Teak houses line the quiet roads, or are perched high on stilts along the Mekong River. Many have easy-sloping roofs, with intricate carvings above the doors to let in light, and shutters that swing open above hardwood floors. If nearly every building in Luang Prabang seems a historical landmark, that's because many of them are. Trip Practicalities Getting There and around Laos Poor roads and old vehicles have made travel difficult in Laos, even today. For the first time in history, a road has been paved all the way from Vientaine to Luang Prabang.
Busses leave daily, headed in both directions.
With Luang Prabang no longer cut off from the rest of the world, things will change in this quiet town very soon. A more relaxed way to arrive is by slow boat up the Mekong, which has long been the major form of transportation. Boats from Huay Xai, on the Thai-Lao border, or from Vientaine can take days, but the reward is cultural interaction. Along the river, small villages with thatched huts on stilts are untouched by progress and the outside world. When it gets dark, your boat captain will simply pull over and negotiate a price with villagers to sleep in their house.