Luang Prabang

 Luang Prabang has a French colonial influence with a big dose of Buddhism. Plenty of young Laos men in saffron robes inhabit the village of wats (temples) for their tour of monk duty before going back to regular life, lending the place an air of purity. Being in the far north of the country, it is best to fly in as the roads are bad- from Hanoi, it was only 1 1/2 hrs flight. Luang Prabang is not big, just a couple of main streets lined with tour shops and relatively pricey restaurants. It comes alive with atmosphere at night when coloured lanterns light up the street and the huge night markets start selling food and local crafts.
Early mornings are serene when monks walk in single file down the road beside the Mekong river collecting food in bowls from the residents. Local restaurants high up on the banks of the Mekong offer an idyllic place to spend the cool of the morning drinking coffee, watching the river life of barges, boats and fishermen, reading and slowing right down, before the heat really sets in.