๐ฑ๐ฆLaos
Getting There:
- Direct flight from Singapore to Vientiane
- Luang Prabang
1. Laos-China-Railway (LCR) from Vientiane to Luang Prabang
*cheaper to book in Laos (can use a VPN to do so 3 days in advance)
- Vang Vieng
1. LCR connecting Vientiane to Luang Prabang (one of the stops)
Getting Around (Gmaps):
- Loca App
- Tuk tuk
- Scooter (can rent in the outskirts from hotel or other providers)
Payment:
- Cash Preferred (LAK / USD / THB / RMB / GBP)
*best to change to Kip in Laos, airport rates are quite good and some stores allow you to change back to your currency if you keep the receipt
- Card accepted in some stores (2-3% charge)
- Tipping not expected
Vientiane
Day 1: Arriving in Vientiane
Given that it's the capital, you'll most likely first set foot in the country here at Wattay International airport where you can change USD to kip (you probably can't change to their currency out of country and while they accept USD & THB here, they might return you change in kip); you can also change any remaining kip you have back to USD or THB before leaving at the airport.
Laos isn't particularly on the airbnb hype so it's still best to book a hotel through booking.com / agoda.
Pros:
- There's food within walking distance
- Near the night market
- Full amenities
Cons:
- The staff doesn't really speak English (tough if you have a lot of things you need them to help you book)
- On the pricier side
Lunch just down the street to try Laotian cuisine (good mix between Thai and Vietnamese food)
Time to start the touristy stuff
Essentially a victory arc situated at the end of a street that much resembles Champs Elysรฉes. There's a small museum inside as you climb to the top for the view.
Entry is 30k kip per person but all pricing in Laos could fluctuate greatly as their currency is very volatile.ย
Another famous landmark due to it's golden facade with 30k kip entry fee.
Long stretch of shops along the park area with food stretch separated on either side of the shopping area.ย
Street food further from the water seems to be more localised and prices are cheaper.ย
Day 2: Vientiane to Luang Prabang
But first, coffee...
Cute hole in the wall that only serves coffee but it's really good and thick.
Two side by side attractions that showcase their temples.
Lunch option.
Pick up some pastries for the train ride to Luang Prabang
Get to the station about 30mins before departure as there's a bag check and passport check.ย
Note: Their baggage rules follow that of airport carry-on bags - no sharp items / aerosols.ย
Luang Prabang
Day 2: to be continued...
Pros:
- Great location
- Able to book activities and transport from the front desk
Cons:
- Missing amenities
- Questionable water pressure and drainage system
- No room service
The street food is really good and it's a good place to try a lot of their local foods while walking the market to shop.
Day 3: Explore Luang Prabang
Right at the top of Luang Prabang town is Wat Xieng Thong and we decided to start at the furthest point and walk backwards towards where we stay (this is actually quite a nice area to stay, but seems to be pricey).
The temple itself was very nice but didn't realise it would be so strict about the dressing so definitely should have shoulders and knees covered otherwise the 30k kip entry fee becomes 40k kip for a cover up.
Probably the priciest coffee we had in Laos, averaging around 90k kip but they're really knowledgeable about their beans and each drink comes with an info card about it's origin and taste notes.
Another reminder of their French colonisers but the pastries are really super good and it's a very quaint spot to have a coffee and snack.
Fancier than usual lunch but their fusion food was super interesting. Definitely need to try their green curry gnocchi and the cafe gourmand is a good way to have small samples of each dessert they carry (plus a coffee to end the meal).ย
Closed for lunch in the middle of the day so need to take note of opening hours, also even more strict about dress code and guys also have to be covered up. They also don't allow photos at all and bags have to be deposited in lockers (free) before entering. Honestly not the most exciting museum but you do get a glimpse into the past royals who ruled over Laos and brought about some important eras like Buddhism.
Known for the view at sunrise or sunset but the sunset here is super early so sunset is obviously more popular. There's two ways up and down the hill (one side is near the national museum / night market and the other side faces the Nam Khan River). The Nam Khan river side has more buddha statues and things to see on the way to the peak so we decided to go up that way while it was still bright out. To get a good spot for the sunset, you should start the ascent about an hour before the sun sets to give enough time to climb and camp out. After the sunset, the descent on the other side leads you straight to the night market which is perfect for dinner.ย
Day 4: Outskirts
Decided to rent a scooter to explore the outskirts at our own pace. Scooters can be rented from most hotels but there are also scooter providers who you can contact to deliver the scooter to your accommodation.
Stumbled upon this place along the road on the way to our first destination and stopped because why not
Amazing swimming spot and hike and super well organised with proper parking spots and shuttles to bring you to the start of the hike. There are various points to see the falls and you'll pass them on the way up. There's not much to see at the top and the cafe right at the top charges an entry fee so we skipped it. As you reach the main viewing bridge, the hike up will split into the left and right, the left being 542 stairs and the right being a mud slope with small footholds. If you want to experience both, you should definitely climb up the mud slopes and down the stairs because we did it in reverse and it was an ordeal.ย
Included in the Kuang Si park entry fee, the Bear Rescue was quite nice as it offered information on how these bears were becoming endangered and the parks mission to protect them.
Just outside the Kuang Si park area, this fancier restaurant was just over the lower part of the falls and had it's own private swimming area so you can swim / dip in while waiting for the food. We had their grilled fish and it was super fleshy and surprisingly good.
Interesting farm concept which offers a tour of their farm life so you can partake in it. We didn't have time so we just stopped to try their ice cream made from buffalo dairy; their lemongrass and coconut was pretty good.
Also had to give the activities at this craft centre a miss due to lack of time but we stopped by to see the artists at work and to see what classes they offered. Honestly a nice relaxing idea to just book a room there for a week and take classes everyday to learn weaving / pottery / fabric dyeing.ย
Surprisingly good mookata and happy hour drinks. They recommended the buffalo meat which we tried but it was pretty tough sooo...
Also, this restaurant is across the river and the bike crossing is more like a bamboo bridge so if you're not good with the scooter, it can be slightly traumatic.
Day 5: Tour Package
We booked a tour with Manifa Elephant Camp and they have lots of mix and match activities (and apparently also accommodation) on the grounds so you can spend more time with the elephants.
The tour package included feeding the elephants and riding them which still makes me consider the ethicality of it but we kind of rode them bare with no harness or saddle in clothes provided by the camp. They only walked a short distance to the river to bathe while you're on board so you get a nice shower too before heading back to camp.ย
After lunch at the elephant camp, we split from our initial group as we picked different activities. The next stop was upstream at the Pak Ou Caves which is basically a religious site carved into the mountains. Small hike to the upper caves (and temple) and also more stairs to the lower caves (and shrines).ย
On the way back to Luang Prabang town, we made a pitstop at a local Lao Whiskey factory for a quick lesson and some tasting which led us to buy a few bottles because it was actually pretty good.ย
To end off the tour, the boat took us down the Mekong River to Luang Prabang town and it would have been absolutely amazing if we could see the sunset but we just picked an unfortunately cloudy day and we simply arrived to town as the sky darkened.
And of course to end the day...
Day 6: Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng
Quick stop for coffee before heading to the railway station.
Vang Vieng
Day 6: cont.
Wanted to arrive early to Vang Vieng to have as much of a full day here.
Booked this hotel for the price and location alone and you get what you pay for.
The caves were a hike up steep rocks that barely qualified as stairs and they offer headlamps for rent which turned out to be necessary because there was absolutely no light towards the back of the cave. Instructions were unclear and we were just allowed to explore wherever we wanted following cave scribbles that resembled arrows till we were completely turned around and gave up. Lots of tourists also seemed under the impression that there was more than one entrance / exit but after spending over an hour inside the pitch dark going in circles, we followed the light and ended up back at the same entrance. Definitely wear proper hiking clothes because there's a lot of slipping and sliding on the rocks.
When (if) you make it out, Blue Lagoon is right outside where you can swim but there are lots of tourists around.
Thought of doing this viewpoint hike as well but other reviews and passing tourists said that it was little more than a mud on the climb and it was also presently raining.ย
Day 7: Vang Vieng to Vientiane
The 4am wake up call was definitely worth it to be 30000 ft in the air watching the fog and mist roll away as the sun rose over the mountains.ย
Decided to take a tour of the countryside on the scooter based on a recommendation by a couple we met on the hot air balloon and the scenery was amazing. Also, surprisingly the roads were much better in the outskirts with lesser potholes and the journey was super smooth. We took a route that passed Blue Lagoon 2 which turned out to be much nicer and less chaotic than Blue Lagoon 1 (right next to Tham Poukham Cave). Follow the route to Blue Lagoon 3 and the road loops back to Nam Xay Viewpoint and Tham Poukham Cave where you can head back to town.
Obviously had one more massage stop before leaving Vang Vieng and these two were both highly recommended but only Utopia had space for a last minute walkin and it was really good.
Vientiane (again)
Day 7 & 8: Last Days
Not surprisingly our nicest stay on the whole trip just to end things on a good note.
The home for unique & authentic travel
