General: Laos

I am somewhat reluctant to tell you about Laos, I fear that if too many of you go you will spoil it when I next go :). Self interest aside, Laos is the most beautiful place in the world that I have visited with the worlds most hospitable and friendly people. It is a communist state (don’t let that put you off) land locked located between Thailand, Burma, Vietnam and China. It is estimated that 70% of the worlds illicit opium comes from Laos, ...
...a strange smell wafts under the door. I travelled all the way through Laos before entering China at the north, the best way to enter Laos is from Thailand and travel to the capital, Vientiane. This is lovely small capital city, the colonial influence is quite apparent with shutters on the windows, it is a relic from c.1920. After finding yourself a guesthouse for £1 a night you should visit the ‘revolutionary museum’ and amuse yourself ...

jezeres 29.06.2001 (15.07.2001) · Read full review
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Review of General: Laos

We visited Laos as a detour from Thailand and wished we had longer to explore more of this wonderful, unspoilt part of Asia. We came from Nong Khai across the Friendship Bridge and this couldn't of been easier. You catch a bus to the bridge, go to the check point to show your passport, the bus then takes you across to the Laos side and here you fill in a simple form, hand over you $30 (cheaper than getting it in Thailand) and 10 minutes later you ...
...waiting three-wheeled motorcycles into the center of Vientiane. This is a busy city and we visited the morning market, which is full of wondeful fabrics, clothes, and souveniers, always barter with the vendors they expect it and it is part of the fun. There are also some interesting wats to visit, we only spent 1 day here before going on. We caught a bus from the market place early in the morning (8am?) and travelled to Vang Vien on the recommendation ...

pintaspilot 09.12.2000 · Read full review
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Review of General: Laos

What a place! Over 8 days in 1999 I spent £40 a day and lived very well on it. We entered Laos through Thailand near Chaing Rai at a place called Chaing Khong. You can sort out 14 day visas there at roughly the same price as any where else but in 24 hrs! You then catch a little boat accross the Mekong to a place called Huay Xai in Laos. The prices here are the same as in Thailand. From here you catch a boat that takes you on a two day trip along ...
...in a little village along the way. You end up in Luang Prabang, the old capital. This is a superb place and so so cheap. 30p for .5L beer, 75p for decent hotel room, 50p for a good meal. You can really afford to live it up! Don't miss the waterfalls near here, I think they are the best I've seen in asia. Next we went to Vaing Vein which is a little place by a tributrie to the Mekong. Loads of caves near here and it's possible to go trekking aswell. ...

jsriddett 10.08.2000 · Read full review
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Review of General: Laos

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 ...
...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 ...

bmassen 24.05.2003 · Read full review
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Review of General: Laos

I spent two weeks in Laos. It was interesting and very challenging. It was interesting, because it is very more underdeveloped than all of its neighbouring countries, and the infrastrucutre of Laos is supposed to be one of the world's 10 worst. So be prepared. For me, the hardest part was travelling around the country on a pickup truck/motorbike. Because the roads are more like potholes, by the time, you get to your destination, you butt hurts. It ...
...because of that. But on the other hand, I am so glad that I went there because it is so unique. The people are very friendly and the nature is very beautiful. There are also lots of things to see as well. If you want something different, challenging and reward, Laos is the place to go. ...

mshirato 16.09.2000 · Read full review
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Review of General: Laos

I stumbled across Laos unexpectedly while travelling around Asia and became one of the biggest highlights of the trip. The whole experience was remarkabley fun and I chose to enjoy the experience with the locals on local buses and the local problems!!! I arrived on a bus full of vegtables and chickens and travelled overnight to Luang Prabang where we got stuck in mud on a washed out road in the early hours of the morning. The Laos people were very ...
...The sunrise on the mountains in the morning was absolutely beautiful and the scenery everywhere was amazing. The food was delightful, I strongly recommend trying to crushed buffalo skin chili and tofu french baguettes they serve on the streets, fantastic. Laos is great for sport. I went kayaking and whitewater rafting while there. The only downside to Laos is the TV bars blaring episodes of Friends out on the streets of Vang Vien. Go somewhere ...

Naturalsponge 19.01.2007 · Read full review
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Review of General: Laos