Luang Prabang is perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in South East Asia, and has a tranquil, old world charm rarely found in Asia today.
Luang Prabang is perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in South East Asia, and has a tranquil, old world charm rarely found in Asia today. This fascinating town was the capital of the Lane Xang (Million Elephants) Kingdom until the mid-sixteenth century, and in colonial times it served as a provincial headquarters of the north. The legacy of the European presence here – well preserved French architecture and careful street planning – has blended delightfully with more than 30 gilded Buddhist temples to create a town rich in atmosphere and history. Magical and charming, it has preserved its long-standing reputation as a stronghold of Lao cultures with its splendid natural scenery and sense of timelessness. In 1995 the uniqueness of Luang Prabang was recognized internationally when the old town came under UNESCO protection as a World Heritage Site.