Luang Prabang, also known as Xieng Thong, and sometimes spelled Luang Phabang or Louangphabang, is the capital of Luang Prabang Province in north-central Laos. Its name, which means “Royal Buddha Image,” comes from the Phra Bang, a statue that represents Lao leadership. Named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995, the city is known for combining Lao buildings, European-style buildings, and more than 30 Buddhist temples. The protected area covers 33 of its 58 villages, where daily traditions, such as the morning alms-giving ceremony, continue.
History
By the 6th century, the Mon people in the Chao Phraya River Valley came together to form the Dvaravati kingdoms. In the north, the Haripunjaya (Lamphun) region became a competing power to the Dvaravati. By the 8th century, the Mon people expanded northward, creating city states in Fa Daet (later Kalasin, northeastern Thailand), Sri Gotapura (Sikhottabong) near Tha Khek, Laos, Muang Sua (Luang Prabang), and Chantaburi (Vientiane). In the 8th century CE, Sri Gotapura controlled trade across the middle Mekong region. These city states spread Theravada Buddhism from Sri Lankan missionaries throughout the area.
Xieng Dong Xieng Thong was under Khmer rule from Jayavarman VII between 1185 and 1191. In 1238, a rebellion in the Khmer outpost of Sukhothai removed the Khmer rulers. In 1353, Xieng Dong Xieng Thong became the capital of the Lan Xang kingdom. In 1359, the Khmer king from Angkor gave the Phra Bang statue to his son-in-law, Fa Ngum, the first Lan Xang monarch, to support his rule and the sovereignty of Laos. The capital was renamed Luangphabang, named after the Buddha image. In 1478–1480, Vietnamese forces occupied Luang Prabang during Emperor Lê Thánh Tông’s military campaign.
In 1707, Lan Xang split due to a royal family conflict, and Luang Prabang became the capital of the Kingdom of Luang Phrabang. When France took control of Laos, the French recognized Luang Prabang as the royal seat of Laos. Over time, the ruler of Luang Prabang became a symbol of Laos’s leadership. After Laos gained independence, King Sisavang Vong of Luang Prabang became the head of state of the Kingdom of Laos.
Luang Prabang was involved in events during and after World War II. During the war, the city was occupied by Vichy France, Thailand, Imperial Japan, Free France, and Nationalist China. Initially, Vichy French forces controlled the city but lost it to Thai forces after the Franco-Thai War (1940–1941). On March 9, 1945, a nationalist group declared Laos independent again, with Luang Prabang as the capital. On April 7, 1945, Japanese troops occupied the city. The Japanese pressured King Sisavang Vong to declare Laotian independence, but on April 8, the king instead ended Laos’s status as a French protectorate. He secretly sent Prince Kindavong to represent Laos to Allied forces and Sisavang Vatthana to the Japanese. After Japan’s surrender, Free French forces reentered Luang Prabang on August 25, 1945, and the king reaffirmed Laos’s status as a French protectorate. In September, Chinese Nationalist forces arrived to surrender remaining Japanese troops and purchased Laotian opium.
In April and May 1946, the French tried to reclaim Laos by sending paratroopers to retake Vientiane and Luang Prabang, forcing Phetsarath and Lao Issara leaders to flee to Thailand and Vietnam. During the First Indochina War, Viet Minh and Pathet Lao forces attempted to capture Luang Prabang in 1953 and 1954, but French forces prevented them from reaching the city.
Tourism
Natural tourist attractions in the area include Kuang Si Falls, Tat Sae Waterfalls, and Pak Ou Caves. Some locations offer elephant riding experiences. Phou Si, located in the town center, provides views of the town and nearby river systems. At the end of the main street in Luang Prabang, a night market features stalls selling shirts, bracelets, and other souvenirs. Historical sites such as the Haw Kham Royal Palace Museum and Wat Xieng Thong temple are also present. The town, especially along the main street, has many smaller temples, including Wat Hosian Voravihane. Each morning at sunrise, monks walk through the streets in a procession to receive alms from local residents. Mountain biking activities allow visitors to ride around the town or to the waterfalls for the day. A pottery village is located 15 minutes by boat down the Mekong River from the city center.
Gastronomy
Local dishes include Or lam, Luang Prabang sausage, mokpa (steamed fish), and kaipen, which is made from moss found in the Mekong River and is served fried with jeow bong.
Transportation
Luang Prabang is connected to Route 13, which links it to Vang Vieng and Vientiane in the south and to Boten in the north. The road is smooth and flat. In 2014, a new road was built from Kasi (near Vang Vieng) to Luang Prabang, reducing the travel time to about 3 hours (compared to 5 hours via Route 13). Buses travel daily from Vientiane to Luang Prabang, with the journey taking 11–13 hours.
Starting in December 2021, Luang Prabang is connected by the Vientiane–Boten railway, which runs alongside Route 13. The railway extends from Boten, near the border with China in the north, to Vientiane in the south. A train ride between these cities takes less than 3 hours, compared to 3 days by road.