Luang Prabang is a city located in north
central Laos, at the confluence of the Nam Khan river and Mekong
River about 425 km north of Vientiane. It is the capital of Luang
Prabang Province. The population of the city is about 50,000. 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. It is a UNESCO
World Heritage Site. The main part of the city consists of four
main roads located on a peninsula between the Nam Khan and Mekong
rivers. The city is well known for its numerous Buddhist temples
and monasteries. Every morning, hundreds of monks from the
various monasteries walk through the streets collecting alms. One
of the major landmarks in the city is a large steep hill on which
sits Wat Chom Si.
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