Encircled by mountains and charmingly situated at the meeting of
the Mekong and Khan rivers, the 'Jewel of the Mekong' conveys an
atmosphere of remote serenity and informal splendour.
The heart of a thriving kingdom for more than a thousand years,
it is today a sleepy mixture of ancient temples, cobbled lanes,
interesting back streets, French-Indochinese architecture and
ochre-coloured colonial buildings. Trees line the streets above the
banks of the river where children swim and play, while farmers
carefully tend to their tiny, irregular riverside plots of
agricultural land. In the mists of dawn, throngs of barefoot
orange-robed monks silently make their way from the monasteries to
the streets, where locals wait to gain spiritual merit by filling
their wooden alms bowls with rice, before disappearing once again
into their places of refuge and meditation. Unhurried people drift
past stalls of spicy papaya salad, noodles, omelettes and fruit
drinks. This is the real Lao, a town with a distinctly village-like
feel, but endowed with a historical legacy so rich that it has been
designated a World Heritage site.
The main attractions are its historic temple complexes, with
about half of the original wats, or temples, built before the
French arrived, still standing. The most magnificent is Wat Xieng
Thong (Golden City Temple). Nearby is the Royal Palace with its
golden-spired stupa, now a museum, and Wat Wisunalat, the oldest
continually operating temple in the town. Across the river is Mount
Phu Si with several temples on its slopes and a monastery on top, a
popular spot for its dazzling views of the gilded spires in the
town below at sunset.
A popular excursion is a scenic boat trip past waterfront
villages to the nearby Pak Ou caves, filled with Buddha images.
Also worth visiting is the picturesque Kuang Si Falls, a beautiful
multi-tiered waterfall tumbling over limestone formations with
clear turquoise pools below.
