I travelled through South East Asia for 43 days and Laos was my second destination after Thailand. If you haven't read my Thailand blog, then do check it out (link below).
I flew to Luang Prabang from Chiang Mai. Luang Prabang is a town in northern Laos. The town is built on the banks of the Mekong River. Read on to know how I spent 5 days in this beautiful country.
Alms Giving Ceremony - This is a ceremony that can be witnessed in Luang Prabang, where several Buddhist monks go on long walks in the town to receive offerings of food from local people. Tourists can also participate in this ceremony. I was told by my hotel receptionist that I could witness the ceremony right outside of the hotel. I woke up at 5am and made my way towards the main road. I bought sticky rice and wafers for $3 and offered them to the monks. This was truly a break-taking experience and would highly recommend it. However, it is important to be mindful while clicking pictures of these monks. It is imperative that you keep your distance when taking photos and ensure not to stand in their way.
National Museum - This museum was once the residence of the Laotian King Sisavang Vong and his family. The museum now exhibits the royal object, weapons, statues, etc.
Pak Ou Caves - I booked a boat tour to Pak Ou Caves. The caves are located on the outskirts of Luang Prabang. The boat tour started at 7:30am and it was 2 hour ride to the caves. On the way, we stopped at a Whisky Village - Ban Xang Hai. This is a small village, where the people make whisky locally and sell them. You will also find several stores selling locally woven silk and cotton fabrics. The caves feature around 4,000 Buddha statues of various sizes. This was a half day boat tour on the Mekong River.
Night Market - The night market in Luang Prabang starts after sunset. This is the perfect place to buy souvenirs and handmade items.
Wat Xieng Thong - This is a Buddhist Temple built in the 15th Century and is a symbol of great importance. The temple's architecture is truly admirable.
After enjoying my stay at Luang Prabang, I then made my way to the capital, Vientiane.
Vientiane is a much bigger city, more people and traffic. I did not find a lot of attractions to see here but I did visit a couple interesting places.
Patuxai - This is a war monument built in the city center and was dedicated to freedom fighters who fought for their independence from the French. The best time to visit the monument in the evening, as it is not quite comfortable to visit during the day due to the heat.
Wat That Luang Tai - A beautiful Buddhist Temple built in the 3rd century that has a large gold covered Stupa. The temple is definitely worth a visit. There is a huge statue of a reclining Buddha at the site of the temple.
Mekong River - Enjoy the sunset at the Mekong River bank. One can also see Thailand from the banks as the river acts as a border between the two countries. The best time to visit would be during sunset time.
By the end of my time in Laos, I realized that 5 days are too short to spend in this country. Had I known this country has a lot more to offer, I would have spent more days exploring other towns like Vang Vieng and Nong Khiaw.
Stay in Luang Prabang - I stayed at Siridel hotel. The hotel is conveniently located in the center of the town and very close to the Mekong river.
Stay in Vientiane - Heavenchy Hotel. This is a budget hotel in the city center and is very close to the night market.
Currency - It was challenging to draw the local currency (Laotian Kip) as several ATMs were out of cash. Ensure to carry USD for exchange.
Thailand blog - https://www.tripoto.com/thailand/trips/experience-the-best-of-thailand-in-11-days-3cb7770471810e25d
