Laos

Laos has grown rapidly in popularity over the past few years and is no longer a secret amongst backpackers... That said, it's still fairly easy to get off the beaten trail if you are sick of the backpacker hordes you get in neighbouring Thailand and Vietnam. Laos is still predominently an agricultural nation with most the population still living in the countryside. Laos has a well deserved reputation for being an extremely warm and welcoming nation and is a true "land of smiles". Laos' communist government isn't really communist anymore having slowly opened there arms to a free market and with so much to offer within ...  Read the complete review

About the country:- Laos is in south East Asia. It is to the East of Thailand, North of Cambodia and West of Vietnam. It is completely landlocked (also shares borders with Burma and China) Where I went:- I entered Laos from the north and Headed straight to Vientiane. I then headed south to the Mekong, exiting into Cambodia. What I thought of the landscape:- Laos has hill, lots and lots of hills!!! But they are not normal hills (i.e., walk up it, get to the top, walk down hills) they jot up from nowhere with sheer sides, and are small at the bottom, but really tall! They aren't the sort you could climb. There are the other type ...  Read the complete review

I am somewhat reluctant to tell you about Laos, I fear that if too many of you go you will spoil it when I next go :). Self interest aside, Laos is the most beautiful place in the world that I have visited with the worlds most hospitable and friendly people. It is a communist state (don’t let that put you off) land locked located between Thailand, Burma, Vietnam and China. It is estimated that 70% of the worlds illicit opium comes from Laos, something you are reminded of late in the evenings as a strange smell wafts under the door. I travelled all the way through Laos before entering China at the north, the best way to enter Laos is from ...  Read the complete review

Laos is one of the most fascinating places I have ever visited. I first went there in 1993 when to get a visa you had to buy a package from the Government Tourist Board, not cheap! You were issued with a 'laisser passe' document which you had to show before you got on any form of transport. I had a guide wherever I went during the day. Luckily he was great and became a friend as well. I visited Vientianne when the rush hour was a flood of bicycles leaving a factory! After Vientianne I booked a trip to the Plain of Jars, again not cheap but they had to send my guide as well as the local one did not speak English. When I arrived I had 1 driver 1 local ...  Read the complete review

Our general impressions of Laos can be simply stated with "Wow". Four days after leaving Chiang Mai, we arrive at our destination in Laos. Oh, but i dare not leave the journey, for we all know that's where all the action is! We crossed the border at Chiang Khong, Thailand after overstaying our visa one day (oops). Chiang Khong is a sleepy little border town that thrives on giant mekhong catfish and trade with neighboring China, Thailand, Burma. I fell in love with its quiet charm. We stayed the night to catch the morning ferry down the river. I woke at dawn to give alms (offerings) to the monks with the other residents of the town. The moks ...  Read the complete review