If you have to choose only one location that you want to visit in Laos, it is definitely going to be Luang Prabang. This ancient City used to be Royal capital till 1975 and definitely it has a vibe of some small capital... which was under French ruling for some time.
Luang Prabang is known for its many Buddhist temples including the most famous 16th century Wat Xieng Thong. Another remarkable construction is Wat Mai, once the residence of the head of Laotian Buddhism. There are several scenic waterfalls and some caves in the area as well so you are not going to get bored there!
We started our exploration of the area by visiting Tat Sae waterfall. It was on our way from Phonsavan and we were craving some refreshment after long and tiring day on the motorbike so it was the most logical decision to stop there for a quick swim. In order to get to the waterfall first you need to get to the village of Bak En, from there you will need to take a fast boat, 10 minutes and you arrived. At the time of our visit there was enough water for refreshing dip but be aware that Tat Sae can be stagnant in the dry season
One day should be enough to visit main attractions in Luang Prabang itself. Wat Xieng Thong and Wat Mai should definitely be on your list, along with dozens of characteristic coffee shops and famous night market.
If you dedicated enough days for Luang Prabang, it might be a good idea to find a boat tour to Pak Ou cave and Sang Ha village. Even if both places are super touristy, it’s still a nice ride along Mekong River to and from the cave.
To finish our exploration with furore, we visited Kuang Si waterfall, which is located 25 km to the southwest from Luang Prabang. It’s quite high waterfall with nice pools in the bottom and on top of it. Don’t be lazy and walk all the way to the top to see how it looks from there! If the weather is nice and you didn’t forget your swimming suit, it’s gonna be great refreshing experience!