Location: Luang Prabang
Top Things to do in Luang Prabang
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What to do and see in Luang Prabang, Luang Prabang Province: The Best Budget-friendly Things to do
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the former capital of Laos, and you'll see everything from golden-roofed temples to vestiges of colonial French architecture here. Buddhist monasteries abound in Luang Prabang, and early every morning, monks process through the streets collecting alms (their food for the day). If you want to watch or participate, though, ask your hotel for a brief etiquette lesson first—you have to distribute the food in a specific manner.
Restaurants in Luang Prabang
1. Laos Buffalo Dairy
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 300 reviews
Reviewed By wee_lassy_eats_world - Panama, null
About 5-10 mins from the falls, this was an unexpected 45 minute detour to our itinerary. The enterprise is set up to support local farmers make more money by renting their buffalo to them (only 50% survive at birth). They then work to vaccinate and cross breed to make them stronger whilst paying the farmers rent until their return. All the money they make is from the buffalo cheese (which they sell to hotels, restaurants, etc) donations and very yummy ice cream. They have pigs, ducks, rabbits, etc which you're welcome to feed. You can also milk and bathe the buffalo (which they love!). Very gentle creatures who love a good cuddle and seem very happy and content in their home. Well worth the visit if you have time (a very reasonable 50k kip for the tour)
2. Wat Xiengthong
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,268 reviews
Laos' most enchanting temple was built in 1560.
Reviewed By LuizDutraNeto - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
In the ancient city of Xien Thong (literally, "The Golden City"), almost at the junction of rivers Mekong and Nam Kham, King Setthathirath ordered, in 1559, the construction of a temple. It was named "Wat Xien Thong", the "Temple of the Golden City". King Setthathirath probably never imagined this would become the city's most beautiful temple, and even maybe of the whole Laos - the "Land of a Million Elephants". Later on, the city of Xien Thong was renamed to Luang Prabang, meaning "The Place of Buddha" and "Wat Xien Thong" became the royal temple, where kings were crowned and holy relics were kept. The temple was built according to the early Lao architecture features, normally referred to as "Luang Prabang Classic Style", with roofs that sweep low to the ground. Just amazing! Visit the temple, its central shrine (the holy "Sim"), side chapels, pavillions, residences and gardens. And before leaving, near its East Gate, do not dare to miss "The Royal Funerary Chapel", where the "Royal Funerary Carriage" and the "Royal Family Funerary Urns" are housed. Unmissable! Enjoy!
3. Kuang Si Falls
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 11,068 reviews
Reviewed By itskathyhere
If you're in Luang Prabang, you can't miss this site. This is the most beautiful waterfall I have ever seen, and you can climb up to the top of the waterfall, and take a short bamboo raft ride to the source of the waterfall (it's an underground cave). The only thing to note is near the top of the waterfall, there are signs for a cave, which we followed for a while. I think it's about a 2 mile hike to the cave, which is further than we anticipated, and we decided to turnaround half way through since we didn't have the time to keep exploring. If you're tight for time, enjoy your time at the waterfall and don't get distracted by the cave signs!
4. Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 859 reviews
Opened in 2007, TAEC is a museum with permanent and temporary exhibitions about the diverse ethnic groups of Laos. Permanent Exhibitions highlight the Akha, Kmhmu, Tai Dam, and Hmong ethnic minorities. Interactive and immersive, TAEC's newest special exhibition, "Voices of the Wind: Traditional Instruments in Laos" features wind instruments and their role in communication, ritual, and courtship. Through recreations of a Hmong instrument-maker's workshop, a Tai Dam healing ceremony, and interactive video kiosks, visitors can enter a world rarely seen by the general public. The adjacent TAEC Museum Shop features fair trade handicrafts from 12 provinces of Laos supporting over 600 ethnic artisans from all over Laos. Approximately 50% of the price of the products goes back to our village producers. TAEC also boasts a kids activity centre, ethnobotanical garden, and patio cafe with cold refreshments making the museum a perfect destination for children and adults.
Reviewed By marylouisemarino - Washington, United States
If you're curious about the ethnic diversity and cultural heritage in Laos, the Traditional Arts & Ethnology Center is the place to go. Their free tour is very informative, their displays are engaging and beautifully curated, their staff always welcoming and their shop is enticing. I have visited TAEC numerous times on my trips to Luang Prabang to ethically source textile accessories and home accents and they are wonderful partners to work with.
5. Luang Prabang Library
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 214 reviews
Reviewed By Cartertravels15 - Alton, United Kingdom
So pleased we went to the library.Its a way of saying thank you to the local children.When the wall hanging is full (I think a 100 books) it is given to the local schools.I chose the books and my husband put them in the wall hanging pockets and we sent a picture to our grandchildren saying how lucky they were to have so many books in England.The building is an old colonial building and the staff very pleasant.We were told that sometimes monks go in there and love to practice their English.we would definitely visit here again
6. The Morning Market
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 355 reviews
Reviewed By OrderintheHouse
My wife and I enjoyed a short 5 day Wendy Wu “Laos in Focus” private tour in January 2020 as part of an 18 day Asian adventure to celebrate our 40th anniversary. The tour incorporated three nights and two full days in Luang Prabang, the ancient capital of Luang Prabang Province in northern Laos. Heralding in our second day in this charming city was our participation in the moving and humbling Takbat Buddhist Monk Alms Ceremony very early at sunrise. This was followed by a most enjoyable one hour stroll through the renowned Morning Market located right in the heart of old Luang Prabang, on the lanes surrounding Wat Mai, just off Sisavangvong Road. It was also just a short walk from our historic boutique hotel (the Victoria Xiengthong Palace) where we enjoyed a well earned later breakfast after the market visit, before embarking on our Mekong River Cruise to the Pak Ou Caves. The Morning Market is a ‘must do’ when in Luang Prabang. There is so much local colour and excitement and a chance to mix it with the locals as they go about buying their daily fresh food produce. The various vendors go to much trouble to attractively present their various food items for sale and they all seem happy and friendly as they go about their trading. Most choose to set up on the ground rather than utilising tables. This makes for an easy and efficient means to set up and then pack up afterwards. Notable exceptions were a butcher that used tables to display the meat cuts and a few vendors selling tourist handicrafts that found tables easier to display their wares. The food produce on offer was many and plentiful and included rice, fresh vegetables and herbs and fresh fish and meat including pork and poultry all without refrigeration which was a bit disconcerting to western tourists like us who are not accustomed to such marketing practices. There were also a range of live animals for sale. Then there were the novel local foods such as serpents, frogs, rats, bats, live beetles, and various grilled insects for sale that revolted us, even though we had to accept that this is very much part of the Lao cultural scene. Because this is a morning market there are quite a number of vendors selling interesting “street food” breakfast snacks. We did notice a number of tourists giving this local food a try; however we, being more conservative travellers and conscious of potential health risks, chose to not partake of what looked like very delightful local fare. Adding much colour to the market were the beautiful fresh flower arrangements especially made for leaving in the temples as offerings. Some vendors included these amongst their fresh vegetables as added extras. We were happy just soaking up the atmosphere created by this very Lao food marketing experience; enjoying the friendly interactions between vendors and local buyers; being fascinated by the unusual items on offer for sale and capturing lovely photographic images to remember the experience.
7. Wat Xieng Mouane
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 206 reviews
Reviewed By milliesmum2016 - Christchurch, New Zealand
This Wat is just beautiful. It has the most fabulous intricate mosaic work all backed with laquer red. It's really startlingly striking and well worth prioritizing on your Luang Prabang to-do list. The applied arts are lovely and varied. There are many beautiful fresco type wall paintings, depected sacred themes and even the columns are elaborately painted with gold on black or red backgrounds. These places really are fabulous and quite apart from their obvious religious significance, they are power houses of style and design excellence.
8. UXO Lao Visitors Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 782 reviews
Reviewed By crichtonh
This tiny museum exhibits the effect on the bombing during the vietnam war, It's sobering indeed to hear the stories of the kids that are impacted and also you are able to enjoy a little video that shows this and an overall introduction. The museum sets everything out there in English with only the correct level of information and shows good examples of missiles plus cluster bombs. The employees are helpful and friendly They've air con and it's entry by donation. Only three others there when I visited. Interesting and recommended. fifteen minutes stroll from visitors centre behind the president's park.
9. Old Quarter Luang Prabang
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,466 reviews
Reviewed By Travelling_SE_Asia - St. Albans, United Kingdom
A UNESCO Heritage Site, the Old Quarter in Luang Prabang is a network of old French Colonial architecture, buildings, narrow alleyways and roads. The main road is Sisavangvong Road where the Night Market is, but you can go off the main road to walk around or just have a stroll and see more. Next to the Mekong River and the Nam Khan River, the main area is where the Nam Khan River joins the Mekong River. It’s a beautiful area and you should take your time exploring it. There are lots of tourists but they keep the main road free of litter for the most part.
10. Kuang Si Falls Butterfly Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 985 reviews
Welcome to the Kuang si Falls ButterflyPark Just 300 meters before parking Kuang si Falls Hundreds of Laotian butterflies in a beautiful landscaped garden, natural fish spa included.
Reviewed By seulgison - Munich, Germany
We were surprised that there weren't many visitors when we visited, because this place was seriously great! They give you a booklet that will outline the tour of the butterfly sanctuary, which will take you around the falls and into the butterfly house, to the natural fish spa (there are seats for you to sit and experience this!) and a cute cafe at the end of the tour. We suggest getting the coffee + cake bundle at the beginning when you buy your ticket because they were both so good. There are also seats at the cafe where you can sit down and dip your feet in another pool. You can also feed the fish there too because there was a bowl full of fish food, which was fun to throw and watch. We really enjoyed our time at the butterfly sanctuary!!
