There are many things to know about laos, a former colony in the French Indochina. First of all, it is a landlocked country with no access to ocean, closed by Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and China.

location

This particular thing made Laos isolated, and even today in the globalization era, Laos is very special, unbelievably special. On a surface of 230 000 sqkm (equally to Britain) live only 6 000 000 people. You have a lot of undiscovered corners in this country, let’s go to work!

Back in time you can discover that the today Laos is the follower of the Kingdom with 1 million elephants, or the Lan Shang, as the local says. Today in this mountain country there are no more 1 000 000 elephants, due to their ever shrinking habitat, but you can still get your elephant driving licence. Later, Laos was a part of the French Indochina, and today many elder people speak very good French. The younger no more, they are English orientated. During the Vietnam war Laos was heavy bombarded, and is good to know for you in order to get the picture: in Laos falled more bombs than in the all Europe during the WWII! Today many people in Laos try to escape the extreme poverty through collecting these unexploded bombs. Sadly, there are many victims, but otherwise many Laotians could barely survive (60 % of the population live with less than 1 $ daily)

The impressive Pha That Luang is the national symbol of Laos

The impressive Pha That Luang is the national symbol of Laos

You can discover Laos by by trekking on the country’s many trails, or you can further ride the bike  or drive the car. Also interesting, and even exciting, is a speedboat travel on Mekong River.

The urban life in Laos is represented through its sleepy capital,Vientiane, and Luang Prabang, a former capital with many temples and monuments, which is an UNESCO heritage site. Laos is mainly Buddhist, and the extreme respect showed to the monks is a part of the daily life. You are also supposed to be very decent dressed when entering the temples.

There are many fantastic places in the mountains of laos, go to work!

There are many fantastic places in the mountains of Laos,go to work!

Vientiane is a tranquille capital of pleasures. The people here seem to be never in a hurry. If you are there, don’t miss the Buddhist stupa of Pha That Luang, which is actually the Laos national symbol. It shines spectacularily, even breathtaking.

Vientiane is Laos' slepy capital, lieing on Mekong and looking colonial

Vientiane is Laos' sleepy capital, lieing on Mekong and looking colonial

Try the brand new bar of Jazzy Brick, which wants to be western styled with Asian touch. About the kitchen: always in Laos rice is the king, of course, but in Vientiane you can let yourself spoiled in Kua Lao, which is an old mansion unofficially classified as country’s best restaurant. Here a meal for two is about 20 $. If you wanna eat more French, you have another important option: Restaurant Le Central.

Sleeping in Vientiane and all Laos would be not difficult. You can get hostels for backpackers at excellent prices. But in Vientiane you can also get splurge in Settha Palace or Green park Boutique Hotel, where rooms start from 150 $.

An absolutely must in Laos is the herbal sauna, which is really fantastic and makes the outdoor heat to be much more bearable.

A lot of things to do and to discover in Laos, don’t you think? You need to hurry up and go!

You will like:


Subscribe...

To my feed via RSS . (?) or via email.

if not, come back tomorrow on journeyetc.com and see what's new :)


Possible search terms

  • laos vacations

  • fantastic vacations

  • vientiane capital sleepy
  • Laos trekking blog vientiane

  • things to know about laos

  • jazzy brick laos
  • jazzy brick pic vientiane
  • laos most bombarded
  • travel with translators in laos
  • daily life in laos
  • sleeping in vientiane laos
  • laos vientiane flag
  • phu samsun mountain laos
  • laos
  • laos jazzy brick
  • laos most heavy bombarded country in the world
  • vientiane boutique hotel
  • samakomlao laos
  • health turism in laos
  • laos isolated
  • Laos vacations from Manila
  • decent hostel in vientiane
  • elephant licence laos

  • samakomlao vientiane

  • hire a translator in laos
  • things to know when you go to laos
  • hiring a laos translator