We flew from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang on September 24th, arriving in the early afternoon. We paid too much, as always, for a taxi ride from the airport into town. Our guide book didn't list many budget hotel options, so we set out on foot to find somewhere to stay. We walked along the mud-brown Mekong river, checking a variety of overly pricey places before finding a decent and affordable room at Bounthieng Hotel across the street from the river. Then, as usual in a new town, we set out to get a feel for the area around us. We were a fairly surprised to find a very touristy and upscale area, full of costly restaurants with repetitive "western food" menus. Luang Prabang, in its entirety, is a UNESCO World Heritage site, based on its
... read more