Just 10 minutes from the airport – Experience French-style romance in a tropical Laos oasis

▲The Luang Say Residence is enveloped by lush greenery, resembling a jungle oasis within Luang Prabang. (Photo provided by The Luang Say Residence)

By reporter Tsai Wen-jun / Reporting and photography from Laos

As a UNESCO World Heritage city, Luang Prabang not only preserves intact traditional Lao culture but also exudes French romantic charm in every corner due to its colonial past. The hotel “The Luang Say Residence,” just a 10-minute drive from Luang Prabang Airport, feels almost entirely embraced by a jungle oasis. Its rooms, housed within Lao-style architecture, feature elegant and vintage French designs that instantly captivate visitors with their tranquil ambiance.

Hotel manager Francis Fernandes noted that The Luang Say Residence has 24 rooms in total—four integrated with the main lobby building, and the remaining 20 spread across five structures nestled in the jungle.

▲Living room inside a room at The Luang Say Residence.

▲A four-poster bed adds French romance to the room decor.

▲The balcony space is so relaxing you’ll just want to lounge on the bamboo chair and daydream.

The guest rooms at The Luang Say Residence are designed in a classic and vintage French style, using dark wooden furnishings to evoke a sense of stability and elegance, yet featuring four-poster beds draped with sheer curtains for added romance. Rooms on the second floor even have balconies where, upon opening the curtains, warm sunlight naturally streams in—creating an atmosphere where you just want to lazily lounge on a bamboo chair, unwind, and relax as if you were at home. The property enjoys high praise online and is beloved by travelers.

▲Green pathways in the public areas.

▲The pool at The Luang Say Residence. (Photo provided by The Luang Say Residence)

The public spaces at The Luang Say Residence feel like an oasis within Luang Prabang, covered with vast expanses of palm trees and lawns, as if walking through a jungle. Rabbits can often be seen hopping around and foraging nearby. The azure pool, surrounded by greenery, serves as another relaxing retreat for guests, making it hard to leave.

Francis Fernandes shared that he has lived in Luang Prabang for about five or six years after coming from India. What makes Luang Prabang so captivating to him, and why he chose to settle here long-term, is its slow pace of life and genuine local culture. As a UNESCO World Heritage city, he recommends that visitors to Luang Prabang take the time to personally experience its well-preserved traditional Lao culture and unique scenery.

The Luang Say Residence
Address: 4 - 5 Ban Phonepheng, Phou Vao Road, Luang Prabang 856, Laos