Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang is an UNESCO world heritage listing city located in the north of Laos.

The current population of the city is about 105,000. This is the ancient city of Laos back in 689 A.D and it's a tourist's paradise. If you like nature, want to escape the crowd and traffic jams in the big city then this charming city is the right place for you to relax and explore.

There are a wide range of hotels and guest houses for you choose from. You can live in 5 star luxury hotels or simple guest house you can do so easily.

Our best advice for you is to compare Luang Prabang hotels then decide which one is best suit your need. Most people choose to book hotel online because it's easy, convenient and best of all you often get discount. So we highly recommend you to book hotels and guesthouses online before leave home.

Luang Prabang King Palace

Luang Prabang (Ex-Royal Palace)

Early in the morning you can see the procession of monks collect alms from the people around the city. This is a spectacular scene that happen every day in Luang Prabang.

Inside and surrounding the city there are beautiful attractions and scenery for you to explore and sightseeing. You can visit the Royal Place Museum and view the treasures of past king who ruled Laos before 1975. You can climb Mount Phou-si which stands right in front of Royal Palace and experience stunning view at sun set.

Wat Xieng Thong is another great Buddhist temple; here you can see the work of art that Lao's artist built during that century. Kuang Si Falls and Pak Ou Caves is amongst the most famous attractions in this area. So if you're thinking to visit this city by tour there are tour agents who bring tourist here every day.

Tourist Information

Provincial Tourist Information
Address: Thanon Wisunarat (opposite Wat Wisunarat).
Tel: 212487
Have some brochures and information for tourist.

Emergency Numbers

Ambulance 195
fire 190
Police 191

Immigration

Immigration And Foreigners Management
Address: Thanon Wisunarat
Open hours: 8.30am-4.30pm (Mon-Fri)
Tel: 212435

Communication

Post Office
Address: Corner Thanon Fa Ngum & Thanon Kitsarat
Open hours: 8.30am-3.30pm (Mon-Fri)
Weekend: 8.30am-Noon (Saturday)
Telephone Access
Most internet cafes in Luang Prabang have MSN Messenger and Skye on their computers, therefore you be able to make cheap or free international internet phone calls. Otherwise, you can use their international phone services for 2000kips per minutes.
Domestic and International phone calls can also be made inside the Post Office. Phone cards may be purchased there or at phone shops around town.

Luang Prabang Sreet

Internet Access
Internet cafes are scattered everywhere in town, the prices are relatively cheap, connection is fast and reliable. Here are some good one in town:

Le Cafe Ban Vat Sene
Address: Thanon Sakkarin
Note: Has wireless access for your own laptop
Internet Shop
Address: Thanon Sakkarin
Open hours: 8am-11pm
Treasure Travel Laos
Address: Thanon Sisavangvong
Open hours: 7am-11pm
Tel: 245403

Bookshop

L'Etranger Books & Tea
Address: Thanon Kingkitsarat
Open hours: 8am-10pm (Mon-Sat)Sunday: 10am-10pm
New and used books about Laos and Southeast Asia.
2nd floor art show and tea lounge.

Money and Banks

The currency of Laos is "Kip". There are no coins in circulation. Notes of Kip are ranging from 50kip to 20,000kip.

Us dollars and Thai Bath are widely accepted in most shops, restaurants and hotels. Major currencies and traveler's cheques in US dollars and pounds sterling can be exchanged at most leading banks.

Following banks charge cash and travelers cheques and issue cash advances against Visa and MasterCard.

Banque pour le Commerce Exterieur Lao(BCEL)
Address: Thanon Sisavangvong (Central Luang Prabang)
Open hours: 8.30am-3.30pm (Mon-Sat)
Weekend: 8.30am-3.00pm (Sat-Sun)
Foreign exchange Thai Bath, US, Australian, Canadian dollars, Euros and UK pounds.
Lao Development Bank
Address: Thanon Sisavangvong
Open hours: 8.30am-3.30pm (Mon-Sat)Foreign exchange services; but does not accept credit cards.

Getting to Luang Prabang:

By air:

Luang Prabang Airport

The airport is situated north of the city and has international scheduled flights from/to Bangkok, Chiang Mai (Thailand), Hanoi (vietnam) and Siem Riep (Cambodia).

If you're in Thailand Lao's Airlines fly six times a week from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang and domestic flights fly there three to five flights daily. For more information visit air travel to Laos.

By road:

There are 3 bus stations:

Tickets can be bought at every travel agent in town, or at the bus station, or when boarding the bus.

1. From/to Vang Vieng - Vientiane via highway 13.

The air-conditioned VIP bus to Vang Vieng costs 70,000 kip to Vientiane 115,000 kip. It will cost you more if booked through an agent.

2. From/to Muang Xay (Oudomxay)

This route only run by public mini-bus. The ticket costs about 40.000 kip and it takes 5 hours to get to Oudomxay. From there you can get the bus to Luang Namtha, wich is about the distant and the same price.

P.S: Once a day at 9:00am there is a direct local bus to Luang Namtha via Muang Xay (Oudomxai) it will take about 9-10 hours ride.

3. From/to Nong Khiaw (Northern Station)

There is a public bus running to Nong Khiaw every day from Northern Station and it only take 3 hours to get there. From there you can get to Muong Ngoi by boat.

By boat:

There are boats ply from Luang Prabang to Huay Xai every day, stopping in Pakbeng. The boats leave between 8.00am to 9.00am. There are two types of boats, slow boats and speed boats. Slow boats consider to be safer than the fast one but be prepared to spend the night in Pakbeng.

The slow boat always fulled with tourist and it can be quite uncomfortable since there are not enough seats to go round. It costs about 95,000 kip to Pakbeng and from Pakbeng to Huay Xai is about 11,500 kip.

If you choose to travel by speed-boat it only takes 4 hours to get to Huay Xai in the wet season, with a lunch stop at Pakbeng. You will be provide with a crash helmet and life-jacket. This option will leave plenty times to relax and cutting on the uncomfortable slow-boat time.

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