Village kids, Attapeu

Taken on: 1st December, 2004. Copyright: All Rights Reserved - See travelfishery's page of Flickr

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Overflowing with attractions, yet still left off most travellers' itineraries, Attapeu is one of Laos' true hidden gems.

Set in a valley, on the river bank, wedged between Sekong Province to the North, Champasak Province to the west, Vietnam to the east, and Cambodia to the south, languid Attapeu has a lot to offer the intrepid visitor, although very little in the way of tourist infrastructure has been developed to take advantage of this.

A slow-paced town bracing for the inevitable onslaught of tourism, the low-density provincial capital, the same-named provincial capital is recommended if you have the time to get here. Few tuk-tuks seem to traverse the streets, but walking is the best way to explore anyway, ideally in the early morning or late afternoon, and the town grid is unusually straightforward. Mosquitoes are abundant in the rainy season so be sure to protect yourself as malaria is a seasonal risk here.

Within reach of the town are a range of ... Read our complete Attapeu travel guide

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