The Stunning Beauty of Laos's Louangphrabang

There’s a reason Laos’s Louangphrabang (sometimes spelled Luang Prabang) has drawn a growing stream of visitors in recent years. This once-sleepy hamlet has it all: A rare combination of natural and manmade splendor with rich spiritual and cultural traditions that appeals equally to the pilgrim, the backpacker, and the ecotourist.