Luang Prabang the old capital of Laos.

Luang Prabang is often the No.1 destination for travellers headed to Laos. This ancient royal capital is located in the northern part of the country and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage City in 1995. The town is surrounded by mountains and situated at the meeting of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers. The living prices here are the among the highest in the country, still there is no complaint by those who make the journey to visit this famous site, it is well worth it.

The town's economy is based on tourism and has been since Laos opened its borders to travellers in 1989. The incomparable beauty, its unique history, and many kinds of attractions make Luang Prabang travelling one of the best things to do during a holiday in southeast Asia. Luang Prabang is the main center for Buddhist teaching and learning in Laos, there are more than  30 temples to explore, including ancient royal palaces, and unmatched vistas that make the site the most popular in Laos, an exploration to all those places is easy as everything here is accessible on foot.

The Royal Palace Museum is one of the popular attractions that gives visitors insight to the history and culture of Laos. It was initially built as a royal residence for the Lao king by the French in 1904. However, when the royal family was forced into exile the palace no longer served its original purpose; luckily the majority of the rooms throughout the palace have been preserved, and visitors can now tour the ground and living quarters to get a glimpse of how royalty lived during their heyday. Wat Mai Suwannapummaram is also a gorgeous temple that is situated next to the museum, and it is well worth adding to your travel itinerary for its detailed murals and beautiful facade.

One of the most important cultural practices and a good example of the importance of Buddhism in Luang Prabang is the feeding of the monks. Each morning, Buddhist monks from the various monasteries in town take different routes to collect food donations so they can enjoy a meal. Observing this daily routine is truly telling of Laos and Buddhist culture that permeates throughout the country.

คำศัพท์ที่น่าสนใจ
destination    จุดมุ่งหมายปลายทาง
be designated    ถูกกำหนดให้เป็น
be situated   ตั้งอยู่ที่
a complaint    เสียงบ่นอุธร/ข้อเรียกร้อง
border    เขตแดน
attraction    สิ่งดึงดูดใจ
be accessible on foot    สามมารถเดนไปได้
itinerary    ตารางกำหนดการเดินทาง/ท่องเที่ยว
royal palace    พระราชวัง
unique history    เอกลักษณ์เฉพาะทางประวัติศาศตร์
the incomparable beauty    ความงามที่ไม่มีใดเทียบ
exploration   การสำรวจเดินดู/เที่ยว
daily routine   กิจวัตรประจำวันที่ทำ
permeate   ซึมซาบไปทั่ว
mural and beautiful facade    ภาพวาด/แกะลายฝาผนังและมุขประดับด้านหน้า

A few pictures of Laos' scenery:

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