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This is the guesthouse I stayed in Chiang Khong. Nothing fancy, but clean, with shared toilet and hot shower. Their resterant have beautiful view over Mekong River. I took a package, 1550 Bhat including bus from Chiang Mai to Chiang Khong, one night stay in Chinag Khong, one dinner, one breakfast, one lunch, and slow boat ticket from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang.
I went to Laos from Chiang Khong boarder in Thailand. I stayed one night in Chiang Khong, woke up early 7 o'clock in the morning, had my breakfast by the brautiful Mekong River. This is the view of Mekong River in the morning. Not far, the land behind the river is Laos. Just one river apart.
It's a real toss-up between the speedboat ride down the Mekong and the bus ride through the mountains en route from Luang Prabang to Vientiane.The speedboat ride was exhilerating - if a little tough on my knees - and the shores of the Mekong River are beautiful, bordered by muddy ledges and lush green mountain vegetation. Infrequently, small villages of stilted huts dot the landscape, and children play like otters in the dark water. The bus trip was memorable for another reason. The scenery on the bus was also gorgeous, but the ride was pretty rough, and apparently Laos people are very prone to motion sickness. Most memorable moment: stepping off the bus to take a picture, only to have the bus leave me behind - and with my backpack too! A fellow traveler and I had to bribe a truck driver to chase down the bus. We were freaking out, especially as our truck sped through villages and...
Luan Paban as the local proununce this town name!I heard so much about this beautiful place before coming and still I found it different and better than I expected.I arrived there from the busy Hanoi and the first thing that i thought was: it was not an aircraft, it was a time machine!Yes, you really feel like you are in another time, with other rithms, sounds, smells.Once in the guesthouse, I simply lied on the bed and slept like a baby, it was like I found what I was looking for, so I finally could really relax.
I can reasnoably say that any city or town I visited in Laos apperas as an old countryside village, and they all offer some unusual and original street scenes that let you feel distant from your home, distant from your time far from your often stupid rithms, and makes you wonder if you live in the best possible world.
These two kids followed me from the village where I toke a tuc tuc to the water falls, untill the river where my small boat was waiting to take me back to Luan Prabang, I still did not understand if they wanted to come or if they wanted me to stay or may be if they just were curious to see what that weird big man was doing around there LOL
Laos has many buddhist monasteries and temples, in which there are hundreds of old statues and figures. Some of them are not well protected and there are organized mafia who steal these masterpieces and sell them in the black market outside Laos, mostly in Thailand.In some of the temples you could even see warehouses of broken Buddhas, waiting for repairs...
As you pass the area of Vienviang, in between Vientiane and Luang Phabang, you enter in a beautiful green mountanious area, with a certain look to the Guilin area in China.In these mountains a lot of trekking and adventure trips are organized by the many agencies based in Vienviang.
I have not been to many rural areas in Laos, as I just visited Vientiane and Luang Phabang, but on the way there from the bus (9 hours) you had the chance to see the little villages on the side of the road.In most of them you could see just a few palm huts with children playing in front. There were a few stalls selling basic products and nothing else. And I guess these villages have something more, as they are located on the main road. So I guess the inner villages must be really basic...
Laos is a really poor and little developed country.In all the countries I visited in SE Asia, Laos was the most underdeveloped and the cheapest too, as the life level there is really low.Some details, as the electric device in the photo, reminded me those in Spain in the 40s-50s...
La Residence Phou Vao Luang Prabang
4 Reviews and 281 Opinions TOUGH MANAGEMENT While this facility may be nice, I know the management is tough and does not have...
Settha Palace Hotel Vientiane
5 Reviews and 132 Opinions Settha Palace is a small luxury family owned hotel.It has its importance as a historical example of...
Ban Sabai Riverside Bungalow Vang Vieng
84 Opinions
Reviews and photos of Laos attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Laos sightseeing.
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Q: do any VT have any experience with the VIP overnight sleeper bus from Vientiane to Luang Prabang??? is it reasonably...
A: I took the VIP bus from Luang Prabang to Vientienne in 2010. There is a toilet on the bus. I was on the upper deck and the airconditioner was very weak. So it was a VHB...
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