Laos Luang Prabang/Kuang Si Falls

Luang Prabang, also known as "Lan Xang", is a famous ancient capital, Buddhist center, and tourist city in northern Laos. In 1995, it was listed as a world cultural heritage site by UNESCO. It is located at the confluence of the Nam Khan River and the Mekong River, and is shaped like an "L" shaped peninsula. The area is less than 10 square kilometers. The city extends along the left bank of the Mekong River, with mountains and water, a cool climate, gentle terrain, and an average elevation of 290 meters. The most suitable attraction to be the first stop for tourism in Luang Prabang is the Royal Palace Museum (ticket price 20,000 kip; open from 8-11:30am and 1:30-4pm, last entry at 3:30pm, closed on Tuesdays), especially if you are interested in local history. In 1904, this palace was originally built on the banks of the Mekong River as the residence of the king and his family.