琅勃拉邦（寮语：ເມືອງຫຼວງພະບາງ）又译隆勃拉邦、龙帕邦、龙坡邦或銮佛邦，是老挝上寮重镇，琅勃拉邦省省会。琅勃拉邦位于上寮湄公河畔南堪河口。
琅勃拉邦已有千余年的历史，被认定为世界遗产。旧名勐苏瓦，曾是南诏一部分，后属高棉。13至14世纪属老听族国家，被灡沧国王法昂的祖父击败，此后成为老族文化中心。1353年，法昂统一老挝，建立澜沧王国，定都于此，改名川铜（意为“金城”）。1560年起，因供奉来自高棉勃拉邦佛像，改为今名。1945至1975年间，老挝王国定都万象，琅勃拉邦仍为王都。市内名胜古迹有帕维逊摩诃维汉寺、玛莫塔、金塔山和王宫等。
Set at the confluence of two rivers that almost surround the city, and beneath a temple-topped hill, Luang Prabang is a wonderful patchwork of traditional Lao wooden houses and hints of European architecture; reminders of when Laos was part of the French colony of Indochine. Golden-roofed wats, decorated with mosaics and murals of the life of Buddha, sit under the gaze of wrap-around teak balconies and 19th century shuttered windows. All of this is set against a backdrop of verdant greenery and rugged mountains.
One of those small cities with atmospheric and charming personalities, Luang Prabang has topped the Top City category in Wanderlust's annual (popular choice) travel awards several times in recent years.
As a visitor, you cannot help but be amazed by the tidiness and cleanliness of perhaps the most charming city in all of Southeast Asia. With UNESCO so closely involved and a largely responsible group of local business owners, the pressures of mass tourism development have been held at bay, but for how much longer remains to be seen. Restaurants along the main street tend to be expensive and aimed at luxury tourists, whilst lower cost venues are along the banks of the Mekong.
History
Luang Prabang rose to prominence as the capital of the first Lao kingdom (Lan Xang - land of the million elephants) from 1353 onwards. The city owes its present name to the Pha Bang, a revered Buddha image (now in the Royal Palace Museum) which was brought to the city by King Visoun during the golden age of Lan Xang in the early 1500s.
The fragmentation of the Lao kingdom at the end of the 16th century saw Luang Prabang become a militarily weak independent city state paying tribute to the surrounding kingdoms. Ultimately the 1887 sacking of the city by the Chinese Haw led the Luang Prabang monarchy to accept the protection of the French, whose influence led to the construction of the many fine colonial villas that sit harmoniously alongside the traditional Lao architecture.
The city fell into decline in the latter half of the 20th century following the reluctant withdrawal of the French, and the 1975 revolution which brought an end to the Luang Prabang monarchy. The relative poverty of newly-independent Laos perhaps helped save Luang Prabang from the ravages of 20th century city planning.
The reopening of Laos to tourism in 1989 resulted in a remarkable turnaround in the city's fortunes, as crumbling timber houses and colonial mansions were sensitively restored and transformed into immaculate guesthouses and boutique hotels. In 1995 the city was placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Note : LC Tee is the one making noise want to go...later cancel her plan due to her bubby comment....this tour is dangerous!! 👀👀
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