Travel guide to Laos

In 2008 the country Laos was voted the number one travel destination by the New York Times. Laos takes a little more effort to get to than its neighboring Thailand and Vietnam, but for people who make the effort they will be rewarded with the experience of visiting a beautiful country, with friendly people in a country that hasn't yet been tarnished by mass tourism.

Getting to Laos, means first traveling to Thailand, Vietnamo or China as the country only has international flights to neighboring Asian countries. Most nationalities can get a 30 day visa on arrival for around US$30-$40.

The capial city of Laos, Vientiane or Vien Chang, as it is known to the locals, would have to be hte quietest capital cities I have visited in the world. The capital has some beautiful Buddhist temples and having a cold beer while watching the sunset over the Mekong River is a must.

Vang Vieng is a place etched firmly on any backpackers itinerary through South East Asia. Travelers tend to either love or hate Vang Vieng. Vang Vieng is famous first two things: the inner tube rides down the Nam Song River and the restaurants down the main street that show episodes of the U.S. television program – Friends and sometimes the Simpsons from morning until night.

Tuktuks (small buses) take people and their tubes several kilometers upstream from Vang Vieng and then the leisurely trip is made back to town in an inner tube. It all sounds fairly sedate, but along the way there are numerous make shift bars, belting out Jack Johnson and Bob Marley, making the ride into a virtual pub crawl.

There are numerous other activities in Vang Vieng including kayaking, caving, rock climbing and hiking. The scenery is spectacular and there is much more to do in Vang Vieng than just tubing and watching Friends re-runs, like how most back backers seem to spend their time.

The Plain of Jars are relatively unknown outside of Laos, but they can be regarded just as interesting and mysterious as sites like Stonehenge and the Moai statues on Easter Island. There are a few different jar sites and some tours take in some remnants of the Vietnam war.

Laos was heavily bombed during the Vietnam War and a high percentage of bombs did not explode making many parts around Laos, particularly around Phonsavan unsafe for travel. Travel tip: Always stay close to your guide! Many locals die or lose limbs everyday from UXO and while the country is slowly being cleaned up with the help of NGOs, at their current rate it will take years to clear the whole country.

For many tourists, Luang Prabang is one of the highlights of a trip to Laos. Luang Prabang also has the best tourist facilities in the country. The architecture is a mixture of beautiful Buddhist temples with a mix of European style as the area was a former French colony.

Some of the must sees in Luang Prabang include Haw Kham, the former royal palace and Vat Xieng Toung, the oldest and most beautiful monastry in the town.

If you are feeling hot, you shouldn't miss taking a short trip to Kuang Si Falls where it is safe to swim. There are several different places on the river where you can swim. Many travelers enjoy diving off the different levels of waterfalls.

Laos is still a developing country, so sometimes travel around the country can be a little rough. The roads are very windy and most buses don't have any toilet facilities. Except for the main cities, ATM facilities are extremely limited. It can be a good idea to carry some US dollars to change into local currency (kip) if you run into any trouble.