Laos - "Simply Beautiful"

[TravelLifestyle]

Simply Beautiful LAOS is "original Asia" lost elsewhere. The attractions most accessible to tourists are Buddhist culture in Luang Prabang, gastronomy in the capital of Vientiane, backpacking in Vang Vieng and ancient and modern culture and history in The Plain of Jars region of Phonsavan, trekking in Phongsaly or Luang Namtha, elephants in Sainyabuli, and a cave in Oudomxay.

Wattay International Airport, Vientiane, Laos


Patuxay, Vientiane, Laos


Buddhist temple at Royal Palace in Luang Prabang


mountains of Oudomxay

[evelash]

nice.. more pics please.

[keyser_soze]

my 'Life' shots of the sleepy town of Savannakhet, by the Mekong river


children along a dirt road on a paddy field


a local food shop "Lao-Paris Restaurant" where i've had one of the best-tasting roast beef french baguette, and the local style "khao piak" spicy beef rice noodle soup topped with 'malasadong itlog'


lady watering her orchard by the Mekong river


Savannakhet market


school children awaiting, the visiting Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra circa 2003.

...

[markpaul]

Lovee itt!!

[kobe20]

nakapunta ako ng Laos pero sa Vientiane lang..gusto ko sa Luang Prabang!

[orioe]

I agree! Laos is a must visit destination. I've been there during 25th SEA Games, and i want to go back!

[THE PUNKS]

Very timely this thread.
I'm torn between Laos and Myanmar (If I cannot do both).
Your pictures are sooo enticing.
Laos wins (for now, hehe)
Wala na bang pictures? More please!
Thanks.

[orioe]

Hirap nga!

Ive never been to Myanmar. pero iba talaga yung charm na Laos.

Pero mas maganda kung pareho mung puntahan.. kaya naman eh.

[Tas Burrfoot]

Sharing my trip to Laos in 2008...

http://jmarvin.multiply.com/photos/a...p_May_1-2_2008

The place is simply special, quiet and a far cry from the usual Bangkok, Saigon or even Siem Reap.

___
all about enjoying big adventures on small budget @ My Misadventures...

[istarbaks]

Any recommended accommodation?

[nosroh]

Is there any budget airline that flies from Hanoi to Vientianne?

[keyser_soze]

more snapshots by the Mekong river, town of Savannakhet..


old woman along the banks of the river


the old Mukdahan-Savannakhet ferry crossing

Mekong sunset and a fisherman, at the background is the 2nd Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge [Muk-Svn]

taken by a lowly point-and-shoot digicam, never been touched by post-processing software.


there are buses to Vientiane, and to Dong Ha (in Vietnam) nearest to scenic Hue


equivalent to the tuk-tuk of Bangkok, they call this song taew a "skylab"


a sari-sari store


rice paddy


backyard orchard


...

[keyser_soze]

Is there any budget airline that flies from Hanoi to Vientianne?

unfortunately, none.

you can fly via Lao Airlines, from either Hanoi or HCM to Vientiane, fare approx. US$300/pax.

[keyser_soze]

Any recommended accommodation?

In Vientiane, i'd suggest

*Soukxana guest house
*Hotel Beau Rivage Mekong


in Luang Prabang,

most of the guest houses can be found on Sisavangvong/Sakarin area, just a walking distance from the main street and riverfronts.

*Thanaboun guest house
*Ancient Luang Prabang Hotel
*Apsara


in Savannakhet,

*Saisouk guest house
*Sayamungkhun guest house
*Phonepraseut Hotel


hope this helps.

[keyser_soze]

Sharing my trip to Laos in 2008...

http://jmarvin.multiply.com/photos/a...p_May_1-2_2008

The place is simply special, quiet and a far cry from the usual Bangkok, Saigon or even Siem Reap.

___
all about enjoying big adventures on small budget @ My Misadventures...

i agree, compared to the other overly touristy places like Bkk, and Siem Reap.

but, if you think Vientiane is special, you should visit Savannakhet next. now, this place truly is "road-less-travelled" territory. parang napag-iwanan talaga ng panahon, dami pa rin original French colonial houses

from here, you can move further west towards the Isaan region of Thailand. or, east towards scenic Hue in Vietnam.

[wanderer9020]

In Vientiane, I dont know the name , but its just beside my hotel and its fronting Mekong River

[IMG][/IMG]

Bought a 1 USD beer at a convenience store, went to this stall fronting the mekong river, practiced my smile and sign language skills with a bit of Thai language with the local (she managed to understand me though). And this was my dinner, amazing!I never ate the chicken feet though.

[wanderer9020]

a novice monk who look very orange at one of Luang Prabang magnificient temples. Its along the night market or main tourist road with many French Cafes along the street.




The magnificient Laos Art at *** Xieng Thong (*** means temple) at UNESCO town of Luang Prabang.



SOveigner SHirts (100% cotton) at Luang Prabang night market



Lao Airlines which brought me direct from Luang Prabang to Bangkok. An expensive flight considering its just an hour away

[guo_mei_xin]

nice timing ng thread! I'm going to Laos next year, bought rt ticket mla-kl-mla. from kl, air asia to vientiane rt din. I'm doing lp, vientiane and vv, 10 days lang kasi budget ko. hopefully in the future i can visit other places in laos din.

are there any new policy re: philippine passport holder needing visa to Laos? Or visa upon arrival pa rin? Until ilan days pwede magstay doon?

[wanderer9020]

nice timing ng thread! I'm going to Laos next year, bought rt ticket mla-kl-mla. from kl, air asia to vientiane rt din. I'm doing lp, vientiane and vv, 10 days lang kasi budget ko. hopefully in the future i can visit other places in laos din.

are there any new policy re: philippine passport holder needing visa to Laos? Or visa upon arrival pa rin? Until ilan days pwede magstay doon?

Its not visa on arrival, its free visa entry, just give ur passport and right away they will stamped u a 14 day stay if Im remember correctly. Anyway, I enter Laos through land border in NongKhai Thailand and exit Laos through Luang Prabang Airport.

[keyser_soze]

Luang Prabang


*** Xienthong


7-headed Naga


a congregation of novice monks


one of the few places on earth where you can still see the commie red flag with hammer-and-sickle


very old French colonial houses, seems like time stood still, looks like they just left


novice monks doing their usual early morning rounds begging for alms


fresh fruits at the local market


at the nightmarket

...