"The City of Temples and Guesthouses" Luang Prabang by DSwede

Luang Prabang is a great little city in the northern part of Laos. The city is dotted with nearly three dozen temples and then there are countless more in the nearby towns. It is still very much a living monument to the French colonial days, with a mixture of traditional architecture and colonial fronts as well.

The city is developing extremely rapidly with guesthouses, restaurants and tourist facilities. There are hundreds of guesthouses, with all varieties of amenities and prices. It is the cause and effect of being such a nice example of a UNESCO Heritage city. The temples and architecture bring people, the people drive the tourist development (and need I say the tourist inflation too...).

Luang Prabang, outside of maybe Vang Vieng, would be the singular place with the highest foreigner count. At times you may forget that you are in Laos and be consumed in the western crowds and hot spots. I recommend taking some time to get out of the city center and explore the outer fringes and neighboring towns, even if just for a few hours.

Kuang Si Waterfall

I came into Luang Prabang from the south, arriving from the relaxation and backpacker focus point of Vang Vieng. After reaching a fill of French architectural facades, night markets and temples, it was off to the eastern plains Phonsavan and its environs.

Feel free to visit my Laos page for more details on my extended holiday here.

(for more pictures, feel free to visit my Laos Gallery. If you enjoy the pictures, please leave a comment.)

• Pros:Vientiane has a completely different feel and open attitude than Vientiane.
• Cons:Tourist inflation has made it expensive.
• In a nutshell:The atmosphere could keep you here for a long time, although the sites may be seen in a couple days.