Luang Prabang Favorite Tips by DSwede

Favorite thing: Simply put, I would choose Luang Prabang over Vientiane. I spent some time in Vientiane and was bored after about one day. I stayed several nights in Luang Prabang and feel that I still had things to do. Depending on your international connection (BKK, HCM, Hanoi), all have direct flights to Luang Prabang. Airports in Laos offer Visa on arrival for US cash payment (not available on all land crossings). If you have limited time, and are trying to pick between the two, I'd recommend Luang Prabang.

Fondest memory: The Luang Prabang National Museum was nice. It was full of old memorabilia from the Royal Family, including library, chambers, throne room, and gifts from other nations. All reference to the Royal Family was dated up to the early 1970's. After that all support is gone and silence... Enter the communist government after the war. Rumor is that the family was exiled to caves in the remote north and eventually died of malnutrition and lack of medical care. The monarchy sought the protection of the French against all their other enemies, foreign and domestic... The French allowed the monarchy to remain and function, unlike what the museum in Vientiane wants you to believe. They are very different presentations of the same story.