Mekong Riverview Hotel
by the TopOfHotel team
Mekong Riverview is the best riverfront hotel in Luang Prabang — a Mekong view right beside Wat Xieng Thong, quiet and lovely.
Mekong Riverview is the best riverfront hotel in Luang Prabang — a Mekong view right beside Wat Xieng Thong, quiet and lovely.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Rooms are laid in Maydo, a rare local timber, which gives them a warm, lived-in colonial-Lao character. The riverside rooms look straight out over the Mekong — open the window in the morning and you hear the water and the breeze before anything else. Standard rooms start around $109 a night; the Mekong View rooms cost more, but for a view you won't find anywhere else, they earn it.
Food and amenities
The Viewpoint Restaurant on the second floor opens to the river at first light, with the Mekong running the full length of the view. The buffet breakfast covers bread, eggs, fruit and fragrant Lao coffee, and more than a few guests call it the best breakfast of the trip — one summed the place up as somewhere you'd happily return just to watch the sun come up over the river with a hot coffee. There's a swimming pool, free Wi-Fi, and an airport pickup you can arrange ahead.
Location and getting there
You're in the heart of the UNESCO heritage zone. It's a 5-minute walk to Sisavangvong Road, the route for the dawn alms-giving, and 10 minutes to the night market. The hotel sits right beside Wat Xieng Thong, the finest temple in town — so you can fill an entire day on foot without taking a car anywhere.
Things to know before booking
Prices climb hard in high season (December-January), so book 2-3 months ahead for those dates. Some of the buildings have no elevator, which is tough going with heavy luggage if your room is on the third floor or higher. And the riverfront rooms that make this place special carry a premium over the standard rooms, so the best experience here isn't the cheapest one.
Our take
This is the riverfront stay in Luang Prabang. The combination — a direct Mekong view, a position right next to Wat Xieng Thong, and a 9.3/10 guest score, the highest in town — is hard to match. The morning view from the Viewpoint Restaurant and the quiet that the locals have kept along this stretch for centuries are the reasons to pick it. The walk-everywhere position helps too — 5 minutes to the dawn alms route, 10 minutes to the night market, and Wat Xieng Thong next door — so you never need a car. Take a Mekong View room, accept the high-season premium, and you've got the best base in the old town.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- Best location in Luang Prabang — on the Mekong directly next to Wat Xieng Thong, so you can spend the whole day on foot without ever taking a car.
- Review score of 9.3/10, the highest in town. Guests single out the staff for being friendly and quick to sort out any problem.
- Breakfast at the Viewpoint Restaurant on the second floor looks out over the Mekong, with fragrant Lao coffee and a varied spread that several reviewers call the best breakfast of their trip.
- Rooms are laid in rare local Maydo wood, giving them a warm colonial-Lao character you don't find in newer builds.
- The hotel has a swimming pool and free Wi-Fi, and can arrange an airport pickup on request.
- Prices climb sharply in high season (December-January), so book 2-3 months ahead if you want those dates.
- Some buildings have no elevator, which is hard work with heavy bags if your room is on the third floor or above.
- Mekong View rooms cost noticeably more than the standard rooms, so the riverfront experience is not the cheapest way to stay here.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Luang Prabang
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Insider Tips
- Book a Mekong View room rather than a standard one — the direct river view is the whole point of staying here, and opening the window at dawn brings in the sound of the water.
- Have breakfast on the second floor at the Viewpoint Restaurant early, with a Lao coffee, to catch the river before the day warms up.
- Walk 5 minutes to Sisavangvong Road at dawn for the alms-giving procession, then carry on 10 minutes to the night market in the evening — no car needed either way.