La Résidence Phou Vao, Luang Prabang

Exciting Boston Pop-Ups to Know, February 2025 | Eater Boston

"A new pop-up from chef Veo Robert, an alum of Menton, Row 34, and Myers & Chang, showcasing Lao cuisine; the venture is named after Robert’s parents, who lived in Luang Prabang and met and bonded over food while Robert’s mother was selling grilled chicken at a hawker stall. The chef is hosting a first, two-night pop-up with a five-course, communal meal that features his personal spin on Lao dishes: mok pa (steamed fish) will be served as a red snapper soufflé with dill, and ping gai (grilled chicken) will be presented as grilled quail dressed up with turmeric and lemongrass. Tickets are $160 per person with a $40 wine-pairing add-on. In other words, buckle in for a fun ride." - Erika Adams

La Résidence Phou Vao, A Belmond Hotel, Luang Prabang

"The place has charm." Surrounded by gardens and spread across four two-story buildings, the hotel is "slightly removed from the action—just perfect." Phou Savanh restaurant serves Laotian cuisine, but "it’s more authentic at local restaurants." "Large rooms with sitting areas are a wonderful place to have a nightcap." "Mostly Laotian and clearly well trained, staff interact with guests in a friendly manner."

"La Résidence Phou Vao You’d be hard-pressed to find a more romantic property than Belmond La Résidence Phou Vao. Tucked away in a quiet hillside neighborhood that’s just a 20-minute walk from the heart of Luang Prabang and spread across three acres of lush grounds, the tranquil boutique resort is a maze of foliage-fringed paths illuminated at night with flickering lanterns. The 34 guest rooms speak the same love language with locally sourced materials, including low wooden tables and Laotian pottery and basketry, as well as stylish comforts like canopy beds, terrazzo bath tubs, and huge balconies with views of the gardens or city center below. When you’re not spending your days trekking from temple to wat, hole up in the spa, where traditional herbal steam baths are guaranteed to soothe sore limbs. Then dine on Franco-Laotian delicacies under the stars in the garden at the elegant on-site restaurant."

Why Luang Prabang Is the Ideal Southeast Asian City

"Belmond La Residence Phou Vao: This sleepy, orchid-planted hillside hotel is about a ten-minute tuk tuk ride from town, with misty views of the valley below and mountains in the distance."

La Residence Phou Vao, Luang Prabang, Laos - Explore & Book

"A fabulous hotel, one of our favourites in town, which will test your determination to be a good tourist. Extensive manicured gardens encircle you - palms, banana trees, frangipani, the trimmest lawns - while airy interiors flow gracefully from one room to another, past ornamental ponds and out to a sun-trapping terrace. At night thousands of lanterns burn in the grounds (four men take 2 hours to light them all) and dinner on the terrace gazing across the pool is very easy on the eye. Whether the pool and its terrace is more beautiful than your room is an impossible question to answer - and, quite frankly, you will be far too busy enjoying yourself to care. But, for the record, the view from your sun lounger on the terrace leaps across the treetops to Mount Phu Si, while your exceptional bedroom is airy and elegant and opens onto a private balcony where opium beds takes the strain. In case these don’t do the trick, there’s a spa to pamper you into submission (including a free 30-minute massage for i-escape guests). Highs Serene airy rooms with their exquisite balconies for tea in the shade The view from the pool across treetops to Mount Phu Si Perfect service makes the difference: nothing here is too much trouble There’s French and Laotian flair in the kitchen, too, expect delicious food Interesting trips and activities with which to fill you days, if you can tear yourself away from the pool that is Lows You’re on the flight path, close to the airport, but it’s far from busy, more like a country airfield, and the sound of propeller planes overhead is actually quite quaint The hotel is away from the old town - and all the more tranquil for it. A free tuk-tuk service will whisk you down from 10.30am-10pm Excursions and spa treatments are quite expensive We've had reports that some rooms are looking a little tired" - Tom Bell