Laos - What's there? is it worth going?

[Englishman2010]

Is there anything of any interest in Laos I'll be in South Eastern Thailand and Cambodia for a couple of weeks later in the year, just wondered if it's worth the effort of getting there?

I know there are no beaches as it's landlocked

[Dedworth]

I only saw it over the river in the Golden Triangle area of Thailand - theres a spot where the borders of Laos, Burma & Thailand meet - I think there's a load of casinos on the Laos and Burma sides now. You could probably nip into Burma as it's supposed to be opening up - when I was in that area in the 90's as a Brit you could only look over the border at Mae Sai. I bought a Burmese ruby for my Mum.

Interesting part of the world - enjoyed the 4 or 5 night hill trekking trip we did in Chiang Mai province. Had an interesting nights beering in Chiang Mai afterwards with a Royal Marine who was back in the city for a few nights after 3 weeks "advising" the Thai Army in that area

[Bluebirdjones]

I crossed from Nong Khai into Laos via the Friendship Bridge….. cost me $10 for a visa if my memory is correct.

It’s then about 20km down the road to Vientiane, which I got to on the local bus for about 25p. Interesting City, worth a day/night visit…… a better option than Udon Thani which seemed to me to be a throw-back to a Wild West town !

There’s some interesting things to see in the Khon Kaen area, altho’ the City itself is nothing special. Sim Isan, Wat Chai Si, Ku Prapha Chai…… all of some interest, but some not easy to get to with public transport. Easier to hire a taxi/driver for the day in some cases.

You don’t need someone to carry your bags do you ?

[Englishman2010]

You don’t need someone to carry your bags do you ?

Sure, if you pay for your international flights and hotels

Thanks for the insight I might try to spend a day and night in Vientiane, it depends how long it takes to get there from Siem Reap or Phnom Penh. I briefly met a couple of Brit student/backpackers at Hanoi airport, they'd been there for a couple of days but they didn't say much except how bad the roads and transport were

[Terpe]

Is there anything of any interest in Laos I'll be in South Eastern Thailand and Cambodia for a couple of weeks later in the year, just wondered if it's worth the effort of getting there?

I know there are no beaches as it's landlocked

Sorry Ian I can't help you at all. Never visited and no knowledge really.

The inputs from Dedworth and BBJ are really interesting.

Personally, if I was that close and it was relatively easy to enter, I would take a couple of days there and just 'feel' the place.

[Englishman2010]

Sorry Ian I can't help you at all. Never visited and no knowledge really.

The inputs from Dedworth and BBJ are really interesting.

Personally, if I was that close and it was relatively easy to enter, I would take a couple of days there and just 'feel' the place.

Exactly my view Terpe I could have made the 6 hour bus journey to Vientiane when I was in Vietnam, but unfortunately I only had a single entry visa for Vietnam so was unable to leave the country until it was time to go home. However, there are no such issues when I go to Thailand and Cambodia as they have Tourist Visas on entry for Brits, so I might as well take a couple of days out to visit Laos and get another stamp on my passport

[Terpe]

Exactly my view Terpe I could have made the 6 hour bus journey to Vientiane when I was in Vietnam, but unfortunately I only had a single entry visa for Vietnam so was unable to leave the country until it was time to go home. However, there are no such issues when I go to Thailand and Cambodia as they have Tourist Visas on entry for Brits, so I might as well take a couple of days out to visit Laos and get another stamp on my passport

Actually I got interested enough to take a quick look on the internet.
Some great reviews and photo's out there. Nothing specific, but a chance to see and feel the place before the onset of mass tourism. A rare opportunity.

[Englishman2010]

Thanks Terpe I'll do a few searches myself.

Although it will become a more popular destination, I doubt it will ever become a mainstream tourist spot on account of it being landlocked. I think it's more likely that people will spend a few days passing through on their way to the beaches of Vietnam, Cambodia or Thailand - which is exactly what I'm planning on doing.

[Englishman2010]

A couple of great links from The Man in Seat 61 for travel from Bangkok to Cambodia and Laos

http://www.seat61.com/Laos.htm

http://www.seat61.com/Cambodia.htm

His info is first class and was a real help to me on my Vietnamese train jouneys, I'm also using his guides for my Singapore to KL, Butterworth and Bangkok jorneys in March

[sparky]

i lived in Nongkhai for a couple of years and used to do my visa runs in Laos

if your going to Laos i would suggest a trip to Luang Prabang- before it gets totally ruined by the ever increrasing tourist trade- go to the waterfalls- they are wonderful

Vientiane the capital is worth a visit also- the baguettes are to die for

coupel of things to be aware of

the Laos visa stamp takes up a whole page in your passport so dont go if your short of space

and if you have nighttime relations with a Laos lady without being married you can be arrested

[Englishman2010]

Thanks Sparky Very useful info.

I'm only planning on a couple of nights there at the most. The baguettes in Vietnam are pretty good too, French Colonosation of Indo China did have some benefits