepared to pay a premium for it.
There is no public boat service to Vientiane, but it may be possible to do
the trip by private tourist boat when the water levels are high enough.
Read more about fast and slow boats in the Laos country guide.
Places to see in Luang Prabang
* Haw Kham — The former royal palace. There's also sometimes local drama
or dance performances in the adjacent theatre.
* Phou Si — The main hill, from which you have a good view of the whole
area. It's quite a steep climb from the bottom - due to the mid-day heat,
sunrise and sunset are the most sensible, rewarding times to go up. There
is a near-panoramic view from the top. Entrance fee 20,000 kip.
* Vat Xieng Toung — The oldest monastery in town and one of the most
beautiful.
* Kuang Si Falls — 29 km south of Luang Prabang. A large multi-stage
waterfall, accessible by boat or truck hire. You can also rent a motorbike
to transport yourself there. There are food and tourist stalls outside the
waterfalls. It is worth putting a whole day aside (or more) for seeing
these because they are a great place to relax and meet other travelers.
There are multiple pools at different levels, all of which are reportedly
safe to bathe in, and are extremely picturesque.
* Pak Ou Caves — The famous "Buddha caves" are north of town on the Mekong
and can be reached by road (approx. 1hr) or river boat. Alternatively, you
could hire canoes and a guide for the day, which would allow you to view
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 spirit) is made.
* Night market — The night market features vendors selling all the typical
Lao arts and crafts, some more touristy than others, and is set up every
day along the main street parallel to the river. Be warned that it closes
down around 9PM, unlike the similar markets in Thailand that go on well
into the early hours. Please note that there may be some souvenirs
available made from endangered animals. Avoid buying rare pets, leather,
ivory, talons, dried sea creatures (starfish, etc.), fur, feathers, teeth,
wool, and other products.
* Alms ceremony — Monks at dawn collecting alms of rice from kneeling
villagers (and early-rising tourists). Ask your guesthouse host to assist
you the day before in preparing if you'd like to get up and give alms in
the morning. Please note that the alms giving ceremony is one which, while
picturesque, is not without its detractors. Unscrupulous local merchants
have used the eagerness of tourists to participate in a local tradition as
a means of making easy money, and sometimes sell unsuitable, stale and
even unsafe food. This has resulted in monks falling ill after having
consumed the offerings, and resistance to continuing the tradition.
However, the government has made it clear that the monks have to continue
the tourist pageant or risk being replaced with lay people clothed in
saffron robes in order to keep up appearances and thereby keep the tourist
dollars rolling in. So if you wish to participate in this ceremony,
prepare the food or fruit yourself, and avoid giving food of unknown
quality.
* Bear Rescue Center — Located on the way to the Kuang Si Waterfalls, the
Bear Rescue Center has a enclosure for endangered Asiatic Black Bears that
have been rescued from poachers. There was also an Indo-Chinese tiger, but
sadly, the tiger had passed away as of May 2009.
What to do in Luang Prabang
* The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre — This small but perfectly
formed museum is dedicated to the ethnic cultures of Laos, find out more
about the groups that make Laos so unique and enrich your visit to Luang
Prabang.
* Cooking class — One of the best ways to experience he local foods. The
best bet is at the Tamnak Lao restaurant. The cost is 250,000 kip for the
day class (10AM-5PM) and an 200,000 kip for the evening class
(5:30PM-8:30PM). The day class includes a visit to a vibrant local market,
2 English-speaking Lao teachers, and fully-equipped cooking stations.
Participants cook 6 dishes (lunch and dinner), and take home a recipe book
highlighting 12 recipes and sections about local and essential Lao
ingredients. The evening class teaches 3 dishes. Both classes include
sticky rice and jeowbong.
* Lao Red Cross — A traditional Lao sauna and massage, very popular with
locals in the afternoon. Th Wisunarat, in front of Wat Wisunalat. 1 hour
massage 32,000 kip, sauna 10,000 kip.
* Rent a Motorbike — Although prices are astronomical by Southeast Asia
standards ($17-$20 per day as of April 2009), riding around the
surrounding areas of Luang Prabang is a fantastic way to see the
countryside.
* Vipassana temple and park — This golden temple, highly visible from Phou
Si, is a shrine for Buddhists who practice Vipassana meditation.
* Bowling — There's a perfectly decent bowling alley a few kilometers away
from the city center that is open until 3 am. After 10 pm it gets crowded
with Westerners who generally seem more interested in partying than
bowling. Whatever your interest, this place is worth a visit if you want
to have a break from the usual tourist stuff. Tuk-tuk drivers will know
how to get there. The price of a game is 15,000 kip per person until
midnight when it goes up to 20,000, though they may try to charge you
more.
* Sunset on the waterfront — Take a walk along the Mekong, or sit and
enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants and watch the sun sink into
the horizon.
* Fair Trek Project
People who love activities and treks may find some interesting interactive
tours which are designed to support villages outside of Luang Prabang
which is probably the only community based tourism initiative that really
brings money into the funds. More infos on the website or at Tiger Trail
Tour Company shop.
* Erawan Arts [5] — This two floor showroom is located in a traditionally
renovated historic house that dates back over 100 years. Displaying the
finest 100% hand-woven and naturally dyed Lao silk and exotic wood
products from throughout Laos, a share of the profits go directly to
supporting Lao communities in need through several initiatives from
installing fresh water systems to villages, providing books for schools,
and running medical trips to remote areas. The owner is very informative
and approachable, and happy to answer questions on Laos and give a tour on
the architecture of this beautiful building.
Things to buy, Buying guide Luang Prabang.
Before you can buy stuff at the markets, you'll need some money. US$ and
Thai baht are widely accepted but the exchange rates vary. As of May 2009,
there are a small number of ATM's accepting Visa, MasterCard, Maestro and
Eurocards. These ATM's are situated in Sisavangvong Rd just near the end
of the Night Market. The ATM's dispense currency in Lao Kip. If you arrive
by plane, there is a bank at the airport which is open during a few hours
of the day, so don't count on changing there. Also, their rates are
significantly worse than the banks in town. There are a growing number of
money changers, located on Sisavangvong Rd or in the permanent markets
further East. One is next to the ATM near the Night Markets, another is
about 50m further North along the street, located out the front of one of
the first restaurants (looks like a little tollbooth/shack). The rates
offered may vary, so shop around before you change.
A night market (on Sisavangvong Road) caters for the tourists with every
kind of souvenir you could want. Particularly good are the duvet covers,
cushion covers and pillow sets. They can even make one up to the
dimensions you require the next day. It is well worth a look and the
hawkers are very pleasant to deal with. However the quality of goods and
their design is much higher elsewhere. You can, however, barter in the
night market, often for prices at 60% of the original quoted price.
Laotian asthetic sense is quite evolved in its own way. For instance check
out ockpoptok, a silk/wall hanging store.
Day markets are along Setthathirat Road.
* Scarves, wall hangings, "Beer Lao" T- shirts, watches and other local
crafts from the small Hmong market or the regular evening market, held
along the main street. The market closes rather early (10 p.m.) and
usually gets going around sunset, or a little before. The vendors sprawled
on the ground with portable lamps is an interesting sight. These are
mostly minorities (many Hmong).
* Weird cast-off Chinese goods at the local market.
* Laos t-shirts, various local handicrafts, sewable flags, and scrapbooks
for your tickets and other items are also available here.
Books can be a travelers home away from home and a way to escape
heat/boredom/long bus rides. However, several book stores operating in and
around the area that sell photocopies to unsuspecting travelers. These
bookstores will frequently charged the cover prices (i.e., the printed on
the book RRP prices) in kip or dollars for a photocopied book, or even for
a second hand book in poor quality. Often they will claim these books are
"genuine" books encased in plastic (so you can't inspect them), and then
upon purchasing them you find out they are often poor quality copies
(particularly the case with travel guides). You should have every right to
inspect any book before purchase, and flaunting copyright laws is
basically illegal. Also, many second hand books (even in poor to very poor
quality) have prices in kip plastered over the top of the RRP for the
book, so as to mislead you. The best advice is to ask for less than half
of the RRP of the book (depending on the quality, as it is basically
second hand) and bargain from there. For photocopies, if you do buy them,
insist on checking them as many times pages are missing or pages are
basically unreadable. As they are copies, they should not really be
purchased, but to give you an idea, books in Vietnam or Cambodia cost
about $1-2USD to produce for your average 300 page Lonely Planet country
guide book.
* Book Exchange – If you want to exchange or buy a book (or books) go to
the Tamnak Lao Restaurant Book Exchange. They have the best selection of
books in Luang Prabang. The book exchange operates on a “one for one”
basis plus 20,000 kip, and all books are available for purchase as well.
All of the money raised by the book exchange goes to buying provisions for
the Luang Prabang Government Orphanage School. If you wish to know more
about the orphanage go to the web page www.lao-kids.org. The Book Exchange
is located in the laneway next to the restaurant.
* Erawan Arts — This two floor showroom is located in a traditionally
renovated historic house that dates back over 100 years. Displaying the
finest 100% hand-woven and naturally dyed Lao silk and exotic wood
products from throughout Laos, a share of the profits go directly to
supporting Lao communities in need through several initiatives from
installing fresh water systems to villages, providing books for schools,
and running medical trips to remote areas. The owner is very informative
and approachable, and happy to answer questions on Laos and give a tour on
the architecture of this beautiful building.
Where to eat in Luang Prabang?
Restaurants line Sisavangvong Road and the road along the Mekong. Food
runs the line from standard Southeast Asian backpacker fare to more
traditional Lao dishes, including buffalo sausage, and there are several
pizza restaurants - although they aren't really all that good. Local
specialties include French baguettes, watercress, fried dried seaweed with
sesame seeds dipped in a chili sauce, and buffalo steaks.
For more upscale options, try near the end of Sisavangvong Road (end of
the Night Market) in a little alley (local buffet for 5000 kip). There are
several boutique restaurants which serve quite nice fusion Asian food.
* Blue Lagoon Café - A balanced mix of eastern and western delicacies are
awaiting you at Blue Lagoon Café. You will find Laotian highlights and
Swiss classics as well as tender local beef and a large variety of
delicious snacks and fresh salad creations. The generously compiled drink
list provides an exquisite selection of wine, fruit juice, cocktails,
mocktails, beer and coffee. Located at the road to the Mekong river who
start at the end of the night market, next to the national museum.
* Cafe 5/6 - A nice two-floors cafe to relax and enjoy great tapas (10000
to 20000 Kiep) and shakes. They have chill background music and WiFi
internet access. Located on Chao Fa Ngnum (about 150m West of the Post
Office (La Poste).
* L'Elephant- Around the corner from Saffron Caffe. A lovely restaurant
with a unique mix of Laotian and French cuisine. The food is extremely
good, but has its price. It is directly in front of a small guesthouse,
and not far away from Les 3 Nagas hotel and Villa Santi hotel. The
ingredients are of the highest quality, ranging from French camambert to
Laotian lemongrass and river weeds. The soups are very good, along with
the tender and juicy local and french meat. The desserts are
mouthwatering, and most of them have chocolate. Be warned though that the
menu is both pricey and some items do not justify their price tag.
* Saffron Caffe- Not just a place to drink great coffee but Saffron also
has delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner items! Try the breakfast wrap
with a Cinnamon Swirl in the morning, and then one of their delicious
salad wraps for lunch (I like the Lao Peanut Chicken Wrap). At night time
enjoy romantic riverside seating and try Saffron's Yellow Curry soup and
Cashew Chicken stir-fry! Delicious!
* Indochina Spirit- Excellent Lao and Thai cuisine. Great value.
Everything is tasty but try the minced fish and aubergines. Has old,
stuffy, and not so pleasant odor in the interior tables, so be warned.
* Shakes & Crepes- a no name place serving delicious shakes for 3000 kip
and fantastic sweet crepes for 5000 kip. In front of Croissant d'Or on the
main street.
* Scandinavian Bakery- Serves western quality breakfasts, burgers and
pizzas. Food must be paid for before eating. Staff seemed a little
unreliable.
* Tamarind - Near the famous restaurant l'Elephant. This is a part of the
Stay Another Day organization. The food is all Laos traditional food. The
waitstaff explains the menu to you and you have many options to choose
from to experience a vast array of Laos food including platter
combinations of dips, salads, etc. The waitstaff explains your meal to you
when you get it so that you know how Lao people would eat it. In addition
to the tasty food, they sell organic and fair trade food products, recipe
books, and more. You can also book tours to markets, cooking courses, and
more through the restaurant.
* Sala Café-Nice place with a view on the Nam Khan river. This
restaurant-bar offers an open air terrace where you can relax while trying
homemade Vietnamese,French and Lao specialities. Menu regulars are
pastries, Bourdaloue tart,Mango crumble,Chocolate mousse and cocktails
including Mojito and Martini dry. Some people think it is a little bit
expensive, but the quality has a price...
* "The House" Restaurant & Bar specialises in Belgian & Italian Cuisine.
It has an apealing range of Belgian Beers, wines and cocktails.
Conveniently situated at the Nam Khan riverside of Mount Phousi, only 4
minutes walk away from the mainstreet and nightmarket. In the garden they
have the only Petanque in town that's easily accessible for foreigners.
Very popular and good ambience. For the experienced in search of comfort.
* Tamnak Lao Restaurant - A great place for traditional Lao food at
reasonable prices. Located in the main road opposite the Villa Santi
Hotel, it has a fabulous upstairs balcony with a view over Villa Santi and
down the main road. If you want to eat on the balcony you might have to
book a table. We ate at other restaurants but found this by far the best.
* Utopia -Sports Bar & Restaurant in a spectacular garden setting on the
Nam Khan riverbank. Attractions include a full size beach volleyball court
(with floodlights); rope ladder climb 30 ft to a palm tree top crow's
nest; the longest bar in Luang Prabang, serving a wide variety of drinks;
20 meter deck frontage with loungers and a million dollar view. The
restaurant menu is basic but the food good & well presented; the staff
invariably courteous & thoughtful. Although a little difficult to locate
(Ban Aphay, opposite Wat Visoun, follow the UNESCO brick paths to the
river),those who persevere invariably come away well satisfied. No TV,
soccer videos & etc.! But plenty other opportunities to meet & interact
with all ages and sorts. Unpretentious and a thoroughly enjoyable hang out
(9 a.m. to curfew)
* Boulevard Restaurant - A new Al Fresco style restaurant under the same
wing of New Daraphet Villa behing JoMa Bakery. Owner has recently brought
in sound equipment and a new acoustic guitar for music enthusiasts to jam.
The restaurant has 2 sides for both proper dining and casual drinking.
serves decent draft tiger beer and a great atmosphere for meeting new
friends from the guesthouses along the street.
* Hmong Night Market (Vegetarian + Vegan) - One food stall says vegetarian
and the other "végétalien" (vegan). Approximately 5000 K for a plate. Cash
only. Market is open 5pm-10pm.
Drink in Luang Prabang.
There are a number of places to drink around Luang Prabang, although the
club scene isn't really existent. Most restaurants have tables outside
where you can sit back with a beer or two.
* Mekong Sunset Beach Bar - The place to go to watch the sunset. Located
at the river mouth of Nam Khan and Mekong, you have to cross the bamboo
bridge behind Wat Xieng Thong and walk 3 min. Very simple but
unbelievable. Floods in the wet season.
* "The Hive Bar" or the "Lao Lao Beer Garden" are the places to go at
night and to meet people, if everything closes (at about 12pm) you can go
to the "Vietnam Bar". This is invariably reached by all the remaining
people at The Hive and Laos Beer Garden clubbing together and getting one
or two tuktuks together. Lao residents are beginning to complain about the
Hive and Laos Beer garden because of roudy foreigners and offers of drugs
and prostitution. The Lao Lao Beer Garden also shows live sports in the
day (unlike the 'Sports Bar' next to the night market, as we found out
despite an earlier promise that it would!).
* Morning Glory Cafe - On the quiet end of the main street, after 3 Nagas.
Run by a laid-back couple. Thai and western food, Good wine, by the glass.
Garden seating. Temple in front and street life can be seen.
* Books and Tea L'Etranger - downstairs is a book shop/swap and upstairs
there is a bar selling drinks and cake in a room covered in cushions for
lazing around and reading. Movies everyday at 7pm. A tad greedy and
unfriendly on the book exchange business.
* Saffron Caffè - (around the corner from L'Elephant restaurant in Wat
Nong village) - The Best coffee in Luang Prabang, if not in all of Laos!
Fresh roasted coffee from the mountains of Luang Prabang itself, and an
array of hot espresso drinks (we like the Caramel Macchiato) and iced
coffees, including some Luang Prabang original recipes. Try the Banana
Shake Macchiato for the most delicious drink experience in Luang Prabang!
Delicious fresh baked goods such as their Cinnamon Swirls and Banana
muffins go quickly. Granola and salad wraps are good. Saffron has now
begun selling their coffee in gold foil bags again.
* Tamarind - Kind of hard to find, but worth the effort of getting the tuk
tuk driver to ask around where it is. This is a part of the Stay Another
Day organization. They offer a variety of traditional Laos drinks
including local fruits and tea. Also the cooking classes and local
products such as creams, jam and so on are worth checkin out!
* Sala Café-Nice place with a view on the Nam Khan river. This
restaurant-bar offers an open air terrace where you can relax while trying
homemade Vietnamese,French and Lao specialities. Menu regulars are
pastries, Bourdaloue tart,Mango crumble,Chocolate mousse and cocktails
including Mojito and Martini dry.
Wrere to sleep / Place to Sleep This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room:
Budget Under $20
Mid-range $20-80
Splurge Over $80
Luang Prabang has the best selection of accommodation in Laos, with
something to suit every budget. While the big chains have yet to make an
appearance, there's plenty of "boutique" accommodation, although this
heavily overused word runs the gamut from quirky to luxury. Budget
* Cold River Guesthouse. run by a local family and you meet often a lot of
travellers. It's directly on the Khan River. Off peak times, it costs
80,000 kip. Unusually, they do not accept US$. Free filtered water and
bananas are available. On Mondays they'll serve free home-cooked dinner.
* Koun Savan Guest House, near the centre not very friendly nor clean nor
quiet, US$7 rooms without bathroom (noisy), US$15 rooms with bathroom
* Levady Guesthouse - in a lovely side street 50 m off the main street.
Super nice family, wooden rooms and floor, bike rental, absolutely tidy.
Double rooms with fan and private bathroom US$7, long term discounts on
request.
* Merry Guesthouse. has rooms for US$3 with bathroom outside. Free
filtered water and bananas are available. Not so merry though, the options
further down the alley (Cold River and Sysomphone) are more appealing.
* Soutikkone Guest House. Central location near the night market and an
Indian Restaurant. Large, clean rooms with a very hot shower, good Western
toilet, and proper mosquito netting on the windows/door. Very nice wooden
floorboards as well. The staff speak English. As of January, 2009, rooms
are quoted at 120,000 kip, but they'll come down to 100,000 kip right away
if you ask. Same discount on laundry service just by asking.
* Sysomphone Guesthouse. on the same street, very friendly family. Free
bananas and water. Owner has good information, offers you sticky rice if
you stumble across dinner and collects traveller's photographs in an
album. Rooms with shared hot-water bathrooms 40000 kip. A newer, cleaner
building in the back has fresher rooms for 60000-70000 kip.
* VannaPhone Guest House located 10 minutes away from the airport and
about 4 minutes from the city. Ranging from $10-$15 (depending on what
room you choose). Ok sized rooms with kind of small bathrooms. Noisy if
you choose the rooms located close to the street but if you choose one of
the new backrooms it is OK.
* Vilay Guesthouse. Located near the night Market in a quiet street, this
10 rooms guesthouse proposes simple (but nice and clean) rooms, with or
without private bathroom, with fan or air-co. From $4 in the low season.
Located in the center, the owner speaks French and English. Exceptional:
free Hi-speed Internet workstation, and free secured Wi-Fi. See Website
* Vong Champa Guesthouse. centrally located in a small alley on the Mekong
riverfront near the night market, cheap (singles from 30000 kip), quiet,
brand new and spotless clean.
* Xayana Guesthouse, Guesthouse in a Lao-style villa in the
protected zone. Dorms from $4, rooms from $8.
Mid-range Hotel, Lodge, Guest House in Luang Prabang.
* Bouakham Chanthasack Guesthouse. A brand new, beautiful high end
guesthouse on the Mekong riverfront near the night market. All rooms have
bathrooms and air conditioning, very clean and nice, double rooms for $45.
Owners are selling also the best chilli sauce in Luang Prabang.
* Hotel De Lyon, out of town near the airport, . New 24-room hotel
built in "Lao-Colonial" style. Free airport and city shuttles. $45-60.
* Jade Hotel, Phu Vao Rd, . Modern hotel in an old protected
Chinese-style building. Flat-screen TVs, free airport transfers. $30-70.
* Merry Swiss Lao Located near Mt. Phousi not on the main street side, but
the other side. The room was not clean, had moisture issues, and had a
rooster pin attached. Two separate guests only stayed one night and had to
check out due to noise. Room was $40 one night and $35 another. Rooms have
private bathroom and air conditioning if needed.
* New Daraphet Villa, Traditional Lao villa in the heritage
zone, turned into a boutique hotel. Large terraces and lots of flowers.
Airport transfer included. $30-60.
* Rama Hotel A recently renovated higher end guesthouse. Hot water shower
and air con if you need it. Rooms in February 2008 were $30 per night and
included a decent breakfast. This hotel was fairly quiet with a little bit
of traffic noise until about 11PM.
* Refuge of the Last Dreamers, . Located on the other side of the Khan
River, near the temple. The guesthouse is located in a beautifully
restored building. It is owned by a young Australian guy, Niki. He
provides a very relaxing atmosphere. To reach the guesthouse, at daytime,
cross the bamboo bridge (2000 kip), at night you have to take the motor
bridge further north.
* Sabaidee Guest House., 70 Thammikarat Road. There are lots of good
guest houses along here this one is good value around $25 for a double
en-suite room with breakfast included. There's a good laundrette just
opposite the entrance too.
Splurge
* Ancient Luang Prabang. In main st next to night market. No room
numbers - names like "tiger room". Rooms not quite up to standard for this
price - no shower curtain and cleverly designed taps to ensure a wet
floor, no bedside table, no reading light. However clean and comfortable.
Friendly staff and no cost for airport transfer. Note that internet is not
free.
* La Residence Phou Vao. Amongst the town's prime hotels, this resort
nestles amongst landscaped grounds and gardens, and has picturesque views
over Phou Si and the World Heritage town. The property has a traditional
Lao spa and a restaurant offering both indigenous and French cuisine.
Regular shuttles are provided and boat trips arranged. An Orient-Express
Hotel.
* Les 3 Nagas Hotel. a nice colonial hotel with 7 rooms on one side and 8
on the other. The restaurant is fairly cheap, but the rooms are rather
overpriced. There are a few executive suites, the most costly coming with
their own set of stairs. But beware: your nights may be troubled as there
is a rooster that sings every morning at the hotel, at about 3AM. The
attitude of the owner has put off some guests who report this in forums.
* Sala Luang Prabang. fine restored colonial villa with comfortable rooms,
but it has its price. It has been ordered to change its name as "sala" is
considered inappropriate by the local and UNESCO authorities, representing
the Buddha.
* The Grand. an atmospheric set of comfortable neo-colonial buildings on
the site of Prince Phetsarath's old residence. Many rooms have idyllic
views of both the Mekong River and the hotels gardens and ponds. Located
around 4 km from town (a regular shuttle boat and bus service runs for
guests), this hotel is enables the discerning tourist to escape from the
hum of the city. During the winter season, breakfast is served outdoors on
a terrace with spectacular views of the Mekong River and the surrounding
hills that emerge from the morning mist.
* Villa Santi Resort - villa-style resort, good restaurant,
(unfortunately) terrible mosquito infested pool, massage and spa service.
For more information of Laos visit
http://wikitravel.org/en/Laos
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/1.0/
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