Photo: Misaiphon Restaurant 

Eat

Obviously you need to sample some traditional Lao food during your visit, which has similarities to both Thai and Chinese cuisines. Grab a spot on the wide wooden balcony at restaurant and cooking school Tamnak Lao (Sakkaline Rd., +8 56 7125-2525), order up some say ua kway, a traditional spicy Lao buffalo sausage (35,000 kip/B140) and ask for a pot of their jeowbong—an intense green chili dip that packs a serious punch. For dinner, head to relaxed, open-air Misaiphon Restaurant (Phu Vao Rd., +8 56 7121-2888) to catch a performance of traditional Lao dance and music. Try the whole fish with herbs (55,000 kip/B220), which is perfectly moist and cooked in a fragrant mix of peanuts, lime and lemongrass. If you really want to push the boat out, enjoy the town’s French cultural legacy with a meal at fine dining restaurant L’Eléphant (Vat Nong, +8 56 7125-2482). The setting is open, elegant and airy, the food rich and flavorsome and the wine list one of the most extensive in town. Try one of the set menus (from 127,000kip/B580) for items like coq au vin and tarte tartin with warm apple, mango and pineapple.

Drink

Photo: Le Palais Juliana Hotel

Stay

Photo: Tad Kuangsi

Do

Luang Prabang is set along the mighty Mekong River so make sure you get out on the water with a boat trip. A standard two-hour tour costs US$40-50 (B1,300-B1,600, depending on your bargaining skills) and should take in the thousands of Buddha images stored in caves at Pak Ou. It also usually involves a stop off at one of the small villages along the way to visit local markets and sample some homemade whiskey. Another worthwhile adventure is Tad Kuangsi waterfall, around 30km south of Luang Prabang (about US$20/B620 return in a taxi). After a short walk through the forest you’ll hear the sound of crashing water before you see the breathtaking three-tiered falls. If you can spare the time, bring swimmers and take a dip, the turquoise water is crystal clear and refreshing.

 

Those looking for souvenirs should head to the daily night markets from 5pm on Sisavang Vong Road. A welcome departure from the usual tacky tourist tees and key rings, these higher-end markets have locals selling silver and beaded jewelry, patterned ceramic kitchenware, local art and ground Laos coffee beans to take home. There’s also a great range of hawkers selling everything from fresh juices and pancakes to barbecued meat skewers. If extra time presents itself, just wander the town’s picturesque streets which snake between traditional wooden Lao homes, faded colonial guesthouses and golden temples. For a bird’s eye view climb to the top of Phousi Hill and its mountaintop temple.

It’s a bit of a trek (comfy shoes and mosquito repellent are recommended) but the panoramic views make it a great spot for sunset.

Essentials

GETTING THERE

VISA

CURRENCY

EXCHANGE RATE

Temple Tour

Wat Visoun (photo on the right)
The oldest temple in the city is a huge stone structure

surrounded by lush gardens. Sisavang Vong Road

 

 

Wat Xieng Thong
One of the country’s most important temples,

attracting monks from all over Laos.

Khem Khong Road

 

 

Wat Sop Sickharam (photo on the right)

It’s beautiful and highly ornate with gold detailing,

located right in town. Sakkaline Road

 

Haw Kham

The city’s royal palace is over 110 years old and has some

French colonial touches. Sisavang Vong Road

The Rocking Chair

The Rocking Chair is the brainchild of husband and wife team Pearl Leong and Jay Sim. They source original vintage furniture from the UK and either restore or upcycle them from tired-looking pieces that have seen better days into statement items with loud paint accents.

Journey East

This sparse and unpolished emporium houses an eclectic, cheery collection of upcycled, refurbished furniture. They’ve got a wide range of reclaimed teak wood pieces and hand-selected vintage furniture, but be warned, the showroom is in trendy Tiong Bahru, so you might have to battle the resident hipsters to get the best stuff.

Roccoco Kent

This unpretentious vintage shop is filled to the brim with an eclectic range of items including retro furniture, clothes and collectibles. Goods stocked here are mostly rare, one-of-a-kind pieces and are updated weekly. Particularly worth checking out are their range of old fashioned type writers and display cabinets.

Like That One

This is a treasure trove of beautifully recycled and restored décor items, rescued from local second-hand furniture stores, garage sales and even dumpsters. Expect to find cool art-deco furnishings, chic ‘50s and ‘60s goods and other unique, funky home accessories.

NODEN

This showroom and online store offers vintage and retro furniture, lighting and artworks with a particular focus on original Scandinavian pieces. They also have a small range of retro home accessories including colorful vases and quirky 1950s-style cookware.

Lorgan’s The Retro Store

This wonderfully colorful, cluttered store is a vintage fan’s delight. Make the time to poke through the nooks and crannies and see their original retro furniture as well as reproductions of iconic Danish furniture. They also have a fun range of retro lamps and vintage vases.

Art from Junk

Art from Junk is a home studio that restores vintage, recycled and second-hand furniture to its former glory, and then hand-paints each piece with a retro-inspired design. Each work is totally unique and the painted patterns feature traditional Singaporean designs like the Lampang Rooster, Peranakan-style floral motifs and Chinese dragons.

KB Living

Every shipment to KB Living is unique and includes a range of vintage and second-hand furniture handpicked from around the world. They have everything from rustic wooden pieces and art-deco style chairs to vintage sewing machines and collectible figurines.