Elegant colonial style buildings along Luang Prabang's Mekong waterfront.Sited on a narrow strip of land formed where the Khan River flows into the Mekong (see map), high up in the mountains of northern Laos, is the old royal capital of Luang Prabang - or Louang Phabang, depending on how you choose to translate the Lao. The small town was designated a UNESCO world heritage site in 1995, meaning that the historic old district will be maintained as it is, with no new buildings built taller than the existing two story structures.
The city's small size means that you can see all the main sights in a couple of days. But it's also the kind of place where you can linger - that makes you want to linger - for longer. See our overview for a map and quick run-down of the sights.