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Vientiane (pronounced /vjɛnˈtjɑːn/, Lao ວຽງຈັນ Viang-chan / Wiang-chan IPA: [wíaŋ tɕàn]) is the capital city of Laos, situated in the Mekong Valley. It is also Laos's largest city. The estimated population of the city is 200,000 (2005) while the number of people living in the Vientiane metropolitan area (the entire Vientiane Prefecture and parts of Vientiane Province) is believed to be over 730,000
There are some nice markets to find in laos. Vientienne, Luang Prabang, Muan sin.If interested in textiles and silk products, you will find some really nice handmade stuff. Even better is to rent a bike and head of to some rual villages. Ask if any in the villages make textiles. If you are lucky, you will find some nice goodies, the quality is really fine. And you will even get a chance to se the silkworms.
Hiking in the mountains in the northern Laos !I was sleaping in the hut of the chief in this village, under a dirty carpet on the floor, all to gether with his big familiy...I sleapt like a baby. The chief was having opium for breakfast and we had frogsoup.
The Luang Nam Tha Protected Area, 2224 sq kms of monsoon forest containing 96% primary forest, rare mammal and bird species, and 20 hill tribe villages that still maintain their traditional life styles. We continued walking for another hour following a stream until we were greeted by barking dogs and naked children with bulbous bellies at the entrance to the Lanten village of Nam Koi. The village is idyllically located in a valley below monsoon forest covered mountains next to a cold and clear river. The 30 or so bamboo and palm thatch houses were not stilted like those in Thailand but were dug into the ground with channels around them to divert water. Our falang (westerner) hut was of similar construction except for the covered bamboo deck overlooking the river. Once we got settled into our new abode we just relaxed and watched the village life. Children fished in the river with crudely...
In the green mountains of Northern Laos nearly completely surrounded by rivers lies one of South East Asia’s most charming towns. The clear and pristine Nam Khan River merges with the murky and muddy waters of the Mekong River. Like the rivers, Luang Prabang is a meld of sparkling and bright Buddhist temples and cracked and worn provincial French architecture. The three small main streets run in an east-west fashion along a finger of land bound by the rivers on three sides. Small cobbled-stone foot paths lined with bamboo fences, potted plants, and hanging vines and herbs connect the town north to south. Small wooden decked restaurants hang off the river banks offering the cheapest curry and sticky rice or fried Mekong river fish dishes and the best ambiance in town. Excellent European cuisine is served in restaurants in the main thorough fare which is some of the best in Asia. Piles of...
There is a part of islands called 4000 islands that is an area with lot's of small oslands in the mekong river where you have small villages inhabited by people who mainly live from fishing and farmong.there is a bit of tourism coming this way though and you can find small guest houses there and stay for a few days and explore this very unique and laid back part of Laos.
The plain of jars is located in north east Laos by the town of punsavanh.It's a collection of several hundred old stone jars that the archeologists still have to figure out what was used for by the ancient civilisation that build them.some suggest they were used for storing wine or rice and some thing they might have been used to bury the deads in.Anyway, it's a facinating place and worth chaking out even if it is a bit out of the way.
Vientiane has to be one of the most laid back capital cities in the world.It has a very provincial feel to it, but in a very pleasant way.The mekong river runs past Vientiane and gives the town a nice riverfront area with nice cafes and you have some interesting historical places too with buddist temples and stupas.Vientiane is not a famous place, but it's well worth spending a couples of days here to get the old indochina feel which still exists here.
I don't really think it matters which route you take since with only 2 weeks you're likely to enter/exit near VTE and exit/enter from Huay Xai. The only major consideration is that you'll be going downstream on the Mekong if you're taking the 2 day slow-boat from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang."I am more into nature than ruins."BUT, given the above statement, you might consider taking a bus north from Huay Xai to Vieng Poukha and/or onward to Luang Namtha. Northwest Laos has become the major trekking destination for Laos BUT there are more areas than then northwest. After a visit to the hilltribes trekking area, I would recommend taking the early morning bus from Luang Namtha to Udomxai (also known as Muang Xai/Sai) and heading east to Muang Khua, a bucolic rivertown where you can catch a slow boat down the highly scenic Nam Ou, which is far better than the Mekong boat journey . YOu could...
Yep, OK, hardly an original tip, as most folk who come to Vang Vieng will go tubing.My comment is to say that you should do this, even if you don't want to stop in at all the bars and do the party scene, as floating down the river in the tube can be very serene!Of course, we did the bar thing, you're only young once, or young at heart in my case.
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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