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 traveller's cheques in US dollars and pounds sterling can be exchanged at most leading banks.
Following banks charge cash and travellers 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:
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 fromChiang 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 (Oudomxai)
This route only run by public mini-bus. The ticket costs about 40.000 kip and it takes 5 hours to get to Oudomxai. 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. Click here to read article written by Mary Billard New York Time.
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