"A rather virgin country" Top 5 Page for this destination Laos by SirRichard

Laos Travel Guide: 3,592 reviews and 8,810 photos

A sense of authenticity

I admit I had no idea of what I was gonna find when arriving to Laos.
In fact I went because it was on the way between Hanoi and Bangkok, so I said... why not?
And it was a nice surprise! I found a rather tourism-virgin country, a bit undeveloped yet, but very authentic, with nice people, gorgeous landscapes, where religion is a very important part in life... and dirty cheap!!

Nature

Jungle from the bus

Laos' nature and landscapes are gorgeous. It is a paradise for outdoor sports, trekking, rafting, hiking...
There are many agencies (mostly in Luang Phabang and Vienviang) that organize Jungle Trails and so, visits to lost tribes, adventure trips...
I just saw the road between Vientiane and Laos, and it seemed like a lost primitive jungle!

Religion everywhere

Impressive Buddhas

You can find temples, stupas, buddhas and other buddhism religion signs everywhere in Laos.
Besides, these temples are not just tourist attractions but living places, where monks study, pray... only in Vientiane are some of them turned into museums, but the rest are used everyday, as religion seems to be very alive here.

Last visit to Laos: Aug 2003
Intro Updated Sep 5, 2003
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Reviews (28)

Nightlife in Vientiane Nightlife (1)

Vientiane is not really a paradise for night fans. After dusk the city is nearly deserted and the little (when existing)... more travel advice

Terraces by the Mekong (Vientiane) Restaurants (7)

In Vientiane, by the banks of the Mekong River, I found these terraces with restaurants where you can have a drink or... more travel advice

The Scandinavian Bakery (Luang Phabang) Restaurants (7)

This north european bakery & cafeteria is located in the main street. It sounded rather weird to find an Scandinavian... more travel advice

Restaurants in Luang Phabang Restaurants (7)

In Luang Phabang's main street there are several restaurants for tourists, with simple but nice terraces from where you... more travel advice

Favorites (7)
See All Stolen Buddhas
Warnings and Dangers (1)
Toilets
Transportation (4)
See All Vientiane - Luang Phabang Bus
Local Customs (2)
See All Floral offerings

Comments (24)

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zeke7 Mar 16, 2008 at 4:07 PM

"Rather virgin"? It was 10 years ago; these days, with its newfound popularity on the travelers' trail, I'd call it more of a young adolescent who's starting to sleep around a little ;-).
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magor65 Dec 28, 2007 at 7:57 AM

Great helpful tips here. I can't wait to see the sunset over the Mekong river and compare how the country has changed during these few years.
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Avieira67 Apr 25, 2007 at 6:11 AM

Páginas muy interesantes de un pays maravilloso. Muchas gracias!
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saracen Oct 14, 2006 at 5:51 PM

Great pics and tips - thanks. Definately planning a trip to Laos now!
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madamx Aug 21, 2006 at 2:56 PM

Thanks for the great tips; Those "churros" look dellicious! I guess you can find fried dough in any culture ... :o)
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aeroarce Jul 9, 2005 at 10:27 AM

tengo una foto identica a la que tienes en Stolen buddhas. la verdad es que ese templo y luang praban son maravillosos!
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jenniferchin Jun 18, 2005 at 3:32 AM

Hahaha !! CHURROS in Laos makes one happy, no ? ;-))
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stickynickyuk Sep 23, 2004 at 7:06 AM

Great pictures
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bpacker Jul 23, 2004 at 5:07 AM

Informative and interesting page for Laos! Will try and make it there someday!
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andal13 Jun 28, 2004 at 5:39 PM

Me enamoré de Laos hace años, cuando leí "Los tambores de bronce" de Jean Larteguy... Qué belleza la araña verde; parece una joya de jade! Lo de los churros es verdaderamente "off the beaten path" (aunque faltó el chocolate)!!!!