Luang Prabang considered by many to be the jewel in the crown of South East Asia is situated on the confluence of two rivers, the Mekong and the Nam Khane in Northern Laos. This historic treasure with ancient palaces, temples, and charming French colonial style architecture, provides the backdrop to the timeless atmosphere of this former seat of Kings announced by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1995.

Luang Prabang has sometimes been called the "City of 15 families of Nagas" or "City of the 65 Monasteries", and in more recent times, the "Jewel of South East Asia".

According to local annals, this capital has been in existence since the 5th century B.C. it was conquered by Khoun Chuang, of Lao Chok Dynasty who was king of Nguen Gnang in Xieng Sene, Yonok (Lan Na Kingdom) included the northern part of Indochina with the whole of northern Laos in its entirety.

According to the written evidence from the 11th Century, the city's first name was Muong Sua. The Khoun Chuang Dynasty governed Luang Prabang for four generations before being overthrown in the 12th century by Khoun Lo, one of Khoun Boulom's seven sons.

This city was later called Muong Lane Xang, or Lane Xua, in the form of "Muong Sua".

The true splendor of Luang Prabang began with the reign of King Fa Ngum in the 14th century who declared Buddhism as the religion of the Kingdom. Together with his preceptor and numerous persons learned in the Theravada, he established the religious philosophy. This in turn inspired the will of successive monarchs in making this capital a pole of thought from which generated the religious art of this city.

The golden Buddha statue "Prabang" was given to King Fa Ngum by the King of Khmer Kingdom as the present when he married the Khmer Princess "Keo Kenya".

The Prabang had then become the symbol the official name of the city.

Luang Prabang had been the capital of Lane Xang Kingdom until 16th century when King Saya Setthathirath, son of King Phothisarath, marked the peak of Lane Xang Kingdom and had moved the capital to Vientiane.

To this day, Luang Prabang still bears witness of the great history and the glory days of Lao culture.