Luang Prabang

The riverine town of Luang Prabang, once the capital of Laos and still considered to be its religious heart, breathes a rich meld of French Indochinese architecture and subtle Theravada Buddhist temples, and imparts on visitors an especially unique vibe. Luang Prabang is strikingly situated on a peninsula formed by the confluence of two rivers. Its palm-lined riverbanks, ochredaubed houses, terracotta roofs and saffron-robed monks all come together to form a picture postcard increasingly difficult to find in Southeast Asia.

Somnambulant and languid, its peaceful feel masks its fascinating history of conquest and recapture, and only hints at the intricate culture and complex traditions that take place here every day.