Luang Prabang, Laos

If you love all things French and Asia, then Luang Prabang is a great destination for you!

The best part about this town is that it's relatively "small" so you can just about walk to every single temple, tourist site, restaurant, museum, market, etc.

Definitely, the highlight is the 6.30am monks alms giving every morning.

I loved this for all three mornings we were there!

The problem with traveling there, is that there are no direct flights

from Singapore to Luang Prabang.

I think there are some very $$ options but still not direct.

The least expensive way I learned from my friend Geri.

You Jetstar to Bangkok, overnight and catch a Bangkok Airways

flight the next morning.  

I did learn from a Filipino waiter in LP that it's even

less expensive to reach LP via Vientiane on the local airlines.

There are tons of hotel options at or near the Bangkok Airport.

We always stay at the Premier Amarath

Suvarnabhumi Airport b/c it's convenient.

For Luang Prabang, I spent quite a bit of time reading trip 

adviser and decided on this boutique hotel:

Belle Rive

www.thebellerive.com

We loved the perfect location - close to everything but quiet and along

the Mekong River.  Breakfast was so peaceful overlooking the water.

Here's a photo of our bathroom sink - isn't it pretty?

I loved the local breakfast option at the hotel.

I tried a couple of massage places close to our hotel.

For a very LOCAL experience (basic) try

PENINSULA

Close to Xieng Thong Temple

Tel (020) 5675 282

Food was fantastic!

I thought it was really cool to see French baguette sandwiches

everywhere, and crepes stalls too.

We found this great French cafe with the BEST coconut

ice-cream I have ever eaten.  Not typical coconut

b/c it's made with YOUNG coconut.

Le Cafe Ban Vat Sene

Sakkarine Road, Ban Vat Sene, LP

Tel (71) 252 482

Another terrific French restaurant is l'Elephant

We loved it so much (see magret de canard - duck - photo below)

we ate there three times!

http://www.elephant-restau.com/

One last note, we did enjoy a day trip by car in the countryside to see

more temples.  The highlight was going to a local HMONG village

about 45 minutes outside of LP.  The kids seemed delighted

to meet foreigners.