Watching sunset over the swirling Mekong River from one of Luang Prabang's riverside cafes while sipping a therapeutic Beer Lao is hard to beat.
This is one of the most enticing destinations in Asia, a sacred site of Theravada Buddhism. There are many exquisite temples, and Wat Xiang Thong is an especially beautiful and ornately decorated complex, but don't miss Wat Visoun and its collection of old and weathered Buddha statues arranged along the walls looking like phalanxes of terra cotta warriors whose beautifully carved faces peer out eerily from the shadowy light filtering through the balustrade windows.
At dawn, barefoot monks and novices emerge from the monasteries to receive alms from the faithful who squat on straw mats along the streets. It is an unforgettable sight to see hundreds of monks in their colorful saffron robes, alms bowls hanging from their shoulders, bending down and opening the lids to accept offerings from laypeople earning merit through their support for the monasteries.