Luang Prabang - The Rough Guide to Laos - page 193

and a regular shuttle to get you into town. It would be easy, however, to lose hours lounging
on your balcony w atch ing the villagers tend their vegetable gardens on the opposite bank.
Breakfast included. $55
Villa Maly Off Photisalath Rd 071 253903, villa-maly.com ; map . Just a 10min walk
from the old city, this exclusive property has a real colonial feel. The spacious rooms, de cor-
ated in pastel shades, ooze class and refinement, and the lovely pool area is a real bonus. $347
OUT OF THE CITY
Lao Spirit Resort Ban Xieng Lom, 15km east of Luang Prabang 020 5855 3133,
wlao-spirit.com ; map . A really special place, alive with birdsong and tucked away among
jungle on the banks of the Nam Khan. The six gorgeous bungalows have oodles of space,
open-air showers and large balconies perfect for soaking up the river views. Delicious meals
are served throughout the day i n the restaurant and various trips can be arranged, including
to the nearby Elephant Village . $140
Zen Namkhan Ban Xieng Lom, 15km east of Luang Prabang 020 5557 1120, zen-
namkhanresort.com ; map . A tranquil resort in forested surroundings high in the hills above
the Nam Khan. The attractive wooden bungalows play on a Japanese theme, with paper
lanterns and torii -shape d he adboards, and draws include daily yoga, a Japanese spa and a
natural-feel “eco” pool. $145
< Back to Accommodation
EATING
Thanks to the huge growth in tourism, Luang Prabang boasts more restaurants than any-
where else in the country outside the capital, and dining out is unquestionably one of the
highlights of the city. It's the perfect place to experience the richness and variety of Lao
cuisine , though thanks to the ever-expanding number of expats making Luang Prabang their
home you can find high-quality international food here, too - particularly French, though also
other European and Asian cuisines. Many of the city's top dining spots cluster in the north-
ern part of the peninsula, along Sakkaline and Soukkaseum roads; for cheaper - but often
equally tasty - meals, make for the delightful riverside restaurants along the Mekong river-
front, which is also the ideal spot to be at sunset. Another of the city's joys is its clutch of
French-style café-bakeries , the best of which produce cakes and pastries that would easily
pass muster in Paris. Finally, though Luang Prabang lacks the street food scene you find in
Thailand, the night market and Hmong market are ideal spots to linger for a cheap fill, as
much for the atmosphere and the chance to chew the cud with other travellers as for the qual-
ity of the food on offer.