Luang Prabang, Laos
Luang Prabang Cats
A quiet UNESCO town where street cats turn up along the Mekong, temple walks, and evening streets.
Before you go
- Early morning is especially calm — good for temples, the morning market area, and a quiet cat walk.
About Luang Prabang Cats
Luang Prabang is not marketed as a “cat city,” but cats are part of everyday street life in the old town. You may meet them along the Mekong riverside restaurants, near temples such as Wat Xieng Thong, at cafés overlooking the river, or on the walk toward the night market. Think of it as a slow urban cat walk between temples, coffee, and quiet evenings — not a single colony village.
Luang Prabang Walking Map
Open in Google MapsA walking map from the Mekong riverside to Wat Xieng Thong and the night-market area. Early morning walks are especially pleasant. Locations are approximate.
Luang Prabang Spot Guide
How to get to Luang Prabang Cats
Fly into Luang Prabang International Airport (LPQ), then continue to the old town by taxi, tuk-tuk, or shared van (about 15–30 minutes).
You can also arrive by train from Vientiane, then take a shared bus or taxi into town. Once in the old town peninsula, most places are walkable — Mekong riverside, temples, cafés, and the night market sit close together.
- Fly into LPQ (or take the train from Vientiane) and continue to the old town by taxi, tuk-tuk, or shared van.
- Walk the Mekong riverside — restaurants and cafés line the bank, and cats often appear nearby.
- Continue toward Wat Xieng Thong and the quieter temple streets.
- In the evening, walk toward Sisavangvong Road / the night market — cats may turn up along the way.
Visited June 2025
June 2025 — a short workation in Luang Prabang. On the first evening along the Mekong riverside I found a cat near the restaurants. Later I walked to Wat Xieng Thong and worked at a Mekong-side café, where a cat sat watching the boats. On the way to the night market I saw more cats, and a black cat also came by at the hotel.
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