Luang Prabang, or
Louangphrabang (Lao:
ຫລວງພະບາງ, ),
Xieng Dong Xieng Thong, is a city located in north central
Laos, on the
Mekong River about 425 km north of
Vientiane, and the capital of
Louangphrabang Province. The current population of the city is about 103,000.
The city was formerly the capital of a kingdom of the same name. Until the communist takeover in 1975, it was the royal capital and seat of government of the
Kingdom of Laos. The city is also notable as a
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
History
Muang Sua was the old name of
Luang Prabang following its conquest in 698 A.D. by a
Tai prince,
Khun Lo, who seized his opportunity when
Nan-chao was engaged elsewhere. Khun Lo had been awarded the town by his father,
Khun Borom, who is associated with the Lao legend of the creation of the world, which the Lao share with the
Shan and other peoples of the region. Khun Lo established a dynasty whose fifteen rulers reigned over an independent Muang Sua for the better part of a century.
Buddhist Temple at Haw Kham (Royal Palace) complex.
In the second half of the 8th century, Nan-chao intervened frequently in the affairs of the principalities of the middle Mekong Valley, resulting in the occupation of Muang Sua in 709. Nan-chao princes or administrators replaced the aristocracy of Tai overlords. Dates of the occupation are not known, but it probably ended well before the northward expansion of the
Khmer empire under
Indravarman I (r. 877-89) and extended as far as the territories of
Sipsong Panna on the upper
Mekong.
In the meantime, the Khmers founded an outpost at
Xay Fong near
Vientiane, and
Champa expanded again in southern Laos, maintaining its presence on the banks of the Mekong until 1070.
Chanthaphanit, the local ruler of Xay Fong, moved north to Muang Sua and was accepted peacefully as ruler after the departure of the Nan-chao administrators. Chanthaphanit and his son had long reigns, during which the town became known by the
Tai name
Xieng Dong Xieng Thong. The dynasty eventually became involved in the squabbles of a number of principalities.
Khun Chuang, a warlike ruler who may have been a
Kammu (alternate spellings include Khamu and Khmu) tribesman, extended his territory as a result of the warring of these principalities and probably ruled from 1128 to 1169. Under Khun Chuang, a single family ruled over a far-flung territory and reinstituted the
Siamese administrative system of the 7th century. At some point,
Theravada Buddhism was subsumed by
Mahayana Buddhism.
Xieng Dong Xieng Thong experienced a brief period of Khmer
suzerainty under
Jayavarman VII from 1185 to 1191. By 1180 the Sipsong Panna had regained their independence from the Khmers, however, and in 1238 an internal uprising in the Khmer outpost of
Sukhothai expelled the Khmer overlords. Xieng Dong Xieng Thong in 1353 became the capital of
Lan Xang. The capital was moved in 1560 by King
Setthathirath I to
Vien Chang, which remains the capital today.
In 1707, Lan Xang fell apart and Luang Prabang became the capital of the independent Luang Prabang kingdom. When
France annexed Laos, the French recognized Luang Prabang as the royal residence of Laos. Eventually, the ruler of Luang Prabang became synonymous with the
figurehead of the French Protectorate of Laos. When Laos achieved independence, the king of Luang Prabang,
Sisavang Vong, became the
head of state for the
Kingdom of Laos.
Monarchs of Luang Prabang
- Khun Lo, warlord who founded the city
- Oun Kham, king who ruled under the French
- Kham Souk (Zakarine), king who ruled under the French and who pushed for independence
- Sisavang Vong, king under the French, and when France granted Laos independence, he became king of the whole country
Tourism
Luang Prabang seen from right bank of Mekong (montage)
Luang Prabang has both natural and historical sites. Among the natural tourism sites, there are the
Kuang Si Falls and
Pak Ou Caves. Tourists may also ride elephants. At the end of the main street of Luang Prabang is a night market where stalls sell shirts, bracelets, tea - suitable souvenirs. The
Haw Kham Royal Palace Museum and the
Wat Xieng Thong temple are among the most well known historical sites. Along with the magnificent wats a significant part of the old town's appeal are the many French provincial style houses.
As China has recently allowed its citizens to travel more freely to Laos , the number of tourists in the area is expected to increase rapidly, creating pressure to modernize the tourist infrastructure, particularly catering to
package tourism.
Transportation
Luang Prabang with the Nam Khan River
Luang Prabang is served by
Luang Prabang International Airport with non-stop flights to
Luang Prabang is linked by
Route 13 with
Vang Vieng and
Vientiane, and by Route 1 with
Muang Xay. Route 13 also connects the city to Cambodia.
The road from
Huay Xai (the Laos town across the river from Chiang Khong) to Luang Prabang is poorly maintained, remote, unlit, unmarked and extremely dangerous for the unfamiliar traveler, particularly in the wet season. Regular buses nonetheless do run, taking 14–16 hours
Route 13 from Vientiane, passing Vang Vieng, to Luang Prabang is paved, though the pavement is in poor condition at places. It is also relatively narrow, with sharp curves. There are no markings or lighting on the road. Several daily buses run from Vientiane to Luang Prabang, taking 9–11 hours .
The Mekong River itself is also an important transportation link. Travelers from
Chiang Khong can hire a barge to cross the river.
Huay Xai, upriver near the Thai border, can be reached by slow boat in two days, typically with a stop at
Pakbeng.
See also
