Laos forum

Hi Liam

Travelfish is such a fantastic resource - so much information available absolutely free - I'm sure if you take the time to explore the Laos section, or the trip reports from other travellers, you will find the answers to all your questions.

'Seek and ye will find'

Marian

Hi thanks for your comments guys, I've been doing a bit of research since I posted the last comment and I've figured out what I want to do and where they are, but I was wondering could you tell me if this is a realistic plan! Keeping in mind that I arrive in Vientiane in the afternoon on the 9th and have to be back in Vientiane on the 18th, because I have to go to Udon Thani for the 19th.

These are the things that I would REALLY like to see,

Huay Xai:
Gibbon Experience

Luang Prabang:
Pak Ou Caves and Tat Kuang Si waterfalls (1 day tour)

Vang Vieng:
Tubing along the Nam Song river

I'd also like to get a slow boat from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang at least one way but if I can't then thats ok.

Do you think that I can do all this in the time frame? I don't mind paying the extra for flights.

Do yourself a favour and give Vang Vieng a miss unless you like seeing tourists eating crap food and watching re runs of friends, ("wild west boom town???" Hardly!) Go to Xieng Kuan, the Plain of Jars instead and see some real Laos. LP is fascinating as is Pakse.

Hi there,
I just returned from a week in Laos starting in Chiang Mai and taking a VIP van to the border to board the slow boat down the Mekong from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang. The scenery is gorgeous but the slow boat is quite uncomfortable...visualize 8inch wooden benches. The agents will tell you it is a five hour trip from Huay Xai to Pakbeng but it is at least 6 hours the first day. You stay overnight in Pakbeng, a small village that uses generators for electricity from 6-10pm so don't expect hot water but we did have yummy buffalo steaks at the Sivilay Restaurant. The second day is a 9 hour day from Pakbeng to Luang Prabang. Definitely purchase a cushion at the guesthouses. It is possible to do the slow boat in reverse but it will take a bit longer due to travel upstream.
Luang Prabang is fantastic with lots of guesthouses and french colonial buildings. I stayed at Villa Suan Maak which is a 10 min walk to the night market. The guesthouse does take reservations and the owner speaks english well. My bed was a bit uncomfortable (sagging) but it was very clean. There are new guesthouses springing up everywhere so it pays to look around.
Enjoy your travels in Laos!

I'm sitting writing this in Vang Vieng; it's true that it isn't for everyone, but don't let the travel snobs put you off the place. It is not culturally Laos, but it is a great place to relax and enjoy scenery, beer, activities and meeting people. The tubing is a great experience. Holidays are about having fun as well as getting cultural; enjoy yourself.

Rufus

Just reading your comments about Vang Vieng - the Plain of Jars and Pakse are probably more interesting than Vang Vieng (I especially loved Plain of Jars as Phonsavan is such an odd little town - very wild westish - i could almost imagine the tumbleweed blowing through the street), but I don't think you should right Vang Vieng off - yeah its full of annoying bars playing re-runs of Friends all day, but its easy to avoid this by hiring a bike for the day or even just walking for about 15 minutes!! Surely you can see the beauty of the place - it really is stunning!!

When I last went there I just stayed a bit out of town and hired a bike for a couple of days and saw some amazing scenery and some really friendly locals! It was one of my favourite destinations. My advice is go to Vang Vieng, but if Friends bars and hanging out in a town with mostly farangs isnt your thing, just hire a bike or do some trekking and get out to see the surrounding scenery!!

and whats this with the travel snobs and travel bums - surely we're all in this for the same reason - to see the world, have fun, learn about local cultures etc. Surely we shouldn't be judging each other in such a harsh way. There is no right or wrong way of travelling - each to their own I say!!!!

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/snob

2. a person who believes himself or herself an expert or connoisseur in a given field and is condescending toward or disdainful of those who hold other opinions or have different tastes regarding this field...

Flame away Rufus, but it seems pretty clear cut to me. Why not live and let live? The local folk in Vang Vieng do very well out of the falang scene... I don't think they'd agree with your definition of 'harm'. What right have you to dictate to them, and the rest of us, how we should live or spend our free time?

Hopefully the friends thing will die soon anyway; I noticed last night that the friends bars are far from being the most popular in town....

Hi Shelld,

One thing no one could argue with is that Vang Vien probably has the best value in accommmodation in Laos. There are supposed to be around 90 places to stay by now, don't know how you'd count them, like trying to hit a moving target. I stayed in VV twice last time in Laos and both times I just walked into the first place I came to and thought it was great. Hot water, clean, quiet, cheap. I got dropped off at the other end of town the other night I stayed there, same deal. I'd say just go.

There is good Lao food there too. Where the two main roads form a T there's a place called (I think) Viengchampa that has a mostly Lao clientel. OK rich Lao on vacation from Vientiane but Lao. They play The Simsons very loud so sit outside. Good view of the street and good food.

At one time to eat in Vang Vien you had to go to the market and bring the food back to your guest house to cook it up. Some change is good. Have to admit the town isn't exactly my cup of tea, but then I avoid Luang Prabang for the same reasons.I'm old as sin but if I had my choice of tourists I'd be hard pressed to choose between Vang Veiners, and Luang Prabangers, I often find the kids less pretentious.

Down the street to the south there is also good street food in the evening. Tables set up and all the usual stuff, kao neeow, laap, various jeaos, grilled meats, best moke gai I've ever had in my life.

Carefull with that drinkin and swimmin stuff.

Somchai