They began an exodus from this seeming Shangri-La after their hometown was listed a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1995, and sold itself wholesale to tourism. Related Content Warriors star Shaun Johnson opens up on family escape from Laos Laos: Going with the flow On track to Laos in the lap of luxuryAs former Unesco consultant and long-time resident Francis Engelmann said: "We have saved Luang Prabang's buildings but we have lost its soul." Laos last month marked the 20th anniversary of Luang Prabang's inscription with a 6000-strong parade accompanied by 20 elephants. CHECKLISTGetting thereSingapore Airlines and Silk Air fly from Auckland to Vientiane and Luang Prabang in Laos, with three flights a week from Singapore to each destination. DetailsFor information on Unesco heritage sites,go to whc.unesco.org.

Source: New Zealand Herald February 22, 2017 16:41 UTC