Deep in the most southern reaches of Laos, in a narrow section of the country where it can feel like there is more river than land, are the somewhat mythical 4000 Islands. Held up as a rite of passage for those travelling along the banana pancake trail, Si Phan Don as it’s known in the … read the full post

Eating delicious fresh fruit is one of the great joys of travelling in Southeast Asia. Abundant and refreshing in the tropical heat of the day, a huge range of options can be found — small and sweet, cumbersome and stinky or large and luscious. Laos has them all. Here’s your guide to what you’ll find … read the full post

Wet markets might be slowly disappearing, but for now they remain a pillar of Southeast Asian culture in many parts of the region. While they offer none of the convenience of a modern supermarket, and significantly less hygiene, they’re a hub of community activity; market vendors spend their days in close quarters with each other … read the full post

Many travellers to Laos are drawn to the country by its more peaceful pace of life. With improving facilities — and the party scene in Vang Vieng hushed — an increasing number of family-friendly activities are available, making Laos a great relaxed place to travel with children. For older children, kayaking, climbing and zip-lining in … read the full post

Vientiane has some of the best bakeries in Southeast Asia so there’s little difficulty finding fresh bread or  tasty pastries — in French, Swedish or Indian varieties, just for starters. A recent addition to the bakery scene here is Common Grounds, which serves up the best Mexican meals in town as well as some great … read the full post

The early 1990s marked a new era for Laos as its borders were opened both to trade and tourism. The Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge — Mittaphab Bridge in Lao — was built in 1994, courtesy of the Australian government. It has since become the path most travelled between Laos and Thailand. Only vehicles with papers can … read the full post

People visit Laos for different reasons. Some for luxury, some for a party, some for culture and others still for adventure. You really can have it all in Laos, but one town regularly overlooked from a cultural perspective is Champasak. Set on the banks of the Mekong in one of its wider sections, Champasak is … read the full post

Nam phu literally translates into ‘water mountain’, and is the Lao equivalent of fountain. While Nam Phu in Vientiane is not the largest or most spectacular fountain in the city, it’s known by no other name and acts as the central landmark of downtown Vientiane. The fountain is a legacy of the historic French presence in … read the full post

Laos is a mountainous, land-locked country making it time consuming to traverse despite a road network that’s improving every year. Historically, the primary mode of transport around the country was via boat with most of the country’s major towns linked by a network of rivers. To this day, many smaller towns are serviced by passenger … read the full post

Every Southeast Asian city has a market that’s a treasure trove of exotic bits and pieces; while Laos cannot rival the markets of Chiang Mai and Bangkok, in Vientiane Talaat Sao, or the morning market, offers a great selection of local offerings, mostly of the fabric-based kind. The name is a bit of a misnomer, however, … read the full post