Old Town Peninsula

A look around

What you’ll be living next to. Swipe through.

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Where it sits

The circle is Old Town Peninsula and roughly a 10-minute walk around it.

How far is everything?

From the middle of this area to the city's headline sights — pick your own on the city page and these become your list.

• A Mekong sunset cruise6 min walk534 m
• A Lao BBQ (sindad) dinner7 min walk544 m
• Riverside bars & gentle nightlife9 min walk758 m
• A Lao cooking class9 min walk763 m
• Phosi morning market15 min walk1.2 km
• A riverside weaving village27 min walk2.3 km
• Kuang Si Falls68 min taxi22.6 km

On your doorstep

What you’re living next to if you stay here.

• 1.The dawn alms-giving (Tak Bat) — The soul of Luang Prabang, and one of the most moving sights in Asia — at first light each morning, hundreds of barefoot, saffron-robed monks file silently through the old town in a long orange procession to receive offerings of sticky rice from kneeling almsgivers. It's a living Buddhist ritual, centuries old, not a show — so watch quietly from a respectful distance, don't use flash or crowd the monks, and only take part if a local invites you and shows you how. Wake for it; it's unforgettable, and unlike anything else. Serene, humbling and profound. Go respectfully.
• 3.Sunset from Mount Phousi — The classic Luang Prabang sunset — climbing the 300-odd steps up Mount Phousi, the forested hill at the heart of the peninsula, past little shrines to the gilded stupa on top, for a sweeping 360° panorama over the temple roofs, the two rivers and the mountains beyond as the sky turns pink and gold. It gets busy at sundown, so come early for a spot (or climb at dawn or midday for the view without the crush). A magical, only-in-Luang-Prabang overlook and a rite of passage. Beautiful; go for the panorama. Worth every step.
• 4.Wat Xieng Thong — The most beautiful temple in Luang Prabang, and one of the finest in Laos — Wat Xieng Thong, a serene 16th-century royal monastery near the tip of the peninsula, with sweeping low-slung roofs that almost touch the ground, walls of gilt-on-black stencilwork, and the famous 'tree of life' mosaic in shimmering coloured glass on its rear wall. Wander the tranquil compound of chapels and stupas; it's the spiritual and artistic jewel of the old town and the loveliest of its many temples. Exquisite and peaceful. Don't miss it. Dress modestly.
• 5.The handicraft night market — Every evening the main street, Sisavangvong Road, closes to traffic and fills with the glow of the handicraft night market — rows of red-lantern-lit stalls selling Lao textiles, hand-woven scarves, saa-paper lanterns, silverwork, hill-tribe crafts and souvenirs, sold by Hmong and Lao artisans. It's calm and hassle-free by Asian standards (gentle bargaining, no hard sell), and one of the nicest night markets in the region. Browse the crafts, then duck down the alley off it for cheap, delicious street food. A lovely, atmospheric evening ritual. Charming and relaxed.
• 6.The Royal Palace Museum — The former home of the Lao kings — the Royal Palace (Haw Kham), a graceful early-20th-century blend of French and Lao design, now a museum preserving the royal apartments, thrones, regalia and diplomatic gifts, along with the revered Phra Bang golden Buddha the town is named for, housed in its own ornate temple in the grounds. A fascinating, low-key window into Laos's royal past (which ended in 1975); wander the throne room and the gardens. Modest, elegant and worth an hour. Interesting and atmospheric. Dress modestly; no photos inside.
• 9.The Ethnology Centre (TAEC) — A small, superb museum that unlocks the whole region — the Traditional Arts & Ethnology Centre, dedicated to Laos's many hill-tribe and ethnic minority peoples, with beautifully presented displays of their textiles, costumes, crafts, beliefs and daily life. It's the best place to understand the Hmong, Khmu, Akha and other cultures whose handiwork fills the night market, and it runs a lovely fair-trade craft shop and café. Thoughtful, engaging and quick to visit; it deepens everything you see afterwards. A genuinely enriching little highlight. Well worth an hour.
• 11.Wat Mai & the temple wander — The old town has more than 30 working monasteries, and half the joy is simply wandering between them — starting with Wat Mai, the grand golden-fronted royal temple beside the palace, its façade a mass of gilt bas-relief. From there drift to Wat Sensoukharam's dazzling gold exterior, the watermelon-shaped stupa of Wat Visoun and dozens more, catching young novice monks chatting and chanting along the way. Free, endlessly photogenic and utterly peaceful; the temples are the town's living heartbeat. A serene, unhurried highlight. Wander slowly; dress modestly.
• 14.Khao soi & a French-Lao café — Luang Prabang has its own delicious food identity, and two things capture it. First, the local khao soi — nothing like the Thai version, but a comforting rice-noodle soup topped with a savoury pork-and-tomato-fermented-bean sauce, found in the morning markets. Second, the town's charming French-colonial café culture: a legacy of the old days, with excellent strong Lao coffee, fresh baguettes and pastries in the old town's pretty cafés. Have a bowl of khao soi for breakfast at the market, then a slow café coffee later; together they are Luang Prabang on a plate. Delicious and distinctive. Go local.