Luang Prabang in northern Laos was recently awarded Top City in Wanderlust magazine’s annual 2015 Travel Awards. As an expat who just celebrated her one-year anniversary living in this UNESCO World Heritage town, I know well the charms that travelers fall in love with: the vibrant colors of the night market, colonial French architecture juxtaposed with centuries-old Buddhist temples, the gentle temperament of locals. But to me, it is the Nam Khan River and the community it provides for that leaves the greatest impression.

Only 262 kilometers (162 miles) long, the Nam Khan has significant social and cultural meaning nonetheless. The walls of Wat Xieng Thong, Luang Prabang’s most important Buddhist temple, are adorned with scenes of people fishing and engaging in other water activities, evidence of the historical role rivers have had here.

Today, people still depend on the Nam Khan for fishing, transportation and entertainment. As it snakes its way through the north before spilling into the Mekong river in Luang Prabang, the Nam Khan acts as a vital resource for lowland communities, the ecosystem upon which agriculture, fishing, even tourism rely. One place to experience its vitality, and natural beauty, is on the river’s west bank in Luang Prabang.

The paved road on this side of the river leading to the peninsula opens to an unobstructed view of the ethereal scene of a tranquil waterway framed by tamarind trees, bamboo forests and brooding mountains. The sidewalk is bordered by a low stone wall, more of a really long bench than guardrail, as it is often lined with locals marveling at the natural harmony in front of them. It is also one of the few places in Luang Prabang where locals and tourists can mingle freely and unscripted.

Today I sat down in the middle of the wall next to a group of teenage boys who, save for the occasional banter, admired the view together in silence. A few feet away, a woman parked her motorbike on the sidewalk and swiftly put on mascara in front of the rearview mirror. Her (assumed) boyfriend came later and the pair blended in with other couples resting against each other on the wall. Two girls perched themselves on the other side of me and huddled together, giggling as they switched between watching whatever was playing on their smartphones, and watching men cast fishing nets from the riverbank across the way.

It’s dry season now and the water level is so low that the river bottom is completely exposed in some parts, creating patches of pebbly beach where people play football and volleyball. Long wooden fishing boats are scattered on the dry land, seemingly left stranded when the water level dropped. Tourists also enjoy the beach but sadly, some have enjoyed it at the expense of local culture. A sign written in English hangs at the entrance of the bamboo bridge leading to the embankment, asking beachgoers not to wear bikinis, and not to go topless.

Linger on the wall long enough and you’ll get a whiff of the aroma of barbecue from the family-run food stand at the top of the stone wall. Unable to resist the mouth-watering scent, I got up from my spot and walked the short stretch to the unassuming grilling station. Fresh vegetables and meat are displayed in orderly rows, making it easy to order dinner by pointing. After I pointed to enoki mushrooms, crisp green peppers and chicken skewers, the woman manning the grill threw them over the fire and gestured behind her, inviting me to relax at a table overlooking the river.

Tourism to Luang Prabang is rapidly increasing and at times it feels as though this small town is overrun by travelers, and foreign transplants like myself. But sitting along the riverbank among locals, and watching the Nam Khan being used as much as for diversion as for utility by the community assures me that Luang Prabang still belongs to its people.

Kathy is a Responsible Tourism professional who currently calls Luang Prabang, Laos, home. She believes that tourism can be a force for good and seeks to uncover the power of travel through the lens of the local community. Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/kathyeow.

There is a lot of fuss about Chiang Mai in the travel world. People say that it is a great, lively city with plenty of things to do and a lot of places to see. I visited Chiang Mai for the first time 2 years ago. It was at the end of my 3-month-trip around South East Asia. I was tired… I didn’t want to see another temple, I didn’t want to go trekking again, visiting Tiger Kingdom and Karen villages was against my ethical believes. All I really wanted to do was to sleep and rest, but I also felt obliged to do some sightseeing and exploring the town. It was February and it was hot. I wandered the streets of Chiang Mai aimlessly for few days and I didn’t find anything interesting about it. I was surprised by all the positive opinions I had read about.

Now, I know that my disappointment was mainly caused by my poor research and the little information in my guidebook. After a year of living here I now know that this city has a lot to offer and there are wonderful places to be discovered. This is my ultimate guide on how to experience Chiang Mai in 4 days.

Day 1 Have a stroll

This is what I usually do on my first day in any new destination. I take a map, ask about a few landmarks in the city and then just walk. Chiang Mai is a very easy place to move around. The city centre is surrounded by an ancient wall and a moat, and every corner has its own gate, which can be easily found on any map. My suggestion is to start from the Tae Pae Gate, which is the main tourist area. Walk into the old town, wander around and get lost in the labyrinth of little streets, lined up with coffee shops, bars and restaurants. Take it easy and enjoy your surroundings. You might want to check out a few of the beautiful temples. The main one, and the biggest is Wat Phra Singh. Wat Chedi Luang is also worth visiting for the ancient ruins, located just at the back of the new temple.

A great way of spending the afternoon is going to the Chiang Mai Arts and Cultural Centre to find out more about the local culture and traditions. But, if this is not your thing, then go for a massage. The most recommended place is the Women’s Correctional Institution, where the prisoners are the masseuses, and the money goes to their accounts so they have an opportunity to make a living once they get out. They are professionally trained, and the place is absolutely safe.

For dinner go to the South East gate market. During the day it is mainly a place where locals do their grocery shopping, but just after the dawn it transforms into something extraordinary. You can find here all kinds of food, from sushi to pad thai, durian, shakes and smoothies. Everything is cheap, fresh and delicious.

Day 2 Doi Suthep and the Chiang Mai Zoo

On day 2 either drive, or hail a songtaew (local taxi) to the Chiang Mai Zoo. Be prepared to walk a lot as the zoo is quite big. One of the reasons why you should visit it is the fact that the zoo has pandas, white tigers and other exotic animals. You can even feed some of them. The enclosures are large and the animals are well looked after.

From the Zoo there is a straight road to the Wat Phra Doi Suthep – one of the main attractions in Chiang Mai. The temple is located on the top of the mountain and can be seen from almost any point in the city. The view from there is spectacular, but only if you happen to be in Chiang Mai outside of the burning season (from June to around mid-February). Otherwise you will only see grey smoke enveloping the city centre.

For dinner go to the market at the North Gate and eat rice with some delicious meat from the ‘Cowboy Hat Lady’. You will find her easily, just look out for the brown hat.

Day 3 Visit the Elephant Nature Park

If you care at least a little bit about animals and their welfare, this is the place to go. The elephants here were rescued from villages, tourism and logging industries. You cannot ride them, but you can spend a whole day looking after them. You can feed them, bath them and experience how amazing these animals are. You can book the trip online, but remember to book at least 2 days in advance. The price for one day is 2,000 Baht. The lunch is provided.

In the evening go for a drink, dinner and a party to Nimmen. It is a long street in the north that is full of great places to eat, drink and have fun. I recommend the ‘Salad Concept‘ for dinner, the ‘Kamrai Shop‘ for drinks and ‘Warm up‘ for a party.

Day 4 Chilling and shopping

This is your last day, so take it easy. I have a few places to recommend on this final day. One is the little park next to the South East Gate (Chiang Mai Gate). It is full of blooming flowers, fountains and cute, little bridges. You can rent a matt for 10 Baht and lay on the grass to soak up the sun. If you have your own transport then Huay Tong Tao Lake is a great place to go as well. You can swim, or just sit in one of the bamboo huts, having a drink. It costs 20 Baht per person to get in. Another great spot is the Mae Sa Waterfall, but again you need to have your own transport, or you can catch a songtaew to take you there. The entrance fee is 100 Baht, plus 20 Baht if you have a scooter.

In the evening you can do some shopping. The Night Bazaar in Chiang Mai should be on every visitor’s list. Not that far from the Night Bazaar you will find the Warrort Market, which might not be great in terms of offering souvenirs, but it is great for food and people watching.

If you happen to be in Chiang Mai on Sunday, go to the Sunday Market, where you can find even more handicrafts, clothes and of course food. To finish your day head to the Bus Bar, which is located by the river and is a nice place to have a quiet drink.

Jo is a travel blogger and loves writing and traveling. She is currently living in Chiang Mai. You can check her website on www.theblondtravels.com or follow her on Twitter, Facebook or Pinterest.