Buddha at Vat Xieng Thong. Photo by Rebecca Lo / For China Daily

The palace itself is an elegant combination of traditional Laotian and French Beaux Arts architectural styles. Beautifully manicured grounds fragranced with frangipani trees lead to the palace entrance next to the mighty Mekong River.

Further out along the peninsula is the town's resplendent group of temples, known collectively as Vat Xieng Thong. Built in 1560 by Laotian King Setthathirath, there are some 20 structures on the grounds where successive kings were formerly crowned. The site's architecture represents excellent examples of Laotian craftsmanship, as many buildings tell stories embellished with colored mosaics and decorative gold flourishes.

We ended the day with a Laotian meal at 3 Nagas' outdoor terrace. Steamed fish, deboned and stuffed with mushrooms, stuffed sausage, red sticky rice and a rich soup were all culinary standouts.

As we savored the dishes, I once again marveled at how the simplicity of the Laotian spirit could bring so much enjoyment.

Contact the writer at sundayed@chinadaily.com.cn