The Belle Rive Boutique Hotel
Luang Prabang
A gentle breeze, a cup of freshly-brewed local coffee, and a private verandah view over the river as Luang Prabang finds its morning flow - that’s how each day begins at The Belle Rive Boutique. There’s a languid, leisurely atmosphere infusing through this inviting property, encouraging guests to step away from the rush and breathe deeply.
The city’s character echoes through each space: a colourful embroidery of traditional Laotian motifs is laid over an elegant French-style bed frame; white wooden shutters open out to reveal wide windows; welcoming wicker chairs sit under classic ceiling fans in a cosy whisky-stocked bar.
The hotel’s convenient location is the icing on the cake. Although it’s within strolling distance of several of the city’s key temples and headline sights, the Belle Rive maintains a sense of seclusion and calm, set just back from the water’s edge. Discover ethereal waterfalls on walks through the nearby forest, lose yourself amidst the morning market’s vibrant produce or the night market’s glimmering stalls, and take time to enjoy a gentler riverside pace.
Location
In central Luang Prabang, on the banks of the Mekong River and close to a handful of intriguing temples, this hotel balances convenience with calm and comfort.
A little more detail
Riverside terrace
Bicycles to borrow
Temples & waterfalls
Spa nearby
From a client…
Being able to explore Luang Prabang and come back to such a relaxing, welcoming hotel was perfect. It made our time in the city extra special.
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Why we love it
Discover what to expect from staying at The Belle Rive Boutique Hotel
Delight in the details…
Lifting a hotel to the next level requires individuality. It takes design skill and time to create a property which feels at once luxurious and up to date, and also displays heritage and character. At the Belle Rive, those individual details are sprinkled throughout each room: hand-painted porcelain basins, patinated brass, exposed wooden beams. The sense of identity carries through to the service, not least in the guarantee that breakfast can be served on the terrace at any time of day, along with those stunning river views. This says that the hotel will run to your schedule, whatever that might be, and that they value your time. It’s a small detail, but a classy one.
Riverside life
The Mekong is one of Asia’s wonders, winding and rushing from its source in Tibet to its delta in Vietnam. Along this section where it passes through central Luang Prabang, it forms the lifeblood of the city, and the Belle Rive offers a front row seat. All rooms at the hotel theoretically have a river view, though some are clearer than others (trees and other obstacles can get in the way!). You can enjoy watching the water in private, but there’s always a guaranteed vista from the riverside terrace across the road. Watch boats glide past, look over towards the opposite bank and the hills beyond, and take time to slow the pace.
What can you do there?
Explore the riverside and wider city by bike or on foot. Visit a handful of nearby temples, including Wat Xiengthong, Wat Sene and Wat Xieng Mouane, and witness the daily alms-giving ceremony at sunrise. Get a taste of daily local life at the buzzing morning market, making your way between stalls selling delicious local dishes, and wander through the night market at the other end of the day to find a few souvenir bargains. Head out early to the Kuang Si Waterfalls and take advantage of the Belle Rive’s anytime breakfast upon your return - croissants and pho at 11:30 a.m.? No problem.
A Start to Sustainability
The Belle Rive Boutique is making positive moves towards sustainability, including using glass water bottles and ceramic dispensers instead of plastic, growing their own organic produce in their riverside garden, providing free bicycles for guests to use to get about, and signing up to the city’s ‘Refill Not Landfill’ scheme.
