Ever heard of Laos. Thought not.

Advantages: The most beautiful place in the world and no Americans
Disadvantages: Don't expect the luxuries you are aquatinted with

...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, something you are reminded of late in the evenings as 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...

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

My favourite country in SEA is Laos

Advantages: Friendly people, Very cheap to travel and great scenery
Disadvantages: Too many drugs

...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...

bmassen 24.05.2003 · Read review
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Review of General: Laos

Laos LP - usefull to an extent

Advantages: Deciding where to go
Disadvantages: Decing what to do when you get to these places

...I used the Laos Lonely Planet and found my way around the country and had a fab time (see my review on Laos). As any guide book, you can only use them as a guide. I know this may sound obvious, but what I mean is that you cannot follow them religously like I see many travellers doing. I used the Laos Lonely Planet to decide the towns and cities to visit, and the basic attractions and activities in each place. From then on I spoke with other poeple, both locals and other travellers to find out what to do, where to go and when to do it. This proved to be far better and more reliable guide than the actual books as alot of the information tends to be out of date ion the books, stating wrong times, place and prices. I have staggered along with my rucksack on various occassions to the 'reccommended hotel' in the guide book, only to...

bmassen 24.05.2003 · Read review
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Review of Lonely Planet Laos - Lonely Planet

Jars on a plain

Advantages: great place to visit
Disadvantages: getting around is not so easy

...The 'plain of jars' is one of the must sees in Asia - similar to Stonehenge and the figures on the Easter Island nobody knows the origins of these small to big stone jars. They are located close to Phonsavan in the north-east of Laos close to the vietnamese border. Phonsavan is easily accessible from all major cities. You can go by local bus or by minibus - Local bus from Luang Prabang was 50000kip and the minibus was 85000kip. There are 3 jar-sites whereby Site was is the most easily reachable. You have 3 ways to visit the sites: - by tour: every GH will offer you tours. Expect to pay 80000 for Site 1 and 150000 for all 3 Sites. I found that the tour was overly rushed and you didn't have enough time to see this impressive place. - go with a TukTuk: Find a TukTuk driver to take you. It will be a lot cheaper than with the tour and you...

sun-is-shining 01.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of Plain of Jars (Laos)

The Scruffy Shoe Diaries THE SECOND HAND CITY

Advantages: See Opinion
Disadvantages: See Opinion

.... ************************************ For a change, the Scruffy Shoe Diaries leaves the comfort of the bosom of Mother Europe and heads East. Here are some impressions after a few days spent in Vientiane (Vieng Chan), the capital city of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, January, 1999. The cast list: self, inevitable travelling companion: Adrian Dowd, additional amigo: "Postie" Colin Smith. ************************************ GEOGRAPHICALLY SPEAKING, Laos (pronounced L'au as opposed to Lay-oss) is a curiously shaped country sandwiched in-between Thailand to the West and Vietnam to the East. To the south is Cambodia and to the North, Myanmar (or Burma if you prefer) and the Yunnan province of China. It's capital city, Vientiane, sits on the Eastern bank of the wide and mighty Mekong River. On the opposite shore lies North Eastern Thailand and it is from this direction that...

Paiceyjohn 28.05.2002 (16.10.2002) · Read review
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Review of Vientiane (Laos)

Give me more noddle soup

Advantages: everything
Disadvantages: none

...Luang Prabang is situated in the heart of Laos and one of the Highlights of the country. It is not only all the temples, the delicious food or the night market, no, it is this feeling you'll get when you arrive. You'll feel welcome and at home. Most people stayed a lot longer than they planed! Including me of course, I wanted to stay for two nights and stayed for over a month! ---------------------------------------------- How to get there? Luang Prabang is a town in the north-centre region of Laos. If you arrive in Vientiane you can get a bus to Luang Prabang, it takes about 10 to 12 hours and you have the choice between a local bus (110000kip) and a VIP bus (160000kip). You can get the ticket with a travel agent or just go to the bus station. Buses leave several times in the morning and again a night bus in the afternoon. You need...

sun-is-shining 01.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of Luang Prabang (Laos)

Personally my favourite place to be in Asia, if not the world!

Advantages: Friendliest city you'll ever go to, amazing food, beautiful scenary, plenty to do..
Disadvantages: None I can think of other than you will be unable to leave and your initinery will become void!

...Luang Prabang is very special. Yes, it's touristy as hell! Yes, accommodation is getting expensive by Laotion standards. But don't let that put you off! For a start, there is a budget quarter of the city located down a series of extremely charming alleyways run by Lao families. It has bucket loads of character and the guesthouses here are legendary for there warm friendly welcomes and smiles. So that solves the problem of expensive accommodation prices! It's about 7-10$ or a decent single room. I have to recommend you stay at Oudomphone Guesthouse, as this is undoubtedly the best guesthouse in South-East Asia possibly the world! It was one of the first guesthouses to open up in the budget district and has set the bench mark for all the other guetshouses. It is run by the sweetest family you'll ever meet and has bonuses like free...

Pablo_Sevilla 28.05.2009 · Read review
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Review of Luang Prabang (Laos)

Pham Ngu Lao/Backpackers!!

Advantages: Convenient and reasonable prices
Disadvantages: Noisy and crowded

...Arriving at Tan Son Nhat[Ho Chi MInh Aipport] is one thing - but leaving can be harder. The taxi-drivers know that you don't have any alternatives or so they think. They'll tell you a price which can be up to ten times more than the actual price on the meter. So what you should do is turn left and head towards 'Departure' cause the taxi-drivers down there are not part of the scam. Jump into to a taxi and tell them your destination. And your destination if your budget is less than 5 star hotels and so on should be the "Pham Ngu Lao' area also called the backpacker zone. Here you find hotels/dormitories from $5 and up. A nice little room with aircon, fridge, tv and bathroom goes for around $10/12 and up. Don't get stressed there are plenty of options in the area. Some people will most likely try to tell you that all the rooms are gone...

vilumdeluxe 17.03.2009 · Read review
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Review of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Don't expect too much help

Advantages: good overview over the main attractions
Disadvantages: bus times and prices inaccurate

...-------------------- I'm using the 6th edition, published in August 2007. -------------------- Laos is definitely my favourite country, travelling or living there. My initial plan was to spend there one week, basically just a quick stop on my way to Vietnam but in the end I stayed for over 3 months and I'll return to Laos soon - just cannot get enough of it. A traveller I met at the Thai/Laotian border gave me his Lonely Planet and since that day the book hasn't left me. The main attractions such as Luang Prabang and the Plain of Jars are well covered and described, however, if you want to go off the beaten track better rely on other sources. But I'll come to this negative points later. ----------------------- Chapters - Quick reference with Laos fact file, exchange rates and important phone numbers. In this book they use a scale to...

sun-is-shining 17.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of Lonely Planet Laos - Lonely Planet

Wat A Place

Advantages: Quiet Is The New Loud.
Disadvantages: After A Time You'll Pray For Something To Happen.

...In 1995 UNESCO declared that Luang Prabang was Asia's most preserved city. Steeped in a French colonial history this (small) town is a sleepy enclave that nestles between the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers. At first Luang Prabang doesn't excite but after a time it just begs that you give it more time and attention. In order to reach Luang Prabang we took the 2 day slow boat from Huay Xai on the Laos side of the Thai/Laos border. The trip is not without its discomforts but the scenery that fills the banks of the Mekong is nothing short of wondrous. We peered from the window of the wooden vessel and imagined we were watching a National Geographic documentary. Luang Prabang is the second biggest city in Laos after the capital Vientiane but its laid-back nature means that it espouses the charm of a quiet village back home. Its people are...

indiecater 02.12.2002 · Read review
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Review of Luang Prabang (Laos)