A Little Charm… My Favorite Things to Do in Luang Prabang

Last updated on August 2, 2025 by Shannon

Luang Prabang is a beautiful city, it’s like the adored child who is the apple her parents’ eye. The city crawls along the Mekong River. The gilded tips of temples peek above the palm trees.

In 1995, UNESCO designated the entire city as a World Heritage site. Key aspects of the city are now protected from tourism, time, and development. Even in a decade, the views won’t include multi-story concrete buildings like in Vientiane. Instead, parts of this Laotian city are frozen in time.

Best Things to Do in Luang Prabang

Time-worn wooden buildings line the streets and historic temples (wats) climb the hills around the city. Throughout it all, Laotians quietly run this laid-back Buddhist city.

It’s a peaceful city with a perfect balance of culture, convenience, sights, and things to do. While other spots in Laos are gorgeous, like Nong Khiaw and Vang Vieng, I stayed in Luang Prabang long enough for me to develop a routine. 

We centered our days around food, picking our favorite vendors, cafes, and restaurants. Within a few days, the local street vendors knew our names, remembered our orders, and always whispered a sweet sabaidee, the local greeting.

Explore Luang Prabang’s Old Town

Start your journey by simply wandering through the charming streets of Luang Prabang’s Old Town. The area is filled with traditional wooden houses, French colonial architecture, and vibrant markets. You don’t need to do anything other than soak in the atmosphere, and take note of any cute shops or cafes you’ll revisit during the rest of your time in Luang Prabang.

Sample Affordable, Tasty Eats

Each day in Luang Prabang I kept to consistent daily routine. Once I found some tasty vegetarian eats, I decided to mostly just branch out for dinner. For breakfast and lunch, I opted for fresh fruit smoothies from the main tourist road in town. these cups line the stalls and for 5,000 Kip (that’s less than 70 cents!), I had a cold, tasty fruit smoothie to start my day.

By lunch, Laura and I stopped our temple visits and day trips for a fresh baguette. Lunch was frequently a 10,000 Kip veggie sub. The vendors chop the ingredients to order, add cheese and condiments and serve it all on a soft baguette.

Dinner time tended to usually include a vegetarian dinner buffet from the night market. Several buffets line the streets at the night market, there’s a side-street with a treasure trove of options. Laura and I found one stall with a heaping selection of veggie eats accompanied by a delicious spicy chili sauce. We were hooked. Other nights we ventured into a few of the restaurants offering traditional Laotian fare—it was a tasty way to spend our lazy days in Luang Prabang.

Visit the Luang Prabang Night Market

The night handicraft market in the Luang Prabang is wonderful. The market runs for half of a mile and is a highlight no matter what budget you have for souvenirs. The stalls are lined with handmade crafts—everything from comforters to paintings to knickknacks. And a bonus are the friendly, low-key conversations with locals.

Around dusk the locals begin to carefully lay out scarves, purses, jewelry, and more. This was a treasure trove of neat handmade gifts so I bought a few items to send back home. One of my favorite moments came when I bargained with the lady over a small wooden toy. The general rule for the night market is that you half whatever they tell you and settle somewhere in between. This isn’t about being cheap, but instead, bargaining is a part of the culture. It’s completely acceptable to bargain so long as you take the local approach of respectful and calm.

In this case, I halved the amount from 20,000 to 10,000 Kip. The seller countered with 15,000. I’ve been in Asia for a while now, so I have some haggling under my belt. I countered with 12,000. Well, this poor lady must have had a really long day because she let out one of the loudest and most exasperated sighs I have ever heard—she even startled herself! We all looked at each other and burst out laughing, even the seller was wiping tears out of her eyes. At that point, I knew I had reached the lower end of what was acceptable to pay so I handed over the 15,000 Kip and considered the laugh worth the extra couple of thousand Kip.

Enjoy the Art of the Soft Sell

Buying things in Laos is an entirely different experience than nearby Thailand. When I needed something in Thailand, I had to stand my ground and there was often a slight edge of aggression with the tuk tuk drivers, and even the vendors on occasion. Here in Laos, it’s very different. Everything is coated with a layer of calm. The people certainly try to sell me on things—I frequently hear “tuk-tuk miss?”—but the vibe of the interactions have a different tone. It’s all very chill.

It makes me more inclined to shop a bit, something I haven’t done much of until now. I bought some groovy bracelets from vendors along the Mekong River (Laura and I are slowly building the “backpacker arm”—you can tell how long a backpacker has been traveling by the number of bracelets adorning her wrist). The kids were cute and since it was a weekend, I hoped that they truly were attending school as they had promised.

And through it all, I learned that a smile goes a long way in Laos. That is true the world over, but here in Laos, friendliness shines from every interaction. It’s a warm and welcoming place to visit.

Seek Out Views of the Mekong River

Laura and I found a spot just on the other side of the Nam Khan with a spectacular view of the Mekong River at sunset.

There was one catch though, we had to cross a rickety bridge to get to the other side. The river we crossed was a tributary of the Mekong, it’s smaller and we found a bar at the confluence of the two rivers. There’s a tiny bar at the corner and we grabbed a drink and waited for the sun to set. As we sipped our drinks, we had a perfect view of the traffic on the Mekong. A gentle breeze brought to me the sounds of river-workers taking their longboats home and children splashing in the shallows.

We caught a pretty sunset and recharged our batteries to the quiet lapping of water and the murmur of conversation.

The small town on the far side of the river was very low key. There were a few wholesale crafts vendors who were packing up their goods for the night market. Once the sun set, there wasn’t much left to do so we gathered ourselves, crossed the rickety bridge, and hightailed it to the night market.

Our lazy days in Laos were a joy. I like taking a slow pace to my travels. I still need to head to Cambodia, but that’s not a pressing concern. Instead, I am here with my friend Laura and enjoying the culture, sights, and the fun of having a friend with whom I can travel.

Climb to Mount Phousi at Sunset

Mount Phousi is a sacred hill that stands majestically 100 meters above the heart of Luang Prabang, Laos. It holds great significance in the local culture and offers a panoramic view that’s hard to match.

Climbing Mount Phousi was a highlight of our time in the city. The path winds up the hill, passing ornate Buddhist shrines and statues along the way. As you ascend, the sounds of the city gradually fade, replaced by a tranquility that’s hard to find in the bustle of the city.

From the summit, you see the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers, as well as lush green trees and mountains, red-roofed temples, and golden stupas dotting the cityscape.

Climbing Mount Phousi at sunset is particularly beautiful. As the sun begins its descent, the sky transforms into a stunning palette of warm hues, casting a golden glow over the city. The tranquil ambiance, coupled with the breathtaking view, creates an unforgettable moment that really encapsulates the beauty and serenity of Luang Prabang.

Soak in the Vibes at Wat Xieng Thong

This beautiful Buddhist temple is one of the most significant in Luang Prabang. Built in the 16th century, Wat Xieng Thong showcases intricate gold leaf and mosaic artwork. You’ll walk by this temple several times during your visit, but take an hour to actually explore the complex, and maybe even read a book by the lake. Admire the stunning details, explore the temple grounds, and enjoy the peaceful ambiance.

Witness the Morning Alms Giving

Wake up early to witness the sacred morning alms giving ceremony known as “Tak Bat.” Hundreds of saffron-clad monks walk silently through the streets, collecting offerings of rice from the local people. This has been become a bit of a sideshow in recent years, and if too many tourists overwhelm the streets, then it loses its magic and significant. Remember to observe the alms giving respectfully, maintain silence, and follow local customs when participating.

Take a Dip in Kuang Si Waterfalls

A trip to Luang Prabang is incomplete without venturing out of the city to the breathtaking Kuang Si Waterfalls. It’s located roughly 30 kilometers south of the city, and these multi-tiered turquoise waterfalls cascade down amidst lush greenery. I’ve visited twice now, and it remained as magical the second time as the first.

Pack a bathing suit and towel if it’s warm so you can dip in the natural pools. Even if its too cold for a swim, you can enjoy the falls with easy hikes through the surrounding trails. The nearby Bear Rescue Centre is a skip—the bears aren’t treated very well, but the rest of the park is fantastic.

Explore the Pak Ou Caves via a Mekong River Cruise

Take a leisurely cruise along the mighty Mekong River, where you can witness the local way of life along the riverbanks. Admire the scenic landscapes, visit riverside villages, and witness the iconic Pak Ou Caves, which are filled with thousands of Buddha images.

Located at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Ou rivers, the Pak Ou Caves are a significant religious site. These caves house thousands of Buddha statues, which have been left by devotees over many centuries. A boat trip to the caves is an easy half-day trip to marvel at the spiritual atmosphere within.

Learn How to Make Something Cool

Gain insights into Laos’ diverse traditional handicrafts by signing up for a local class—or two. My niece and I took a day tour from Luang Prabang to a village to learn how to die and weave silk. It was a beautiful day and we had our own handmade souvenirs at the end! One of the cooler class I’ve taken in my 15+ years of round the world travel.

Then I signed Ana up for a class right in the heart of Luang Prabang at a shop run by a local artisan who helps maintain the intricate stenciling on many temples in town. She learned how to draw a traditional design, and then used a set of chisels to carve out the details.

Trek to Traditional Villages

If you’re up for an adventure, consider embarking on a trek to discover traditional villages around Luang Prabang. Trek through lush jungles, rice paddies, and mountains to encounter ethnic minority communities, witness their way of life, and experience the stunning natural beauty of the region. The Ok Pop Tok day tour was a combination of not only learning how to dye and weave our own silk placemats, but we spent the day in a hill tribe village learning the local way of life.

Prepare Local Food at a Cooking Class

There’s no better way to delve into the unique flavors of Lao cuisine than by taking a local cooking class. You can learn to prepare traditional dishes such as laap (minced meat salad), sticky rice, and tam mak hung (papaya salad). They even offer vegetarian cooking classes, which is a good way to learn the best substitutes to create the most popular dishes. It was a fun way to connect with the local culture, and I brought some culinary skills home too.