Joanna James
Luang Prabang has a reputation for being listed as one of south-east Asia's most endearing cities. Enjoying a scenic location where the Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers meet, this charming city is great to experience and explore. Listed are some of its best attractions.
The hip coffee shops of Luang Prabang are pretty cool places to hang out at, especially the air-conditioned ones. You will find the classier cafes are frequented by visitors and expats, while the little roadside cafes are full of character. The coffee shops mainly sell local coffee varieties produced by the coffee farmers of Luang Prabang, who know no other trade and find these coffee shop promotions a great incentive for enhancing their earnings.
The ancient temples of Luang Prabang number over 30, and a city rife with vintage architecture and age-old customs is sure to impress with its collection of revered shrines. A mere walk along the streets will take you past a number of temples, and if they are open, do step in and explore the place. You will find that most of these temples built in various sizes and shapes are quite fascinating to explore. While some of the must see temples include Wat Visoun and Wat Xieng Thong which is just 2kms from AVANI+ Luang Prabang.
One of the most favored things to do in Luang Prabang is to walk across the old bridge, which is really -very old. It was built over a century ago by the French colonists and is only accessible via foot, bicycle or scooter. If you are up for a rush of adrenaline, try the walkway located on the outer edge of the bridge which is covered with only some loose planks, and requires oodles of courage to walk on. If you do take up the challenge, you will be rewarded with stunning views of the Nam Khan River. Even more daring – and scary – are the bamboo footbridges which come-up during the dry season at various points of the Nam Khan River, a challenge to look forward to if you are an avid thrill seeker.
With the lengthy and beguiling history, Laos is inherent to, the museums are pretty awesome places to explore. Well chronicled at these museums are facts, figures and stories ranging from royalty and wars to hill tribes and their customs. Then there are museums dedicated to educating you on the customs, traditions and lifestyles of this ancient nation, quite fascinating and insightful to the curious traveler. Recommended museums include the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre, Royal Palace History Museum and UXO Laos Visitor Centre.
An iconic activity to enjoy when in Luang Prabang, a hike up Mount Phousi is a must. Leave your resort in Luang Prabang to hike the short distance to the summit of the mountain in order to catch the famed sunsets from its summit.
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