L’Etranger Books and Tea is a great little treehouse-style refuge from the heat of the day. The city’s first licensed bookshop, it was founded in 2001 by Québecois filmmaker Isabel Dréan and her partner Simon Côté, and has a lovely, laid-back vibe. You can buy books – or swap yours for theirs – and there are plenty to choose from. The shoes-off policy makes you feel at home as you tuck your feet up on the wicker sofa or chill out on the shaded terrace.

It’s a place where people lounge for hours – and as the sun sets, it becomes even more cosy, as the fairy lights come on and pretty star lampshades start to glow. At 7pm each night there’s a film screening – from Hollywood blockbusters to more indie treats – in a charming attic room lined with old copies of National Geographic.

L’Etranger’s ethos is ultimately a communal one, reminding you that feeling at “home” isn’t about geography.

Your reading can be accompanied by delicious local or western cuisine – highly Instagrammable teas (served in proper pots), salads and curries (the green curry is particularly tasty).

• 3 Kingkitsarat Road, Ban Aphay, Luang Prabang, on Facebook