Best Travel Destinations - Lao People's Democratic Republic
Dancing under the splash of water hoses; dodging balloons filled with coloured water; smiling at a sea of faces painted with talcum powder—these are not your typical New Year festivities. Yet, this is exactly the celebration awaiting visitors to Lao’s capital city, Vientiane, during Bun Pi Mao Lao: the Lao New Year. Lao New Year celebrations last from April 13th–15th and are marked by a jovial water fight that the entire city takes part in. Quite simply, this was by far the most exciting and memorable Yew Year celebration I have ever experienced. Arriving a day before the Lao New Year, the sleepy streets of Vientiane were quiet and offered no hint of the splash-filled revelry that would soon begin. Leaving the guesthouse the following ...
Vang Vieng is located in the Vientiane Province of Loas by the Nam Song River. The area was notably used as an American Army base for landing aircrafts during the Vietnam War, but has since developed into a well-catered backpacker district. Surrounded with a dramatic countryside of jagged limestone mountains, a cornucopia of caves and waterfalls, Vang Vieng was designed for hiking! A good hike through Vang Vieng offers hikers an array of sights and activities including vibrant valleys, rugged waterfalls, caving, kayaking and the opportunity to finesse your way across bamboo and rope bridges. The beautiful views of will draw you in and make you want to stay just to see what the sunset will be like the following day. The Vang Vieng hiking ...
Disembarking in Luang Prabang, Laos after a two-day boat journey from Thailand, the last thing I wanted to do was see any more water. But within moments of entering this charming and beautiful French-inspired city sitting mysteriously in the middle of the Laotian jungle, we were approached by several tuk-tuk drivers repeating, "Kuang Si? You want to go to waterfall?" I'd seen my fair share of waterfalls already and was somewhat reluctant to leave this beautiful place to see yet another cascade of water. But as the night wore on, the hum of the words "Kuang Si" seemed to linger on the mouths of every tourist I met; and so, it seemed, I had to go. Bright and early we awoke and climbed into the ...
If you’ve had your fill of temples, treks or museums, or are just plain ready to party, Vang Vieng in Laos is the place to head for. All backpackers on the Southeast Asia route talk about the epic partying that goes on in this surprisingly tiny town. While everyone refers to it as “tubing in Vang Vieng,” there is in fact very little tubing that actually goes on. Instead, the banks of the Nam Song River are lined with bamboo hut bars, pounding speakers and dancing travellers all looking for a good time. When I first arrived in Vang Vieng, I was taken aback by how small the town actually is. Vang Vieng consists of about three streets filled with restaurants, bars, guest houses and ...
The lush mountains of Laos are home to the Hmong people, who migrated from China during the eighteenth century due to political unrest. The Hmong people live simply off the land, preserving their ancient culture and way of life. A trek from Luang Prabang into the surrounding mountains allows a glimpse into the lives of the Hmong villagers, who are kind enough to share their way of life with visitors. Setting out bright and early from Luang Prabang, we drove into the hills, towards Ban Long Lao, home of Lao’s villagers. The early morning air was dewy and fresh, with a hint of smoke from fires burning in nearby villages. Upon reaching the base of the mountain, vehicles were abandoned and the hiking began. Trekking ...
If you’re seeking a little Laos mystery and history, make the trek to the Soviet style town of Phonsaven where clusters of ancient stone jars are peacefully scattered across northern plateaus. A visit to UXO villages resulting from a less than peaceful past also awaits. There are three different sites that you can choose from to visit the Plain of Jars. With only a few tourist offices in Phonsaven, each one, including your hotel, will try to convince you to spend an entire day driving around to visit all three. However, although visiting the Plain of Jars is eerily spectacular, you need to only visit Site One to feel the impact of this Laos mystery. The Plain of Jars consists of absolutely massive stone jars ...
Set deep in the Bokeo Nature Reserve in Northern Laos, The Gibbon Experience uses its funding to help protect the region's wildlife and jungle. What this means for participants is three days living with nature, trekking and zip-lining through the jungle, and two nights sleeping in a tree house at canopy-level, some 50 metres above ground. On day one of the Gibbon Experience, seven of us packed into the back of a truck and were taken one hour north of the border city of Houei Xai. We then bounced around for another hour, along winding dirt roads deep into the jungle of the Bokeo Nature Reserve, before we began our trek in a small Laos village. After going further up the mountain and deeper into ...
Kong Lo Cave in central Laos is set in the remote wilderness of Phu Hin Bun, creating a naturally dramatic background for this eerily spectacular place. The Nam Hin Bun river flows through the 7.5 km cave where only small boats can travel for tourism in addition to transporting locals and small goods. In some places, the Laos Kong Lo Cave is up to 100 meters high, and the most confusing part of this caving experience is wondering how to get started, and where to pay your fare. When you arrive, there will be several boys and men sitting around chatting. They are your guides, and few, if any, speak English. Money is an international language, so once you have paid whomever may be sitting ...
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