Luang-Prabang Travel Guide
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It's a town that wakes early each day when, beginning ever so faintly, the bells, gongs, and drums of local temples crescendo around 4:30am to send Luang Prabang's estimated 1,000 resident monks and novices on their morning begging rounds. Making a circuit around the small peninsula formed by the Nam Khan and Mehkong, the crisp column of barefoot, orange-robed figures collect rice for their one daily meal. Visitors can even take part and do their good karmic deed for the day by handing handfuls of rice to each monk as they pass -- a unique way to connect in a city that is alive with Buddhist culture and history. The colonial legacy still thrives and the torch of French culture and custom is borne by Luang Prabang's architecture and cuisine. Even the most brief visit to this magically tranquil town is memorable.
Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995, Luang Prabang is named after the golden statue that's kept here, the Prabang (the town's name means "great holy image"). With a long history as a center for the study of Buddhism, Luang Prabang was the first capital of Laos and has mercifully remained relatively untouched by war or even by the ravages of time; this means that many of the 33 temples are original, and the town's charm arises from the ancient and authentic.
This small town has magic -- so many come and get lost in its charm. It's a place to wander, to watch streetside craftsmen, get lost in lazy back alleys amid stately colonials, and stop for a chat down by the river or in one of the many cozy streetside cafes. Allow yourself at least 3 days to sink into the city's languid rhythms, but beware: You might end up staying longer than you planned.
