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Things To Do in Luang Prabang
Let me start off by saying, I love Luang Prabang! I’ll admit, heading into LP, I was a bit nervous. It seemed unanimous online that everyone enjoyed this small, former capital city in the north. I couldn’t find much criticism; it just seemed too good to be true. I didn’t want to get my hopes up, only to be disappointed. Fortunately, LP lived up to the hype. Delicious restaurants everywhere, cheap massages, beautiful sites, easy to get around, you name it. While LP isn’t as live as Ho Chi Minh or as action packed as a Bangkok, this quiet city has its own unique charm to it that makes you…
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Why You Must Visit Nong Khiaw
Not much is known about Nong Khiaw, in fact, most tourists don’t know it exists. This small town located 3 hours north of Luang Prabang is one of Laos’ hidden gems. Nong Khiaw is a quiet and scenic town jam-packed with adventure. Nong Khiaw is what you imagine backpacking in Southeast Asia to have been like in the past. Although the tourism industry is a bit overly commercialized with signs for tours pasted around the town, it still maintains its “Off the beaten track” essence as a sleepy backpacker town. How to Get There? Take a van from Luang Prabang, tickets cost 80,000 kip and the trip takes 4 hours,…
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Best Budget Hotel in Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang was nothing short of amazing, but what really made my experience that much greater was my stay at Villa Ban Phanluang, the best budget hotel in Luang Prabang. Located just a short ride away from the city center, this hotel meets all the requirements of a great place to stay at: welcoming staff, clean and spacious rooms, delicious breakfast, top notch service, and inexpensive. Rooms: Villa Ban Phanluang offers 6 types of room ranging from a Double Room to Deluxe Family Room. I stayed in the “Superior Double Room”, which I found to be excellent. The bed is large and very clean. I always do a scan of…
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Things to do in Vientiane
Vientiane is nicknamed the “Sleepiest Capital City in Southeast Asia” and it does an excellent job of living up to its title. There is very little to do here, but Vientiane is perhaps one of the more peaceful cities in Southeast Asia. Here are some things to do in Vientiane: 1) Visit Pha That Luang: the most important monument in the country and a national symbol. 2) See Wat Si Saket: the oldest temple in Vientiane that is still in its original form. There are thousands of tiny Buddhas here and one large one. 3) Talk with locals: Laos receives little tourism compared to its Southeast Asian neighbors and the…
