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Best Things to Do
Top 10 Best Things to Do in Luang Prabang [2025]
Kuang Si Waterfall
4.7
/5
455 reviews
5.8
Based on 11,246 reviews
21.6 km from downtown
Address: Laos
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
No.1 of Water fun & Cool Retreats in Luang Prabang
Highlights:
Natural & free fish therapy
Unique diving & natural pool
Saved by 495 users210 positive reviews
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Kuang Si Waterfall – A Must-See Natural WonderKuang Si Waterfall is a stunning destination, perfect for photography and cooling off in its refreshing, turquoise pools. There are several natural basins where you can take a dip, making it a great spot to relax and enjoy nature.The location is a bit of a walk from the parking lot, but electric shuttles are available to take you close to the base of the waterfall. From there, it’s just a short hike. The trail is a dirt path, which can get slippery when it rains, so be cautious.The waterfall itself is quite unique—I’ve never seen anything like it anywhere else in the world. Its vibrant turquoise water and tiered cascades make it a truly memorable sight and a once-in-a-lifetime experience.The hike is easy for most, but it’s not accessible for wheelchairs. As for the viewpoint at the top, it’s hit or miss—some may find it scenic, but the real magic is definitely at the base of the falls.Entrance and parking fees are affordable, making it even more worth the visit.
Guangxi Waterfall is a famous tourist attraction in Laos, located in Wanrong, Laos. It integrates mountains, waterfalls, water pools, wetlands and other natural landscapes. The scenery is beautiful and the vegetation is lush. Many tourists can't help but put on a swimsuit and dive into the pool to swim.
Royal Palace & National Museum
4.5
/5
182 reviews
5.4
Based on 2,421 reviews
Luang Prabang City Center | 1.1 km from downtown
Phone +856 20-57-895-313
Address: 27 Ounheun Rd, Luang Prabang, Laos
Recommended sightseeing time: 1 hour
Highlights:
Sunset view from Phousi Hill
Sunrise & sunset by Mekong
35% positive reviews
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The Luang Prabang Royal Palace Museum is located in the center of the old town of Labang, at the foot of Mount Phousi. The ticket price is 30,000 kip. The palace was built in 1904 and has been the bedroom of successive kings. It is now a museum for people to visit. The palace enshrines the Labang Buddha and there are many exhibits to visit. However, long sleeves and long pants are required to enter the palace. The landscape and greening in the courtyard are also quite good and worth a visit. It seems that there are also wonderful performances at fixed times.
The Grand Palace of Luang Prabang, the most luxurious palace in Southeast Asia built by French colonists for the Laotian royal family, was nationalized after the establishment of the socialist system in 1975, and the royal family moved to the north. It is now a national museum.
The picture of the golden and magnificent palace that you often see is actually just the royal family temple. The "工"-shaped building inside, which is a fusion of French architecture and traditional Laotian architectural style, is the main building of the palace.
Only after listening to the special explanation and looking at the layout and furnishings inside, can you appreciate the former luxury and dignity (no photos are allowed).
This place was looted by the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, but fortunately, things like the "Great Golden Throne" were too heavy and were not moved away.
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Phousi Hill
4.4
/5
214 reviews
5.1
Based on 4,178 reviews
Luang Prabang City Center | 842m from downtown
Phone +856 20 98 972 772
Address: Ban Pakham, Sisavangvong Road, Luang Prabang, Laos
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Highlights:
Sunset view over Luang Prabang
16th-century temple & mysterious statue
Saved by 128 users37% positive reviews
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The whole town is in full view. It is recommended to go there when it is almost sunset so that you can see the beautiful sunset of the town. But you have to go early. If you go there at a certain time, there will be many people and no good seats.
Mount Phousi is an important attraction in the old town of Luang Prabang and an important Buddhist holy place. The mountain is not very high and can be reached in about 10 to 20 minutes. The entrances and exits on the upper and lower sides lead to the old town, so there is no need to worry about getting lost.
However, the steps are still quite steep, and the weather is hot, so it is best to choose the early morning and late evening.
Most people choose to go up in the evening to watch the sunset over the Mekong River, sitting quietly on the steps near the Shwedagon Pagoda on the top of the mountain, waiting for the sun to set. The area on the top of the mountain is not large, so it seems that there are quite a lot of people.
There are messy trees on the hillside, and there are few angles suitable for taking sunset photos. However, most people just want to enjoy the baptism of the sunset.
No.
4
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Alms Giving Ceremony in Luang Prabang
4.5
/5
125 reviews
5.1
Luang Prabang City Center | 1.1 km from downtown
Phone +856 71 212 487
Address: V4VQ+FV6, Sakkaline Rd, Luang Prabang, Laos
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5-1 hour
Highlights:
Experience serene & sacred almsgiving
Experience Laotian boys' monkhood tradition
42% positive reviews
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More than a decade ago, I wanted to go to Luang Prabang because I was attracted by a photo of alms. Now I finally have the opportunity to go. In order to see the alms, you need to get up early. The weather is super hot in summer. The only advantage is that it is bright when you get up early. After watching the alms, you can go directly to the morning market. Alms are the monks accepting food from people, but the monks only accept the amount they need, and then give the extra food back to other poor people who need it more. Feel the baptism of the soul and the power of faith in the simple ceremony.
I have heard that giving alms is a high-level merit. I am very grateful for the arrangement of the travel agency. This time in Luang Prabang, I was fortunate to participate in it.
Since the China-Laos Railway has been open for more than two years, more and more tourists have flocked here, and the monks' early morning alms have gradually become a tourist attraction that tourists like.
It feels that the streets for giving alms may have divided the tourist area and the area for local believers. When we arrived, small stools, small carpets, food (glutinous rice), disposable gloves, and plaid cloth towels on the shoulders were all prepared for us. Someone will guide us to sit in a special position, take off our shoes and put them behind us, and then wait for the monks to arrive.
In addition to rice, you can also prepare some snacks or change, and RMB is also accepted.
The monks all walk barefoot on the sidewalk, so be sure not to walk on it with shoes.
An unforgettable experience, the power of faith!
No.
5
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Wat Xieng Thong
4.6
/5
256 reviews
5.0
Based on 2,320 reviews
1.5 km from downtown
Phone +856 20 52 940 458
Address: V4XV+27J, Khem Khong, Luang Prabang, Laos
Recommended sightseeing time: 1 hour
Highlights:
Monk life & religious rituals
Peep test & Buddhist affinity
Saved by 108 users106 positive reviews
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Xiangtong Temple is a more famous tourist punching place in Laos. There is a large tree on the exterior wall with a sign on the important building of Xiangtong Temple, which draws many Buddhist stories, and is also auspicious place for the Lao people to make wishes and ask for Buddha.
Wat Xieng Thong, the only royal temple in Luang Prabang, has the "Tree of Life" that reveals the cycle of karma, the reclining Buddha, and the old abbot as the three treasures of the temple.
It is said that before the temple was built, there was a towering tree here. Later, this "Tree of Life" was painted on the back wall of the main hall. The patterns on it are all legends of karma and reincarnation in Buddhism.
The old abbot is on the right hand side of the Buddha in the main hall, and a photo of the old abbot is placed next to him, which is lifelike.
The reclining Buddha is not easy to find. It is said to be very effective, but people with destiny will always see it!
The gate of the temple is the cruise ship dock for visiting the Mae Khlong River.
No.
6
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Sisavangvong Road
4.2
/5
62 reviews
4.7
Luang Prabang City Center | 979m from downtown
Address: Luang Prabang, Laos
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
No.1 of Night Attractions in Luang Prabang
Highlights:
Watch Laos' traditional almsgiving
Laos sunrise & traditional ceremony
33% positive reviews
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Laos Foreigner Street is an old and romantic street. Many buildings here were built during the French colonial period, so it also has a French flavor. There are many family hotels in this area. You can choose one to stay in, feel the quiet temple world during the day, and go to the night market on Foreigner Street at night.
The main street of Luang Prabang, which has been renovated with underground power lines and many cafes and restaurants.
No.
7
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Luang Prabang morning market
4.8
/5
15 reviews
4.5
Based on 371 reviews
Luang Prabang City Center | 1.1 km from downtown
Phone +856 71 212 487
Address: Luang Prabang, Laos
Recommended sightseeing time: 3-4 hours
Highlights:
Window into Laos' traditional lifestyle
Street vendors open before dawn
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After attending the early morning monks' almsgiving activities in Luang Prabang, people usually go to the morning market in the city center.
The morning market is on a small street, with all kinds of stalls on both sides, some with wooden boards, some selling on the ground, and some slightly larger shops.
It feels completely different from the impression of the vegetable market. First, it is relatively quiet and orderly, without the constant hawking. Second, it is relatively clean, without the stench and sewage. Third, the clothes are very neat and generous, the image is decent, and there are many young people. Fourth, the goods are abundant and dazzling, covering almost all aspects of life.
There are also many things on sale that we don't usually see, such as mice🐭…
Luang Prabang Market This is a fresh market and also has souvenirs for sale.
No.
8
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Luang Prabang Old Quarter
4.8
/5
14 reviews
4.3
Based on 1,473 reviews
315m from downtown
Phone +856 71 212 487
Address: V4MQ+8F8, Luang Prabang, Laos
Highlights:
Panoramic view of Mekong & town
360° Mekong River view
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Luang Prabang is definitely the most beautiful city in Laos!
It was once the most glorious ancient capital of Laos and the most carefully built city by France in the entire Southeast Asian colonial zone. The perfect combination of ancient Buddhist culture and modern French romance has made the United Nations list the entire city as a World Cultural Heritage Site.
But if you just walk through the city, you may not know the true face of Mount Lu because you are in the mountain. You must climb Mount Phu Si to see the whole picture of Luang Prabang.
Most people go up to see the sunset on the Meikong River in the evening, but if you go up the mountain earlier and overlook the entire city of Luang Prabang in the opposite direction, the sun is setting in the west, and the light at this time is the most beautiful.
The whole city is hidden in the green trees, and the French villas with red and yellow roofs are particularly charming. Surrounded by mountains in the distance, the clear river water in the near distance is set against the blue sky, and the curling smoke is also floating everywhere...
Luang Prabang at this time is the most romantic time!
When traveling in Luang Prabang, you must squeeze out some time to walk around the old town. The World Cultural Heritage Site is really not in vain.
Any French villa courtyard is so beautiful, exquisite, romantic and unique, or any of the many temples is worth a careful look.
The yard is clean, shaded by green trees, flowers are blooming, and there are some traditional Laotian wood carvings and wooden furniture escalators, etc., which are also extremely beautiful!
No.
9
Luang Prabang Night Market
4.6
/5
22 reviews
4.1
Luang Prabang City Center | 974m from downtown
Address: V4QM+XFV, 16 Chaofa Ngum Rd, Luang Prabang, Laos
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-3 hours
No.2 of Night Attractions in Luang Prabang
Highlights:
Hundreds of stalls & miles-long
Miao Night Market by Palace Museum
Saved by 100 users
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Night Market is just a walking distance to everything.It offers native products from Luang Prabang and souvenirs that are originated from here. Prices are affordable and worth it.
There are a lot of people. If you don't like walking, you can go up and sit and enjoy the view from the viewpoint on the way up to Phra That Phusi.
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