Laos
Laos is slow, quiet and beautiful. I spent three nights in Luang Prabang in early January 2026.
What I did
Spent three nights in Luang Prabang's old town.
Stayed at The Secret Luang Prabang hotel, with breakfast included.
Explored the UNESCO old town on foot, between the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers.
Where to stay
Luang Prabang old town: a UNESCO World Heritage peninsula with gilded temples and French colonial shophouses. Everything is walkable. I liked The Secret Luang Prabang.
Near the Nam Khan river: quieter, with bamboo bridges.
Where I stayed
The Secret Luang Prabang, Luang Prabang: 9.4/10 on Priceline (171 reviews). Hotel with pool and garden near the night market in Luang Prabang.
Getting there and around
Airport: it is 10 to 15 minutes from the old town by fixed-price taxi or van.
In town: walk, rent a bicycle or take a tuk-tuk.
Between cities: the Laos-China Railway links Luang Prabang with Vang Vieng and Vientiane in a couple of hours. Book ahead.
Slow boat: a two-day Mekong trip runs from Huay Xai on the Thai border.
What to eat
Laap, a minced meat salad with herbs and toasted rice.
Sticky rice, eaten by hand.
Luang Prabang khao soi, a noodle soup with a tomato and pork sauce.
Or lam, a stew with eggplant and herbs.
Jeow bong, a sweet-spicy chili paste.
What to drink
Beer: Beerlao, the national lager, usually ordered with ice by the glass. It is the perfect drink at sunset by the Mekong.
Spirits: lao-lao, the local rice whisky. Ban Xang Hai, the whisky village, is a stop on boat trips up the Mekong toward the Pak Ou Caves.
Coffee: Lao coffee is grown on the Bolaven Plateau and served strong, often with condensed milk.
Fruit: fresh fruit shakes, sold all over Luang Prabang's night market.
Cocktails: Luang Prabang's riverside bars make easy cocktails with Lao spirits and fruit.
Don't miss
Kuang Si Falls and its turquoise pools.
Mount Phousi at sunset.
The morning alms ceremony, watched respectfully from a distance.
Wat Xieng Thong.
The night market on Sisavangvong Road.
Pak Ou Caves by Mekong boat.
Day trips and side trips
Kuang Si Falls, about 45 minutes out.
Pak Ou Caves by boat.
Vang Vieng by train.
Plain of Jars from Phonsavan.
Festivals and events
Boun Pi Mai: across Laos, usually mid April. Lao New Year with water throwing, parades and temple ceremonies in Luang Prabang.
Boun Bang Fai: across Laos, usually in May. The rocket festival.
Boun Ok Phansa: Luang Prabang, usually in October. Boat races on the Nam Khan and lantern floats.
That Luang Festival: Vientiane, usually in November. A big temple fair.
Hmong New Year: across Laos, usually in December. Colorful traditional dress and games.
Luang Prabang Film Festival: Luang Prabang, usually in December. Southeast Asian films.
Magha Puja at Vat Phou: Champasak, usually in February. A big Buddhist festival at the ruins.
Music and dance
Lam and traditional: folk songs with the khene, a bamboo mouth organ. Hear it at cultural shows and village events.
Lao pop: in bars and on boats.
Live music: small bars in Luang Prabang's old town and the riverside have acoustic music most evenings.
Lamvong: the slow circle dance of Laos, seen at festivals and parties, and welcoming to visitors who want to join in. Beyond that, people go dancing at a few bars and clubs in Vientiane and Vang Vieng.
Photography spots
Mount Phousi: sunset over the Mekong. Go early for a spot.
Alms ceremony: natural light only, no flash, and use a longer lens to keep a distance.
Kuang Si Falls: morning, before the crowds.
Wat Xieng Thong: its mosaics.
Drones: permission is required and the UNESCO town discourages them.
My experience
Luang Prabang felt like a deep breath after busier stops. Mornings are foggy and cool in January, and the pace is gentle. I would recommend it to anyone who wants a few quiet days, good food and a lot of temples.
Cost of living
Overall: Luang Prabang and Vientiane: $, about 60% cheaper than New York. Luang Prabang runs higher than Vientiane.
Coffee: about $2
Local lunch: about $4
Dinner for two at a nice restaurant: about $40
Beer or cocktail: about $1.50 / $5
Ride across town: about $3
Mid-range hotel: about $60 a night
Furnished one-bedroom in a good area: about $500 a month in Luang Prabang, $400 in Vientiane
Daily budget: about $35 budget, $80 comfortable, $200+ luxury in Luang Prabang, slightly less in Vientiane
Laos is cheap, though Luang Prabang is the pricey end of it, especially for hotels and restaurants aimed at visitors. Night market food is inexpensive and good. Prices are approximate in US dollars as of 2026.
Working remotely
Wi-Fi: Fine in hotels and many cafes in Luang Prabang, usually 20 to 60 Mbps, but it can drop out. Power cuts can happen, so a data SIM backup helps.
Coworking and cafes: Laos has a small nomad scene. Luang Prabang's old town cafes are comfortable with laptops, and Vientiane has a few more cafes and coworking options. Vang Vieng is a scenic stop but lighter on infrastructure.
Time zone: UTC+7, 12 hours ahead of US Eastern (11 hours in summer, with a couple of weeks off at the daylight saving changes).
Visa for longer stays: US citizens can get a visa on arrival or e-Visa, typically for 30 days. There is no digital nomad visa. Check current rules.
Nomad rating: 2 out of 5. Peaceful and very cheap, but small community and patchy infrastructure.
Good to know
Language: Lao. English is common in Luang Prabang guesthouses and cafes, less so elsewhere. French shows up on older signs.
Currency: Lao kip. Cash is king and ATMs have low withdrawal limits. USD and Thai baht are sometimes accepted in tourist areas.
Plugs: Mixed types, 230V. US plugs often fit, but check your device voltage.
Entry for US citizens: An e-visa online or a visa on arrival at the airport. Check current rules.
Best time to visit: November to February is cool and dry. January mornings can be chilly and foggy.
Getting around: Walk, bike or tuk-tuk in the old town.
Apps: LOCA is the local ride app. Coverage in Luang Prabang is limited, so expect to hail tuk-tuks.
SIM/eSIM: Unitel or Lao Telecom SIMs at the airport, or an eSIM.
Water: Do not drink the tap water. Use bottled or filtered water.
Tipping: Not expected. Round up, and tip guides and boat drivers if happy.
Useful phrases
Hello: Sabaidee
Thank you: Khop jai
Please: Karuna
How much?: Tao dai?
The check, please: Sek bin
Nightlife
Laos is quiet after dark. Luang Prabang winds down early by design, and the evening is a night market and a Beerlao by the river rather than a big night out.
When people go out: Nights start around sunset, and most places close by about 11:30 pm because of the curfew in Luang Prabang.
Where the action is: In Luang Prabang, a few relaxed bars sit along the Mekong and the main street, and the Night Market is the main evening activity.
The music: Mostly acoustic and chill, with some live music at riverside bars.
Good to know: Beerlao is cheap and covers are not a thing. Dress is casual but modest. Stick to sealed bottles and use a tuk-tuk from the center when it is dark.
Meeting people
Social scene: Laos is slow and gentle, and the social scene is small. Luang Prabang has guesthouses, cafes and tour groups where travelers naturally meet over sunrise alms, waterfall trips and the night market.
Apps: Tinder and Bumble have little reach, so most connections happen in person, through guesthouses, tours and WhatsApp or Facebook travel groups.
Etiquette: A smile and a light press of the palms, called a nop, is a gracious greeting. Stay calm and polite, avoid raising your voice, and splitting the bill is normal among travelers.
Stay smart: Meet in public places, watch your drink, and avoid unlabeled lao lao spirits from unknown sources.
Staying safe
Laos is very safe and calm.
Unexploded ordnance remains in rural areas, so stay on marked trails outside towns.
Respect the alms ceremony: watch quietly from a distance and do not block the monks.