Luang Prabang Attractions

Royal Palace (Haw Kham)

The former Royal Palace, a mixture of French and Lao architecture, is now a museum preserving the possessions of the monarchy. Above the entrance is a three-headed elephant sheltered by the sacred white parasol, the symbol of the Lao monarchy. The most impressive room is the Throne Hall, a dazzling interior of mosaics and mirrors, with displays of royal regalia including glittering swords and the king's own elephant saddle. The museum's most prized possession, the Pha Bang, a golden Buddha image, is housed in a small barred room that was the king's personal shrine. It is the most sacred image in the country, believed to have been crafted in the heavens, and containing miraculous powers of protection over the country.