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One traveler returns to Laos.

Writer David Thompson shares his favorite parts of living in Bangkok’s Dusit neighborhood.

Overview

A city of contrasts, Luang Prabang features temples, monasteries, and traditional crafts alongside more modern aspects like a museum devoted to the U.S. bombings in the 1960s. When visiting, be sure to also explore the countryside or cruise the Mekong River.

Our ultimate 3 week itinerary would include the following: - 3 Nights in Hong Kong, - 3 Night Ho Chin Minh City (a side trip to the Meekong Delta or Hoi Ann would also be very worthwhile) - 2 Nights Bangkok - 2 Nights in Chiang Mai - 3 Nights in Luang Prubang, Laos - 3 Nights in either Phuket & Phi Phi Island or Koh Sumai - 3 Nights in Siem Reap Cambodia - - Final 2 Nights in Bangkok. Below are a few of the highlights from each of these destinations from the editors of Travelin10.com

The latest sign that Luang Prabang, the once-undiscovered unesco World Heritage city on the Mekong River, now fully caters to upscale tastes, Villa Maly is in the former residence of Prince Khamtan, grandson of a 19th-century Lao king. The hotel’s 33 rooms, furnished with four-poster mahogany beds, rain showers, and parquet floors, surround the 1938 French colonial–style home in seven comfortable cabanas. During my stay, I fought the heat by spending time on the dark-wood pool deck ringed by tall palms and tropical flowers. It’s a five-minute stroll to the town’s historic center—and a five-minute stroll back to the hotel’s onsite spa for a massage. —This appeared in the December/January 2010 issue.

The morning market in Luang Prabang is bursting at the seams with culinary curious - some you may indeed want to put in your mouth, and others, well - others you’ll need to see for yourself. Luang Prabang is the busiest tourist destination in Laos, but early in the morning, the market is generally void of foreign faces, making it a perfect place to meet the locals, dine on Lao food, and watch the people as they wander. Grab yourself a frosty bevy and a slice of blood sausage and check it out.

Buddha statues in lower Pak Ou Cave on the Mekong River north of Luang Prabang, Laos. Pak Ou is a series of limestone caves which contain hundreds of Buddha statues palced there over the centuries. It is a popular pilgrimage site for local people, especially during Lao New Year in April when the caves are crowded with devotees who gain merit by ceremonially washing the Buddha statues. The caves can be reached by boat from Luang Prabang in about 30-40 minutes.

Though Luang Prabang earned UNESCO World Heritage status in 1995 for its fusion of traditional Lao and European colonial architecture, the city’s most dazzling structures are most certainly its shimmering, gold-adorned temples. Many are worth seeing, but the grandest is Wat Xieng Thong (Temple of the Golden City), located in the historic part of the city near the tip of the peninsula. Built in the 16th century, the temple features gilded wooden doors that recount the life of Buddha. When visiting, be sure to also check out the rest of the complex, which features a monastery, pagodas, shrines, and residences.

Aimed primarily at tourists, the Night Market sets up each evening along a few blocks of Thanon Sisavangvong. Lining both sides of the street, with a section down the middle, stalls offer a plethora of souvenirs, from cotton shopping bags and handicrafts to silk scarves, brightly colored lamps, and silver jewelry. There are also food stalls on the side streets, offering a place to refuel between purchases. Even if you’re not in the mood to buy anything, strolling up and down the market aisles is a pleasant, interesting way to pass an evening.

Known for its “Laotian Family Cuisine,” this restaurant also has beautiful decor and an unforgettable setting that draws couples looking for a romantic meal. The interior, with its tall timber columns and exposed-brick walls, has the intimacy of a private home, but the pièce de résistance is the set of lotus ponds, surrounded by several tables. Manda de Laos is busiest at night, when the small lights around the ponds turn the space into an otherworldly dining destination, and guests settle in for signature dishes like wok-fried buffalo and grilled fish with lemongrass and herbs.

Many Americans are aware of the devastation caused by the Vietnam War, but perhaps more harrowing was the U.S. involvement in Laos. In an effort to halt the spread of Communism in Southeast Asia, American forces carried out 580,000 bombing missions in Laos between 1964 and 1973, dropping more than 2 million ordnances—the equivalent of a planeload of bombs every eight minutes nonstop for nine years. According to some estimates, one third of the country is still plagued with UXO, or unexploded ordnances. At the UXO Laos Visitor Center, a little south of the heart of the city, guests can view weapons displays and learn more about the offensive, how Laos became the most heavily bombed country per capita in history, and how the country continues to deal with the effects of the bombings to this day.

The most popular natural attraction in the area around Luang Prabang, this three-tiered set of falls offers a picturesque outing, with trails meandering through the jungle and turquoise pools scattered about. While it’s indeed very touristy, the area is large enough that you can still enjoy moments of solitude away from the crowds, especially when floating in the water and listening to the falls. An entrance ticket also grants visitors access to the on-site bear sanctuary, which is home to black bears rescued from traffickers.

From the canals of Bangkok to the scenic paths of national parks, explore sides of Thailand most travelers never see with this 14-day itinerary.

Hot tip: Don’t listen to this week’s episode of Unpacked by AFAR hungry. Because we’re traveling to a surprising Midwestern city to explore what makes it one of the most fascinating food cities in the country.