Formally the seat of the capital of Laos, Luang Prabang province is situated where the Mekong and Mae Kok rivers intersect. Its location in northern Laos means it shares borders with Vientiane and Xaignabouli in the south and Xiengkhouang border in the east.
After the kingdom of Cambodia sent a rare gold Prabang Buddha as a gift to what was once called Muang Sawa in the 14th century, the city’s name changed to Luang Prabang. The province is considered to be the cultural and heritage center of the country, as many Buddhist monasteries, temples and monuments exist here. Luang Prabang old town has also been named a World Heritage site by UNESCO.
There are a great number of temples, monasteries, museums and natural splendors in Luang Prabang for tourists and visitors to the province to enjoy. The Vat Xieng Thong temple, the National Museum and the Tad Sae waterfall are just a few popular places of interests.
Getting to Luang Prabang province is possible by air, bus, or boat. Laos Airlines operates flights from Chiang Mai, Thailand to Luang Prabang, while internal flights from Vientiane are also available. Buses leave from Vientiane and take about 10 hours to reach Luang Prabang. There are also buses departing from surrounding provinces like Oudomxai, Xiengkhouang, and Meuang Khuea.
There are over 100 inexpensive guesthouses in Luang Prabang province, along with 17 hotels and two resorts. Where ever your lodging choice may be, be sure to visit the local markets for textiles, souvenirs and trinkets.