President Barack Obama will visit Laos next week to attend a regional summit, making him the first U.S. president to visit the once-isolated Southeast Asian country.
As part of his trip, Obama will visit the northern city of Luang Prabang. Protected by the United Nations cultural heritage agency UNESCO, Luang Prabang is one of the most alluring places in the region - a city that evokes old-world romance that has gained a reputation as a travellers' Shangri La.
Here are some key facts about Luang Prabang, a former royal capital turned tourist destination.