Victoria XiengThong Palace
by the TopOfHotel team
Victoria XiengThong Palace lets you stay inside a restored Mekong-side palace, with a genuine Lao royal-residence atmosphere no other hotel in town can match.
Victoria XiengThong Palace lets you stay inside a restored Mekong-side palace, with a genuine Lao royal-residence atmosphere no other hotel in town can match.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Victoria XiengThong Palace isn't a new build — it's the former residence of the Lao royal family, restored and reopened as a hotel on the Mekong. The rooms sit inside the original palace building, furnished in a Colonial-Lao style with carved woodwork and local-pattern fabrics that carry the history through. Guests describe it as a place with real Colonial-Lao charm that's been restored well, with staff who keep the historic feel intact. Rates start around $51 a night — far below the other riverside competitors, and you're paying for an atmosphere no one else in town can sell.
Food and amenities
The restaurant, Kitchen by the Mekong, sits right at the water. It serves Asian and Lao dishes, and in the evening you can sit and watch the Mekong while the sun goes down. Reviewers call the food fresh and nicely cooked, and breakfast comes in both Lao and Western versions. Wi-Fi is free. This is an older building, though, so don't expect the gadget-heavy fittings of a newer hotel.
Location and getting there
It's a 3-minute walk to Wat Xieng Thong, which is excellent for the price point. The morning alms route passes right in front of the hotel, so you can step out at dawn and be part of it without an early ride across town. The night market is close by too. For anyone who wants the real Luang Prabang experience on a sensible budget, the position is just about ideal.
Things to know before booking
Two honest caveats. First, it's an old building, so the modern amenities are lighter than what newer hotels at the same tier provide — this is a stay for history over slick fittings. Second, some rooms are small and really sized for two, which won't work for larger families; because they sit inside the original palace, sizes and layouts vary, so ask for a bigger room when you book if space matters.
Our take
If sleeping inside a restored Lao royal palace on the Mekong sounds like the trip you came for, this is the one — and at roughly $51 a night with a 3-minute walk to Wat Xieng Thong, the value is genuinely rare. Score 8.7/10, with reviewers consistently crediting the staff for keeping the old palace's character intact. Come for the history and the riverside location, not for the newest fixtures, and you'll get exactly what you hoped for.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- It's a genuine historic building — the last residence of the Lao royal family — and the atmosphere is unlike anything a purpose-built hotel can offer.
- The location is hard to beat: right on the Mekong and a 3-minute walk to Wat Xieng Thong, which makes the price look even better.
- Kitchen by the Mekong, the riverside restaurant, turns out a varied and flavorful Asian and Lao menu, and reviewers single out the food as fresh and well cooked.
- Rooms start at roughly $51 a night, far below the other riverside options, yet you still get a Mekong-front address in the UNESCO core.
- The morning alms procession passes directly in front of the hotel, so you can watch it without an early taxi ride or a long walk.
- It's an old building, so the modern amenities don't match what newer hotels in the same tier offer — go in expecting historic charm over slick fittings.
- Some of the rooms aren't large and are really sized for two people, which won't suit bigger families.
- Because the rooms sit inside the original palace building, sizes and layouts vary a fair bit, so it's worth asking for specifics rather than expecting every room to match.
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
- Ask for a riverside table at Kitchen by the Mekong in the late afternoon to catch the sunset over the water with your meal.
- You don't need to set an alarm and travel for the morning alms-giving — it passes right in front of the hotel, so just step out the door at dawn.
- Since rooms vary in size, ask the hotel for a larger room in the palace building when you book if space matters to you.