Luang Prabang
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Luang Prabang (also spelled Louangphrabang) is the capital of the Louangphrabang Province in northern Laos and rests along the Mekong River. With all of its amazing sites and day trips, it is no surprise that tourism to Luang Prabang is rapidly increasing. Like other destinations in Laos, Luang prabang offers natural and historical sites, and some close by day trips. The old section of town is charming with its French Provincial style architecture.
The main tourist sites in town both lie on the Mekong River, and are the Haw Kham Royal Palace and the Wat Xieng Thong (Wat: Buddhist Temple). Haw Kahm Palace was built for King Sisavang Vong, and he and his family inhabited the palace during his entire reign from 1904 to 1959. When King Sisavang Vong died, Prince Savang Vatthana and his family lived there until communists put an end to the monarchy in 1975. It was specifically built along the river so officials traveling to Luang Prabang by the river, could be received at the palace immediately upon their arrival. The Haw Kham is now open to the public as a national museum. The Wat Xieng Thong is a much older historical site. King Sethhathirath commissioned the temple in 1560. Since then additional sections have been built, including the Tripitake Library in 1880, and almost a century later in 1961, the drum tower. Both the Haw Kham Palace and the Wat Xieng Thong are well worth seeing.
Good options for day trips are the Kuang Si Falls and the Pak Ou Caves. Hikes and Kayaking trips are also available from Luang Prabang. The stunning Kuang Si Falls are about an hour from town by tuk tuk, and tourists can opt to rent their own tuk tuk for approximately $6US for a half-day, or book a group trip with a guide. The entry fee is only $1US. Visitors can also book hikes around and to the Falls.
The Pak Ou Caves are an extraordinary and somewhat bizarre site. The Pak Ou Caves house hundreds of Buddah Statues that were discarded there over hundreds of years by locals. The entrance fee is only $1US and it is highly recommended that tourists go via boat along the Mekong to the meeting point of the Mekong and Ou Rivers where the caves are located. While it is possible to travel via tuk tuk, the river trip is part of the experience and takes about two hours each way. Travelers can go on a guided boat and cave tour or hire a local to take them on the river.
As a country, Laos in general does not attract an overwhelming amount of tourism, and is able to keep its various cultures intact as opposed to compromising its cultural roots to profit from the tourism industry. However, due to recently relaxed regulations in China that allow easier border crossings from China into Laos, a substantial increase in tourism is likely to ensue in Luang Prabang, and along with the native population of about 103,000 people, there will be a large number of visitors. This increase in tourism does not suggest that Luang Prabang will no longer be worth visiting, but rather, that it will change in the coming years, and a visit sooner rather than later will guarantee travelers a front-row seat to Luang Prabang-pre-tourist-industry-makeover.
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