Luang Prabang, or Louangphrabang (Lao: ຫຼວງພຣະບາງ, literally: "Royal Buddha Image (in the Dispelling Fear mudra)," pronounced [lǔaŋ pʰra.bàːŋ]), is a city in north central Laos, at the confluence of the Nam Khan and Mekong Rivers about 300 km north of Vientiane. It is the capital of Luang Prabang Province. The population of the city is about 50,000.[1]
The city was formerly the capital of a kingdom of the same name. It had also been known by the ancient name of Chiang Thong.[2] Until the communist takeover in 1975, it was the royal capital and seat of government of the Kingdom of Laos. The old town centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.