10 Best Things to Do in Luang Prabang, Southeast Asia’s Most Charming City

When I decided, on a whim, to visit Laos as part of my trip to Vietnam and Cambodia, I didn’t have high expectations. It doesn’t have iconic attractions such as Angkor Wat or Halong Bay. It’s also landlocked, so it doesn’t have the glorious beaches you would find in Thailand. Laos just doesn’t get the same amount of attention as its neighbours do.

But I’m here to shout from the rooftops: Laos deserves the attention.

Laos is scenically spectacular, the food is divine, and if you like temples, boy, has it got temples. And its former capital city, Luang Prabang, has got to be the most charming city in all of Southeast Asia.

As you wander Luang Prabang’s streets, you’ll notice a mix-match of Asian and European architecture. Imagine French villas sitting side by side with dragon-ornamented temples, and cafes selling croissants alongside stalls selling laarp; throughout the city, you’ll find that Indochinese opulence and French charm have intertwined beautifully, making for one very unique destination.

And, despite the growing tourism, Luang Prabang still retains a sleepy village atmosphere, making it the ultimate city of zen and very much deserving of its title “the jewel of Indochina.”

After just four days in Luang Prabang, I found that the relaxed pace of life had completely refreshed and rejuvenated me. As the locals say, the PDR in Laos People’s Democratic Republic stands for Please Don’t Rush – and this couldn’t be more accurate of life here in Laos’ cultural heart.

Things to do in Luang Prabang

Visit Luang Prabang’s temples

It’s probably no surprise that Luang Prabang is home to a ton of temples. The city has 34 of them, to be precise, making it one of the most temple-rich cities in all of Southeast Asia.

Luang Prabang’s best-known temple, Wat Xieng Thong, was built in the 1500s and is the perfect spot to sit and enjoy the serenity. It’s also known as “The Temple of the Golden City,” and is a very important monastery for teaching novice monks.

The opening times for temples across the city varies, so be sure to check before you visit. For Wat Xieng Thong, the public opening hours are 8:00 am – 5:00 pm every day.

Oh, and don’t forget that these are religious sites and should be treated as such – please be respectful and cover your bare arms and legs.

Explore the Night Market

Night markets are dotted all across Southeast Asia and are great places to explore the local handicrafts.

Luang Prabang’s night market takes place from 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm every evening, hawking everything from clothing to musical instruments to homeware to handmade cards.

Apparently, the market was only supposed to run for 5 weeks. In December 2002, some craftsmen ran some stalls to sell their goods – it just never stopped, and has continued to grow and expand over the past couple of decades.

Just off the main market is Buffet Street, a narrow street filled with vendors selling buffet-style food. You pay for a bowl and pick what you want – cheap, delicious and a great place to mingle with locals and fellow travellers alike.

Watch the Morning Alms ceremony

The most iconic image of Luang Prabang is that of the Morning Alms (Sai Bat) ceremony. Every morning, just before sunrise, hundreds of monks walk single-file through the city to collect donations of sticky rice from the locals. This ceremony is a deep and meaningful one for the local people of Laos, many of whom have been participating for generations.

If you do choose to go and see the Morning Alms, please be respectful. This is a very meaningful ceremony for the local people – tourists getting too close or making noise is simply ignorant and intrusive.

Watch the sunset from Mount Phousi

Head to the base of Mount Phousi just before the sun sets to witness the light fade over the Mekong river. You’ll pay a 20,000 kip (2.50 USD) entrance fee to ascend the mountain, which is 300 steps to the top.

Mount Phousi is the most popular spot in town at sunset, so be sure to get there early to avoid fighting with hundreds of other tourists for a good viewpoint.

Take a cooking class

I discovered on my last trip to Southeast Asia that I really love cooking classes. They’re a fun way to learn about the local cuisine, meet new people and enjoy some delicious food.

If you’re going to take a cooking class in Laos, then Luang Prabang is the place to do it. It’s known as the culinary capital of Laos for a reason! With its French/Asian fusion, Laotian food is vibrant, colourful and delightfully complex, featuring mouth-watering dishes such as laap, green papaya salad and tom yum soup.

I recommend Tamarind – the classes are excellent and are taught in a beautiful garden. The class will start with a trip to the local market to purchase fresh ingredients, so you can get a taste of what daily life is like in Luang Prabang. If you’re vegetarian like me, they have a veggie-friendly menu, too.

Visit Kuang Si Falls

Thirty kilometres outside of Luang Prabang are the turquoise, postcard-perfect Kuang Si Falls. Boasting a 50-metre cascading drop that continues to flow into tiers of natural pools, this waterfall really is quite spectacular.

You can even hike to the top of the falls and stand in the waterfall itself – good shoes are essential here!

There’s a small market at the entrance so you can grab a refreshing mango smoothie after enjoying the falls. You’ll also find Free The Bears, a sanctuary for more than 20 moon bears rescued from the illegal wildlife trade, as you walk up through the entrance.

It takes about 45 minutes to get to Kuang Si Falls from Luang Prabang, and you can get there by motorbike, tuk-tuk, taxi or by joining a minivan group tour. Entrance costs 20,000 kip (2.50 USD).

Learn about Lao history at The Royal Palace Museum

Originally constructed as a residential palace for King Sisavang Vong in 1904, The Royal Palace Museum is now home to a collection of historical items. There are several buildings within the compound, each showcasing artefacts to help you learn about Lao history and Laos’ royal family.

What was once the King’s reception hall now displays paintings of Lao monarchs and murals depicting scenes of traditional Lao life, painted by a French artist in the 1930s. The museum also showcases a collection of the palace’s most prized art including the magnificent Pha Bang Buddha statue.

Rather surprisingly, there is a large building that houses the royal car collection – mostly American cars from the 1950s – 1970s.

Take a river cruise on the Mekong

Luang Prabang’s Old Town sits at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers, surrounded by hazy green mountains. The scenery along the river is simply beautiful.

As you walk along the riverbank, boatmen will occasionally come up to you to ask if you’d like to take a boat trip. I suggest you opt to do this one afternoon, as the boat will cruise you slowly up and down the river, providing you with epic views of the surrounding area.

Kick back with a drink by the riverbank

Luang Prabang’s Utopia Bar may be a very touristy hangout, but it’s a wonderful place to kick back, unwind and meet fellow travellers. Lounge on the cushions on the floor of the outdoor area, order a refreshing Beerlao and watch the sunset over the Mekong.

Hire a bicycle for the day

It’s no surprise that Luang Prabang was granted UNESCO heritage status in 1995, in a bid to preserve its eclectic style and cultural significance. UNESCO insist that new buildings must conform to an architectural blueprint to complement the old city, and large vehicles such as buses and trucks are not allowed within its historical centre.

This makes it the perfect place to hire a bicycle and explore at your leisure.

Perhaps you’ll want to dip into French cafe’s and enjoy the delicious coffees and pastries that Luang Prabang has to offer. Le Banneton Café and L’Etranger are two popular choices. One TripAdvisor reviewer reckons that Le Banneton is the “best bakery outside of Paris!”

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Thank you for reading! If you found this post useful, I’d be grateful if you would consider using the affiliate links below when planning your travels. I’ll make a small commission at no extra cost to you. This will help me to keep this blog running. Thanks for your support – Lauren.

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