72 Hours in Luang Prabang This concise translation captures the essence of the original phrase while remaining simple and short. It avoids unnecessary details and focuses on the key information: the duration of the stay and the location.

I don't know what other people's 72 hours are like, but our 72 hours in Luang Prabang made me realize that it's okay to not do anything and still be happy.

To be honest, before coming to Luang Prabang, I thought it would be similar to Chiang Khan in Thailand. But in reality, it's not the same. Luang Prabang is quiet and peaceful, devoid of bright lights and entertainment. The pace of life here is incredibly slow, almost to the point of being slothful.

This trip was not focused on sightseeing, but rather on visiting cafes, waterfalls, and enjoying delicious food. We also prioritized relaxation at the hotel.

For our first night, we stayed at the 3 Nagas MGallery by Sofitel. If you value convenience, we highly recommend this hotel. It's centrally located, close to trendy cafes, morning and night markets, various temples, and the famous Som Tum Pa Tim restaurant (which lives up to its reputation for deliciousness). If you see a red vintage car parked in front of the building while driving by, you've arrived at 3 Nagas. It's the only one of its kind in Luang Prabang.

The room we stayed in was an EXECUTIVE SUITE, which was spacious and had ample floor space.
The bathroom area was semi-transparent, with clear glass walls and only a thin curtain for privacy.

Saffron Coffee is located near your accommodation, offering a scenic view of the Mekong River while you sip your coffee.

In the late afternoon, there is a walking street market with food and souvenirs. It opens around 6 pm and closes around 8 pm. People here go to bed early. Before going to the market, my friend suggested that I go up to see the sunset at Phra That Phu Si. Before going, he said it was not far, but in reality, I was panting heavily (you tricked me). I climbed up with sweat all over my face, so I only got this kind of view instead. 555

As you descend, you will find the market right next to the Grand Palace. If it's not raining, the market will be in full swing, occupying the entire space. However, if it's drizzling, the market will be a bit smaller. It really depends on your luck.

The next morning, I woke up at 5 am (you heard that right).
I woke up to offer sticky rice alms, which is a must-do in Luang Prabang.
Every morning, monks walk in a line for the villagers to offer alms.
You don't need to bring your own sticky rice, it's sold everywhere. Once you buy it, you can reserve a seat.

After a short nap in the room, it was time for breakfast.
We had a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, taking our time.

According to the program, we were supposed to visit Kuang Si Falls today, but it was quite far away.

So we asked our accommodation to arrange a car for us, and they quoted us 1,000 baht for a round trip (which was only a few baht each).
The waterfall has several levels for us to explore, and the highlight is the long bridge with a breathtaking view.

The backdrop is a huge waterfall, and the natural scenery is simply amazing. The water is a beautiful turquoise color and refreshingly cool.

After a tiring day of playing in the water, it's time to check in to another accommodation.
Located just outside the city, the Sofitel Luang Prabang offers a peaceful and private retreat.

Here, we can spend the whole day relaxing at the hotel. There are spacious gardens to stroll through and a swimming pool where we can read books and sunbathe. There are also many rabbits for us to take pictures of and post on our Instagram stories.

The villa we stayed in had a private pool, an outdoor seating area, and an open-air bathtub.

The breakfast here offers a wide variety of options, so even if you wake up late, you can still enjoy a leisurely meal.

Let's go for a bike ride before we head back. The morning air is still fresh and not too hot.

To enhance the coolness of this trip, in line with the #LuangPrabangSlowLife hashtag, we flew with Bangkok Airways on a full-service turboprop aircraft.

With our Premier-level FlyerBonus card, we were able to relax and enjoy snacks in the Blue Ribbon Club lounge before boarding.

The card also includes a free baggage allowance of 30 kg or more, and we were served another meal on board.

After a short flight of just 1.45 hours, we were gazing at the clouds and arriving at our destination.

Relaxing Luang Prabang trip without getting tired
And if you want to define Luang Prabang in 3 short words

It would be most suitable for the words SLOW SIMPLE and SAVE COST

: SLOW Visiting Luang Prabang slows down our life clock. Everything seems to be two steps slower.

This allows us to spend more time with the things around us, noticing details that we normally wouldn't pay attention to.

All the laziness in your body, use it here, I think it's the most worthwhile. Like driving no more than 80, walking slowly, talking slowly, eating slowly.

Wow! In Bangkok, five buses might pass by before you can get on one. It's crazy, but that's part of its charm.

: SIMPLE The unpretentious simplicity, from the traditional architecture to the everyday life, creates a sense of authenticity and charm.

Smiling people, wherever they go, are greeted with "Sa-bai-dee" (meaning "hello") all day long. It's quite charming, isn't it?

Enjoy scenic bike rides with breathtaking views at every turn. Ask for simple directions to avoid wasting time on maps.

Another interesting tradition is the sticky rice alms offering, where people wake up at 5 am to sit in rows and wait to offer alms to the monks.

Contrary to the common perception that only the elderly participate in alms-giving, a diverse range of individuals, from children and young adults to senior citizens, engage in this practice.

The highlight was that the monks walked surprisingly fast, making it difficult to keep up with the sticky rice molding.

: SAVE COST As Luang Prabang is close to Thailand, it is easy to travel there.

This has resulted in a cost of living that is relatively comparable to that of our country. We use bicycles to get around to various locations.

In some remote areas, we opted for songthaews, enjoying the breeze and the scenery as we went. In reality, the cost of traveling abroad like this is not much different from flying to Chiang Mai.

Short Summary

1. Luang Prabang is a truly slow-paced destination, a must-visit in one's lifetime.

2. In Luang Prabang, you can sit in a coffee shop for half a day without feeling guilty. This is the true meaning of relaxing and enjoying a cup of coffee.

3. Enjoy the convenience of purchasing a SIM card at the airport for 150 baht, valid for 4 days. Additionally, consider exchanging currency at the airport for better rates compared to local markets.

4. Don't miss the sticky rice alms offering. Some people say that you should mold sticky rice before putting it in the alms bowl.

In reality, there is no need to mold the rice balls. Simply pick them up and place them in the monk's alms bowl. I know this because the monk himself told me, "Next time, you don't need to mold them, layperson." 5555

5. Try ordering the "fried seaweed sheets" and you'll be hooked. It's like fried seaweed, but it's more oily and has a bit more texture.

6. Cycling along the Mekong River in the evening. The reason for cycling in the evening is not because it's hot, haha.

The moment I got on the bike, the theme song from the movie "Fan Chan" popped into my head. It reminded me of my childhood, when I used to ride my bike with my friends from the neighborhood.

7. The exchange rate is approximately 1 Thai Baht to 260 Lao Kip.

8. Their language is very similar to ours, so even if you're not fluent in English, you can still have a comfortable trip.

9. Cars drive on the opposite side of the road compared to our country, but it is not dangerous because they drive slowly. I still maintain my original opinion that Luang Prabang is a slow-paced city.