Compared to some of the other Southeast Asian countries, Laos is definitely one of the least developed and commercialized. Airports are smaller, roads are dirt not paved, and overall less people and tourists. For some, this may not be ideal, however with less development comes more opportunity to experience the true culture of a place before it becomes too commercialized. With stunning waterfalls and river bends with beautiful mountains in the backdrop, Laos provides a refreshing new atmosphere from the touristy beaches in Thailand. There capital city, Vientiane, also has a superb variety of foods from all parts of the world which is a huge plus!
Good to Knows
- Currency: Lao Kip
- 8,000 kip = $1
- Visa = not required, 30 days max
- Entry fee = $35
- Must have USD or Lao Kip upon arrival
- You also need a photo copy of your passport photo
Getting Around
There are many ways to get to Laos, however once within the country it is pretty limited if you want to travel to several locations. We arrived into Luang Prabang and departed out of Vientiane via plane, although our travel within the country was solely by shuttle bus. I do know that there is a slow boat that takes you from the border of Thailand into Laos via the Mekong Delta, however that takes about 2 days and we wanted to get there quicker. Here’s the breakdown:
- Chiang Mai – Luang Prabang: Lao Airlines – $165
- Luang Prabang – Vang Vieng: Shuttle Bus – $12.50
- Vang Vieng – Vientiane: Shuttle Bus – $9
Once you are within the towns, the best way to get around is via cabs or buses. The buses don’t look like typical buses we have at home. They pretty much turn truck beds into seats for the public.
Featured Cities
- Luang Prabang
- Vang Vieng
- Vientiane
Time of Year
We spent about a total of 2 weeks traveling in Laos in the beginning of February. Laos is slightly north of Thailand so it was a bit colder than Thailand, however during the day was beautiful weather.
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