Construction for Controversial Mekong Dam near Luang Prabang has progressed

Another interruption of the free flow of Mekong river and the way for its fish population; more than 1200 families are forced to move their homes and income resources, and the earthquake risk for the historic town of Unesco-protected Luang Prabang is rising: The construction of a highly controversial hydropower project in Laos has begun. The energy shall be delivered to Thailand.

See the location of Luang Prabang hydropower project on Google Map by #treasuresoflaos and on Mekong River Hydropower Dams and Plants Google Map

The development cost of the 1,460-Megawatt facility is estimated at U.S. $ 3 billions. The run-of-the-river dam is planned about 25 kilometers upstream from Luang Prabang, at Houygno village according to the website of Mekong River Commission, located by the upstream Pak Beng hydropower project and the downstream Xayaburi project. The energy will be produced by 7 turbines or generators, each delivering 200 Megawatt. See this introduction video:



Who is behind the Luang Prabang hydropower project?
The Luang Prabang Power Company Limited (LPCL), a company established by Lao PDR and PetroVietnam Power Corporation, is the project developer, finances it and will operate it. In late 2020 an ownership change occurred with the stock ownership of Luang Prabang Power Company Limited changed to the following: PT Sole Co., Ltd. 38 percent; Petro Vietnam Power Corporation 10 percent; CK Power Public Company 42 percent and CH. Karnchang Public Company Limited 10 percent. CK Power Plc (CKP) is the power generation arm of the Thai construction firm CH Karnchang Plc, which built the Xayaburi Dam. So a Thai company is the major shareholder . in July 2021 LPCL signed the Concession Agreement of the LPHPP with the Government of the Lao PDR, for a concession period of 35 years. LPCL has signed a tariff Memorandum of Understanding with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT). EGAT shall be the off-taker of all electricity generated by the Luang Prabang hydropower plant from the Scheduled Commercial Operation Date (January 1, 2030).

What happens tro the people living around the dam area?
More than 1,200 families in Oudomxay province will be forced to move to make way for the project. The dam will flood a dozen villages on the bank of the Mekong River in Nga district, including Lath Han, Khok Phou, Yoiyai and Phonsavang. Also residents of Houei Yor village, Chomphet district, in Luang Prabang province are affected. Residents of Nga district in Oudomxay province and Chomphet district in Luang Prabang province say authorities are shortchanging them for the land and other property they would lose. Oudomxay officials offered 100 million kip (U.S. $8,500) per hectare of farmland to locals, said a Nga district resident. Read more in a report by th.boell.org.

What happens to the historic town of Luang Prabang and ist famous temples - a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Unesco has demanded a Heritage Impact Assessment, because there were concerns. Dams will encircle Luang Prabang’s urban area. " I can see a nightmare scenario where dam operators aren’t talking to each other, a massive weather event pours through northern Laos and sudden dam releases from these dams cause an unnecessary flooding event around Luang Prabang,” said Brian Eyler, director of the Stimson Center’s Southeast Asia programme. “The Xayaburi dam would act like a plug in the bathtub, not allowing the water out to the downstream if its flood responses weren’t ready for those sudden upstream releases. It’s a complicated but possible scenario.” The Luang Prabang dam would be the first in the Lower Mekong Basin to encounter water discharged from the 11 mainstream Chinese dams, including the massive 5,850 MW Nuozhadu dam. Upstreams of Luang Prabang the Mekong also merges with the Nam Ou, a river with a cascade of seven hydropower dams built by PowerChina.
By signing the World Heritage Convention, countries pledge “not to take any deliberate measures which might directly or indirectly damage the natural and cultural heritage” of a site and to “ensure the protection and conservation of their Outstanding Universal Value and other heritage values.”
The dam will be built in an earthquake-prone zone. “We are very worried about the seismic fault only 8.6 kilometers from the Luang Prabang dam site,” said leading Thai seismologist Punya Churasiri. “It is too dangerous to go ahead with this project.”

How is the progress of the construction works so far?

อัปเดต 2023, โครงการก่อสร้างเขื่อนหลวงพระบาง ห่างจากมรดกโลกหลวงพระบาง ประมาณ 25 กม. **โดยทุนไทย**
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Update 2023, Construction work has begun on the Luang Prabang hydropower dam on the Mekong River in Laos.#เขื่อนหลวงพระบาง #แม่น้ำโขง pic.twitter.com/o4QkhN5Q6y

— Phetric 🥸 (@PHETSIAM) February 7, 2023

In March 2021 Xinhua reported that the preparatory work was already 80 per cent complete. Among the work was the construction of an 11-km access road, a 500-metre bridge over the Mekong River, three temporary ports, as well as some transmission lines and a small electricity station. Bangkok Tribune shows pictures of the construction progress.

What could stop the construction of Luang Prabang hydropower plant?
The dam has been criticised by environmental groups and the government in Thailand, which will feel the effects on its Mekong border with Laos and beyond. “Surely effects for Thailand include fish loss, the fluctuations of dams cutting the river ecology, the unnatural water flow and the sediment loss until the water becomes blue,” said Niwat Roykaew of Thailand’s Chiang Khong Conservation Group, adding that it will impact fishing communities. Thailand’s authorities have received pressure from environmental groups to not purchase power from the Luang Prabang dam and other projects. But: "Environmental and heritage reviews are unlikely to stop the Lao government forging ahead with its hydroelectric plans", wrote Milton Osborne.


Updated informations about Luang Prabng hydropower plant you can find on Hobomaps.


Read also:
Luang Prabang Mekong Dam: Completed by 2030?
Another controversial Mekong Dam in Luang Prabang raises Fears
Laos - the Battery of Asia: Hydropower Dams and Consequences

Pha Tad Ke: A Dutchman's Faszination with Ethno-Botanism in Luang Prabang

See the locations on Luang Prabang Google Map by #treasuresoflaos


Orchid nursery, Picture by marhas

There are more than 1,200 different plant species, arranged in sections such as the ginger garden, ethno-botanic garden, palm garden, bamboo garden, organic and educational garden: Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden is a new attraction a 10- to 20-minute boat ride down the Mekong River, around 2km from Luang Prabang, opened in 2017.


Scenic outlook from Pha Tad Ke Botanical garden   Picture by marhas

Rik Gadella, the general manager of Pha Tad Ke, had no knowledge of botanism, before he started this adventure. The Dutch national was organizing art exhibitions and publishing art books in Paris and New York for 25 years, before he flew to Luang Prabang for a short holiday 11 years ago. He fell in love with Laos and looked for a plot of land to build a small house. By chance he found the Pha Tad Ke site, named after the nearby mountain, which name in Lao means "the mountain to unite and resolve". This was the place, where the former viceroy of Laos used to go hunting. Rik Gadella found Laotian partners, who bought the area and leased it to him.


Waterlily-pond   Picture by marhas

Gadella sold his publishing company and borrowed some money from an uncle to realize his collection of indigenous plant species. “Everything we have here we had to collect ourselves. We have concentrated on the flora of Laos, our plants are used every day by Lao people”, he told the South China Morning Post. Gadella and his team collaborated with the National University of Laos, the Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden in Chiang Mai (Thailand), the Singapore Botanic Garden and the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh in planning the Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden.


Bamboo along the way   Picture by marhas

He recounts that there were no plant nurserys in Laos and little research on ethno-botany, when he started his project, little research about the use of plants for medicine, food and handicrafts by the many ethnic minority groups living in Laos. "Eighty percent of the Lao population live in the mountains, lots of them with no real access to modern medicine so they are still using these plants," Gadella told Nikkei Asian Review. In Laos this knowledge is passed from mouth to mouth. The team of Pha Tad Ke Botanical garden did a lot of field trips, collecting plants and ethno-botanical data and is now showing it to its visitors, who can even find a section of plants said to placate spirits or medical plants for elephants. Rik Gadella plans to do research more on the efficacy of the plants. He would like to know how much of traditional healing is based on shamanistic rituals and how much on the plants.


Learn about rice plants and their use for elephants   Picture by marhas

Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden specializes on limestone botany and offers also a limestone habitat and a cave. Laos has some of the last remaining intact areas of limestone karst in the world. Gadella is now collecting funds for the next development: a mist house for orchids, a herbarium, better nurseries, a rice field and a research and training center.


Picture by marhas

The entry fee for Pha Tad Ke Botanical garden is 25 US-Dollars for foreigners and 10 Dollars for locals. The boat trip from Luang Prabang is included.


See mor pictures of Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden on Instagram.

Follow Rik Gadella on Facebook.


Discover more:
Your Guide in Luang Prabang

Lick your Lips in Luang Prabang: From Laotian to French Cuisine

See the locations on Luang Prabang Google Map by #treasuresoflaos

Picture by marhas
This watercress soup at L'Eléphant was delicate.


Restaurants

See the locations on Google Map and get the kmz-file for Google Earth.

The Laotian and the French cuisine are converging in Luang Prabang, as The Australien notes. Sweet, sour, bitter and salty are the Lao tastes. Rice is the central thing in Lao cuisine, not the long grain rice, that Viet". It's rolled into small balls and eaten with the hand. The Lao people do not cook with a lot of chili in their food, but they have a vast array of side dishes made of chili, ginger, soy with chili or ginger and sweet and sour dips. Or they eat sweets made of sticky rice. Read more about Lao cuisine.

Some specialities:

Orlam: Beef or chicken casserole with green leafe vegetables, onion, fungus, crisp green beans with a small amount of
chilli, juniper wood and fennel. See picture by flickr.com

Oh phak dak: Fermented fish casserole.

Ua nor mai: Crispy bamboo shoots stuffed with pork
and vegetables with sweet dipping sauce.

Say ua: Pork sausages only made in Luang Prabang.

Geng Phet: Chicken or pork or beef casserole with coconut sauce, Lao basil, eggplant
and crispy green beans.

Larp: Minced fish or chicken or pork
meat salad.


Ban Lao: Ban Mano. Lao and Chinese food.



3 Nagas Restaurant:


Picture by marhas


Arisai Restaurant and Wine Bar: Sakarine Road. Mediterranean cuisine, for example couscous with lamb.




Baràvin: 59 Sisavangvong Road.




Boungnasouk Restaurant: With view over the Mekong. Read the review by mmm-yoso.typepad.com.


Boua Savanh Restaurant: Bank Mekhong Rd. Lao and Thai food. On a terrace, overlooking the river.


Blue Lagoon Cafe:. A mix of eastern and western delicacien, Laotian highlights and Swiss classics as well as tender local beef and a large variety of delicious snacks and fresh salad creations.




L'Eléphant: French and Laotian cuisine. Wildboar in the sauce of Luang Prabang chanterelles, watercress soup, roasted duck breast in the sauce of roselle, crème brûlée with coconut and pan fried bananas are some of the elements of the menu.





Pictures by marhas

Lao Ethnic Café and Dining Son phao: With musicians and dancers ar dinner shows. See pictures by patrickmccoy.typepad.com


Le Patio Café: In "Traditional Arts and Ethnology Museum" in an old French colonial villa on top of a hill near the town center. You get food of the ethnic minorities Akha, Hmong. Khmu and Tai Lue as well as French sandwichies. "Authentic, simple and tasty", notes Nicole Long.


L'Etranger Books and Tea: Many kinds of tea and smoothies and a library with books. Tourists can rent them, for people from Luang Prabang it's free. And they show films in the night.


Picture by Kleinmatt66


JoMa Bakery Café: Fa Ngum Road. Organic Lao Arabica Coffee. Besides a wide selection of breads and pastries You get sandwiches, salads and soups.




Kaiphaen Restaurant: Creative Lao cuisine. "Friends International" are training young people to get them into employment.




Lao Vegetarian:

Malee Restaurant: Manomai Road. You do your own barbeque of fish and fresh vegetables. Read review and see pictures by Eating in Translation.

Pak Huoy Mixay: 47/5 Ban Vatnong, Thanon Savang Vatthana.Fresh fish from the Mekong, Lao specialities, barbecue.

Saffron Caffè: High in the mountain plateaus surrounding the city of Luang Prabang, Hmong, Yao and Khmu hilltribes produce a rare specialty highland Arabica coffee. Cool air at the high elevations and rich forest soil combine with the distinctive care make these mountain estates an exceptional coffee growing region. Saffron Caffè is as restaurant as well as a project to get hilltribes away from opium plantation by planting and distributing coffee. Read more in the blog of Saffron Caffe




Samsara Restaurant and Gallery: With open-air roof terrace.


Somchan Restaurant: Suvannabanlang road. Enjoy sour fish lab, described by Eating in Translation. Or take a duck soup. Or enjoy a salad with watercress as mmm-yoso did.


Picture by mmm-yoso


Tamnak Lao: Authentic Lao food. They have cooking classes too.




See another picture and a review by Umdiewelt.de


Tamarind: Opposite Wat Nong. Real Lao food on a french colonial terrace. Run by Melburnian Caroline Gaylard and her Laotian partner Joy Ngeuamboupha. Lao style fish barbecue on friday nights. From their shop you can take home Lao cookbooks, sticky rice, sweet chilly paste, dried fruits or seeds. The restaurant closes at 6pm.



The Apsara: Luang Prabang buffalo sausages served with fresh ginger, peanuts and garlic; braised fillet of local river fish with a tomato and saffron butter sauce or braised pork belly on roasted pumpkin with aubergine chutney and star anise broth.




The Pizza:




Tum Tum Chong:





Un Petit Nid Biblio Bistro: Sakarin Road. A 154 years old house has been converted to a café by a Chinese construction method of that era. Read more on kulahaus.blogspot.com




Visoun restaurant: Wisunalat road. Lao and Chinese.



Dinner on Mekong River
Nava Mekong: Dine & Cruise for lunch with visit to Pak Ou Caves, leaving Luang Prabang 10.30 am at Wat Nong's Pier and returning at 2:30 pm. Dinner with sunset on the way to Xieng Men Village and traditional Lao music and performance, returning at 9:00 pm.

Hotels and Guesthouses in Luang Prabang

See the locations on Luang Prabang Google Map and get the kmz-file for Google Earth.

The Belle Rive: Outstanding hotel with good spirit and great restaurant terrace shaded by coconut trees at Mekong River. The people working here seem to do it in a good mood, their service is amazing. In the room you find water bottles along with a map of water supply stations throughout the town where they could be refilled. These are part of the REFILL NO LANDFILL initiative in Luang Prabang - the involved hotels want to reduce plastic waste and protect environment. Read excellent reviews on tripadvisor.com. Damian Killer from Switzerland is General Manager.


The Belle Rive has 3 houses with 8 rooms and 5 suites.
Picture by marhas


Mango room
Picture by marhas


Restaurant Terrace at Mekong River
Picture by marhas
See more pictures of The Belle Rive on Instagram.


3 Nagas Luang Prabang MGallery by Sofitel: From 198 USD. Sakkalin Road. Located in two houses, one, The Lamache House, built 1898, hosted the royal family. As there is a wooden floor, you stay better on the upper floor to not be disturbished by people above your head. Good reviews on tripadvisor.com.

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Ancient Luang Prabang (Ban Phon Heuang) หลวง พระ บาง: The hotel is situated in the old temple district. The balcony is a prime spot to see the morning alms giving ceremonies or Tak Bat as it is called in Lao language.


Picture by marhas


Bakery Guest House: Sisavangvong Road. Three rooms with balconys overlook the road. There is a restaurant downstaits, so you may hear some noise. Mixed reviews on tripadvisor.com

Picture by marhas


Villa Ban Lakkham: From 105 USD. Kingkitsarath Road. One of the new guesthouses. Nice room, shower in the bath with a lot of variations, beautiful balcony with view of the Nam Khan River. Helpful owners. The dust on the balcony was not cleaned, when this blogger was there for some days. Ask for the Lao noodle soup for breakfast. Good reviews on tripadvisor.com

Picture by marhas

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Pack Luck Villa: From 40 USD. Room 1 and 3 are the best, according to travelfish.org. Read review by easteatswest.typepad.com

Picture by marhas


Boungnasouk Guesthouse: See picture and read review on Thorntree and on tripadvisor.com.


Burasari Heritage: From 194 USD. 44-47 Unit 03, Khiri Village, Kingitsarath Road. Situated at Nam Khan River, in different buildings, meals are taken on the terrace of the river bank. Very good reviews on tripadvisor.com.

Picture by David McKelvey

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Chittana Guesthouse: From 8 USD. In a small lane between Sakkarine and Kingkitsarath Road. Basic rooms with own and shared bath, vary in size and qualitiy, according to the review on travelfish.org. See a picture. Read also reviews on tripadvisor.com.


Indigo House: From 80 USD. With bar on top floor. Some mixed reviews on tripadvisor.com

Picture by Indigo House

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Golden Elephant (Souk Lan Xang) Guest House: From 20 USD. Cheap, clean and quiet and very helpful staff, as very good reviews on tripadvisor.com describe Souk Lan Xang Guesthouse. The name has changed zu Golden Elephant Guest House and the website is now also in Chinese language.


Lao Wooden House: From 55 USD. In a restored Lao style house, once built for a member of the royal family.

Picture by Lao Wooden House

Picture by Lao Wooden House


Levady Guesthouse: Off Sisavangvong Road. From 10 USD. Read the review of travelfish.org, the review of tamar hadar and see pictures on flickr.com and study the good reviews on tripadvisor.com.


Lotus Villa Boutique Hotel: From 52 USD. Kounxoa Road. The hotel sponsors the Deak Kum Pa orphanage with 500 children with bread and milk for breakfast. Guests are invited to donate. Read about a visit to the orphanage. Very good reviews on tripadvisor.com.

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Frangipani room



Manoluck Hotel: The hotel lies far of the historic centre, as the reviewers on tripadvisor.com underline.


Mekong Riverview Hotel: From 190 USD. All rooms vith terrace or balcony with Mekong riverview. The hotel is owned by Urban Paulsson, read his story, it has an organic garden across the Mekong. Excellent reviews on tripadvisor.com.


Picture by marhas

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Namma Vong Guesthouse: Ban Phonheuang. Critical reviews on tripadvisor.com.




Oui's Guesthouse: 14 Sukkaserm Street. Run by sisters, very good reviews on tripadvisor.com.




Phousi Hotel: From 52 USD. Mixed reviews on tripadvisor.com.


Ramayana Boutique Hotel and Spa: From 100 USD. Mixed reviews on tripadvisor.com. They mention, that the morning market starting at 4am takes place in front of the hotel, so guests in rooms to this side can feel disturbed by tuktuks and people, who are talking.




Sackarinh Guesthouse: Sakkarine road. From 12 USD. Good review on
Thorntree-forum.

Picture by marhas

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Sala Prabang: From 50 USD. The hotel comprises seven buildings. The Villa and the Cottage were the former residence of the first Prime Minister of Laos. There is a street between the hotel and the Mekong, so if you book rooms with Mekong view, be aware, that there can be some street noise. And the view is not so great, because there are trees between you and the Mekong. Sala Prabang consists of six buildings. Quite good reviews on tripadvisor.com

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Picture by guscairns.com


Picture by marhas


Satri House: From 100 USD. 057 Phothisarath Road. In this house Prince Souphanouvong grew up, the later known "Red Prince" and from 1975 Lao president. Good review on travelfish.org, a bit mixed reviews (charming, needs renovation) on tripadvisor.com. And description by luang-ptabang-hotels.com

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Picture by annamatic3000

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See more pictures of Satri House on Instagram


Saynamkhan Riverview: See picture by Michael&Sharon

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Sayo Guesthouses: From 30 USD. Three houses - Sayo Xieng Mouane, Sayo Naga and Sayo River - in renovated old style buildings. Good reviews - especially for Sayo Xieng Mouane with the neighbouring temple - on tripadvisor.com and on frommers.com

Picture by marhas

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Sayo Xieng Mouane


Villa Senesouk: From 25 USD. Sakkarine Road. No breakfast, but nearby many possibilities. Lately critical reviews on travelfish.org and on tripadvisor.com.

Picture by marhas

Picture by marhas


The Apsara: Good reviews on tripadvisor.com, but the safes in the room seem not to be safe, as one guests writes. The hotel has a younger sister: The Apsara Rive droite, see pictures on Instagram.




The Chang Inn / The Chang Heritage Hotel: From 80 USD. 93/03 Sakkarine Road. The newer Chang Heritage Hotel is just around the corner at Kingkitsarath road on Nam Khan River. "Absolutely gorgeous", comments travelfish.org. On the second floor is a balcony perfect for lounging, where you can also take the breakfast. Or you have it in a palmed courtyard behind the hotel. On tripadvisor.com is noted, that the walls in Chang Inn are thin, so you here the phone of the reception ring. Good reviews for Chang Heritage on tripadvisor.com.


The Chang Inn


The Chang Heritage Hotel


Vanvisa Guest House: Read the review of thewanderingstraycat and comments on travelfish.org. And read a story in The Guardian. At around 30 km from Luang Prabang lies Vanvisa At The Falls. This lodge is located directly on the Kuang Si waterfall and surrounded by organic gardens where homemade vegetables are grown.

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Villa Laodeum / Villa Laodeum Nam Khan View: Villa Laodeum (reviews on tripadvisor.com) is located in the center of Luang Prabang, between the Mekong River (50m) and the Night Market (50m). The Royal Palace (National Museum) is right across the street. Villa Laodeum Nam Khan View (reviews on tripadvisor.com) is situated near this river.

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Villa Laodeum

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Villa Laodeum Namkhan Riverview


Villa Champa:: Quite good reviews on tripadvisor.com, some point out, that the rooms are not cleaned on a daily basis. Lies on the way of the monks, who collect alms in the morning.

Picture by marhas


Villa Chitdara:


Villa Maly: Going to open soon. 33 rooms spread across five buildings, a mix of Laotian architecture and French and British colonial influences. Five of the rooms are deluxe and have their own balconies and views over the gardens and pool. In the centre is the 1938-built residence of Princess Khampieng and Prince Khamtan, a grandson of the 19th century’s King Zakarine. Read a description here.


Villa Maydou: From 85 USD. Ban Meuna.






Villa Phathana:


Villa Santi: The hotel has been created 1992 from a former royal mansion on Sakkarine road in the old town (from 150 USD). In 2001 the Santi Resort & Spa has been constructed 6 km south in a 10 hectare valley, beautifully lanscaped with streams leading to the Mekong River, surrounded by mountains, hills and terraced rice fields and with swimming pool (from 150 USD). According to some reviews on tripadvisor.com the rooms of the hotel in the old town need some renovation and are therefore overpriced. A part of the hotel is situated next to Luang Prabangs Primary School, some guests complain about the noise of the children. For the Santi Resort & Spa the reviews on tripadvisor.com are good.




Villa Santi Princess Wing.


Villa Sayada. 29 USD.


Villa Saykham:


Villa Sokxai 1 + 2: Villa Sokxai 1 is on Sakarine Road, Villa Sokxai 2 on Phosi Road. See the view from balcony of Sokxai 1 on youtube.com and find a good review on virtualtourist.com. Hayleyandlorna on travelpod.com note, that you can sit on the balcony and see the life of Wat Phon Heuang. It may wake you up at 4am (they bang the drums...), but "sitting on the balcony and listening to the evening chanting and singing at 6pm is magical". Read also the review by kolalo.com. A review of Sokyai 2 can be read on tripadvisor.com.




Villa Sokxai 1


Xieng Mouane Guesthouse: Good reviews on tripadvisor.com, guests say, they were not bothered by the drums of Wat Xieng Mouane.

Picture by marhas


Victoria Xiengthong Palace Hotel: From 90 USD. A former royal palace, turned into a luxury hotel with "Ayu Spa", just around the corner of the famous Wat Xieng Thong. Outstandding hotel according to the first reviews on tripadvisor.com

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Ein Beitrag geteilt von Ohm Pariya (@pariyap) am Feb 20, 2017 um 1:29 PST

Picture by marhas
The restaurant

Picture by marhas


Picture by Xiengthong Palace
Jasmine suite
See more pictures on Instagram



Hotels and Guesthouses outside of the old town


Amantaka: From 1500 USD. 55/3 Kingkitsarath Road. In a French colonial former hospital set in gardens you find 24 luxury suites. Wonderful according to reviews on tripadvisor.com.

Picture by Richard Michael Shaw


Mekong Estate: 555 USD per week. Thou Gnai Thao Road. "More luxury apartment than hotel", notes travelfish.org. Two storey for each guest.

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Le Parasol Blanc Hotel: From 51 USD. A fifteen-minutes-walk from the restaurants in Luang Prabang, therefore mixed reviews on tripadvisor.com..

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White Lotus restaurant


Maison Souvannaphoum: From 180 USD. Mostly very good reviews on tripadvisor.com.

Picture by Lisons&Dansons

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La Residence Phou Vao From 241 USD. The most luxurious option in Luang Prabang with excellent reviews on tripadvisor.com. "A high-end experience", notes the New York Times. The hotel sits on a hill - one mile outside of town, a long walk, but they offer a shuttle of course. Phou Vao is part of the Orient-Express group. "Excellent and decadent", means travelfish.org.

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Massage at the Spa


See more pictures of Residence Phou Vao on instagram


The Luang Say Residence: From 401 USD. 4-5 Ban Phonepheng. The new buildings gives an air of old French colonial life. Very good reviews on tripadvisor.com.


The Grand: From 120 USD. On grounds of the Xiengkeo Palace, which belonged to Prince Phetsarath, four kilometres and a ten minutes drive from the centre. Good reviews on tripadvisor.com and in Lonely Planet and on kolalo.com.

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The Mekong Villa by Ock Pop Tok: With breakfast at Silk Road Cafe and Veranda at Mekong river. The Hmong, Katu, Tai and Hill Tribe room feature textiles handmade by artisans Ock Pop Tok works with through the Village Weaver Projects. Free tuk tuk shuttle to the main town.

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Veranda at Mekong River


Thongbay Guesthouse: From 22 USD. Bungalows set around a small but beautiful tropical garden. "The place is gorgeous", comments Two Go Hobo. But you have to walk 20 minutes to the town centre. Bungalows in the garden, some with a river view, some with a garden view. Good reviews on travelfish.org. Thee wooden bungalows are in Lao sytle, they have no glass in the windows, just mosquito net. There is a bar on the other side of the river that plays Lao pop music in the night. Good reviews on tripadvisor.com.

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Hotels and Guesthouses outside of Luang Prabang

Kamu Lodge: Located 2 and ½ hours upstream from Luang Prabang, on the left bank of the Mekong River. Twenty Safari tents provide unique accommodation, attached are stone bath rooms.The tents are furnished with bamboo and rattan furniture and have private balconies,overlooking the river.

Picture by Kamu Lodge


Khoun and Khone Bungalows:From 15 USD. In the hills surrounding Luang Prabang, ten minutes from the centre, run by a young family. Good reviews on travelfish.org. See a video of the sunset, the interior and the exterior


Lao Spirit Resort: 99 USD. 15 km out of Luang Prabang, along the Nam Khan river. Old houses from the French colonial era were brought here and restored. Read more. See pictures on flickr.com


Long Hanfa: Bungalows on the road to Kuang Si Waterfall, around four kilometres from Phosi Market.