I personally loved Laos and want to go back at some point in the future. I travelled from Thailand up to Vientianne, onto Vang Vieng and then up to Luang Prubang before going further north into China.
As soon as i arrived in the country I like it. The people were friendly and always willing to help you. Crime is not a problem, one reason many people think is because they people are too lazy. In a travel magazine I picked up in Asia it mentioned Loas crime and actually said 'Laos is safe. There is no need to worry as the locals are too lazy to bother taking up crime'. And this generally does sum up the country. In recent months there has been some shooting regarding opium, but this is strictly involving the locals and tourists and travellers are not directly targetted in any way. The drugs are the only dissadvatage I can think of reaging this lovely country.
It is extreamly cheap, and whats more, people don't try and rip you off like most other countries in Asia. You travel on the back of pick ups, ok its uncomfortable, but it is the way the locals travel and in my opinion, we are in their country, so use their methods of transport.
The money is funny as although they have various notes going up to 20 Kip, the 5 Kip note is often the only notes the banks will distribute, so not only will 100 quid make you a millionaire, you'll also have enough money to fill a suitcase!!
Whats to do?? Well there are temples, lots of villages to hike to and visit, caves, lagoons, and one of the best ways to fill up the days (mainly in Vang Vieng) is to rent a huge inner tube and float down the river!! Great fun, and whats more along the way you'll find people selling the only Laos beer, but still very tasty, Beer Lao.
As you can see, I rate this country highly. Some times it is not the easiest to travel in, but where their is a will their is a way, and with the Laos people being so frindly, you shouldn't find too much trouble.
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