Marriott Makes Its Laos Debut With a Luxury Collection Resort in Luang Prabang
La Résidence Phou Vao, a 36-suite hilltop retreat with a Lao spa and views of Mount Phou Si, is Marriott’s 800th property in Asia Pacific outside China.
Photos: Courtesy of Tooten Photography
La Résidence Phou Vao has joined Marriott’s Luxury Collection in Luang Prabang, marking the company’s first property in Laos and its 800th in Asia Pacific, excluding China. The 36-suite resort is now welcoming guests on a hilltop about a mile from the old town, with views of the mountains and the gilded stupa atop Mount Phou Si.
The hotel kept its original architecture, three acres of tropical gardens, and a cliff-edge infinity pool during the conversion, while updating its interiors and dining program. Accommodations include Garden Heritage, Mountain View and Phou Si Temple suites, with handwoven textiles, rosewood accents and terrazzo bathtubs. Select suites have separate living areas and private terraces.
“This is a storied hotel with an unmistakable sense of place that serves as a gateway to the soul of its destination,” said Bruce Rohr, vice president and global brand leader for the Luxury Collection.
La Brasserie de la Résidence serves French bistro dishes made with seasonal produce and garden herbs, alongside a separate Lao tasting menu. On Saturday and Sunday mornings, a local artisan prepares nem kao, a steamed rice crepe, on the restaurant terrace. Guests can also book a private dinner in the garden at Villa des Arts, a preserved colonial residence about five minutes from the hotel.
At the open-air Mekong Spa, treatments include a ritual using Hmong indigo compresses and the traditional Sip Sen Lao massage. The spa has its own pool and sauna, and the resort offers dawn gong meditation.
The hilltop setting puts the Royal Palace Museum and Wat Xieng Thong within easy reach while giving clients a quieter place to return to. The resort can arrange sunset cruises where the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers meet, boat trips to the Pak Ou Caves, and visits to Kuang Si Waterfalls. Closer to the hotel, guests can take part in a traditional Baci ceremony, a Lao blessing associated with welcome and good fortune.
