Living Luang Prabang may be one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, but this wasn’t always the case By Sally Pryor
Main Wat Xieng Thong 1. Luang Prabang from Phousi Hill 2. Nang Sangkhan – Miss Lao New Year 3. Almsgiving in front of Wat Sene 4. Sisavangvong Street Photos: Phoonsab Thevongsa
34
history A
s coveted destinations go, you’d be hard-pressed to come up with a town that fits the bill better than Luang Prabang.
The perfectly preserved former royal capital of Laos is nestled in the northern mountains, dotted with Buddhist temples and has streets lined with French colonial architecture. Tourists flock to this town of just 25,000 people for its sleepy ambiance as much as for its exceptional restaurants and mix of high-end luxury and backpacker appeal. Saffron-robed monks roam the streets, French pastries are plentiful and river views almost inevitable. Yes, for almost any kind of traveller Luang Prabang has it all.
But unlike many of the world’s quaint small towns, Luang Prabang has not evolved over the years by osmosis, but rather by a very deliberate strategy of preservation and protection. In the two decades since it was inscribed on the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s World Heritage list, the town has been a repeat entry on countless Top Travel lists, and is often cited as a successful exercise in preservation and nostalgia. Due to the establishment of the French Protectorate in 1893, the town became what UNESCO describes as “an outstanding example of the fusion of traditional architecture and Lao urban structures with those built by the European colonial authorities in the 19th and 20th centuries”.
