The charming hideaway of Luang Prabang, just a 45-minute flight north of Vientiane, is one of Indochina’s gems and the showpiece of Laos. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995, the well preserved city is more of a sleepy backwater than a modern metropolis.

Wedged into the confluence of the mighty Mekong and lesser Khan river, Luang Prabang’s peaceful location sets the pace for the unhurried way of life in the second largest city in Laos. Its grid-like road network makes it virtually impossible to get lost, and the entire city can be covered on foot in a day.