Laos Travel Guide

Laos is an independent republic, and a landlocked nation in Southeast Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam. It covers 236,800 square kilometers in the center of the Southeast Asian peninsula and it is surrounded by Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, the People's Republic of China, Thailand, and Vietnam. About seventy percent of its geographic area is made up of mountain ranges, highlands, plateaux, and rivers cut through.

The majority of the Lao people are Buddhists. The Laos-Lum (Valley Laos) people follow the Hinayana(Theravada) form of Buddhism. The religions of the Laos-Theung (Laos of the mountain tops) range from traditional Confucianism to animism and Christianity.

Throughout the country, the climate is hot and tropical, with the rainy season between May and October when temperatures are at their highest, up to 35°C. The weather is very similar to that of northern Vietnam.

Punctuality is appreciated. Lightweight suits, shirt and tie should be worn. English is not spoken by all officials and knowledge of French is useful. Business cards should have a Laotian translation on the reverse. Best time to visit is during the dry season, from November to April.

Laos – officially known as the Lao People's Democratic Republic – is one of the great travel frontiers; landlocked and mountainous, swamped by jungles and promising Indian Jones adventures in remote tribal villages and ancient Buddhist caves.

Si Phan Don, which translates to “four thousand islands”, is a group of islands in the Mekong river in the South of Laos. The area’s main attractions are its rural character, the tranquility, the opportunity to watch the rare Irrawaddy dolphin and the Khone Phapheng falls.

Pakse is the capital of Champasak province in Southern Laos. The city was founded by the French in 1905 when Laos was part of French Indochina. Some buildings like the Chinese society building still remain from the colonial era.

Phousi Hill, also called Phousi Mountain is a small mountain in the center of Luang Prabang, located on the peninsula between the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers. Phou Si, which means “sacred hill” is about 100 meters high. Although it is quite a climb to the top, it is worth the effort. From the top you will have great 360 degree views of Luang Prabang, the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers and the forested mountains.

Located about halfway between Vientiane and Luang Prabang is Vang Vieng, a small town on the Nam Song river surrounded by karst limestone mountains. Until recently, Vang Vieng was known as a major party scene for young backpackers. The small town attracted over 100,000 young people yearly, who enjoyed partying and tubing down the river.

25 Kilometers North of Luang Prabang in the limestone cliffs overlooking the Mekong river are the Pak Ou caves, a 16th century cave monastery filled with thousands of Buddha images. Getting to the caves across the Mekong river means a scenic boat ride with great views of the limestone mountains and riverside life.

Xieng Khuang is a province in northern Laos. It is becoming more and more famous among tourists to Southeast Asia, as it is the place to view the mysterious Plains of Jars. The best way to reach Xieng Khouang - as we did - is to fly from Vientiane, the capital of Laos.