VIENTIANE: Luang Prabang province is one of the seven best places to visit in South-East Asia, according to a post on the Lonely Planet website this month.

The globally renowned travel guide said Luang Prabang province is the best place to experience Buddhist culture, with its wonderfully preserved temples and other spiritual sites.

Visitors can participate in the daily morning almsgiving ceremony when monks collect offerings given by locals and visitors.

One of the most spiritually significant temples in Laos is Xieng Thong, which is located in Luang Prabang and is thought to date back to 1560 and originally used for coronations.

Luang Prabang is one of the most well-known provinces in Laos and is a top tourist draw because of its riverside location, old temples, quaint streets and alleyways, colourful festivals, and scenic beauty.

In March last year, Luang Prabang was recommended by the American magazine Time as one of the 50 greatest places to visit in 2023.

The magazine called Luang Prabang “a hidden paradise”, saying the turquoise waterfalls, Buddhist temples, and sunset boat trips on the Mekong River are just a few of the province’s highlights.

In January this year, the province received 12 Asean Tourism Standard awards in acknowledgement of its compliance with Asean tourism standards.

Luang Prabang city’s old quarter was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1995 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), which determined that its architecture was culturally significant and worthy of protection by the United Nations.

Other popular attractions in and around the provincial capital include Phu Si stupa, Sae waterfall, Kuangxi waterfall, and the large night market in the town centre.

To attract more visitors, provincial authorities will improve infrastructure and visitor facilities at tourist sites, as well as encourage investment in accommodation, restaurants, and agriculture-based tourism.

The management of tourist sites and guides will also be improved to meet the needs of visitors.

Nearly 1.1 million tourists visited the province over the last two years and five months, although this was only 26.4 percent of the planned number, according to the Luang Prabang Provincial Information, Culture and Tourism Department.

The province is hoping to add another 3 million tourists to its list of visitors in 2025, with expected revenue generation of at least US$566 million. – Vientiane Times/ANN