Geographical advantages along with the abundance of attractions of Laos make ‘the country of millions elephants’ gradually become an attractive destination for travelers in their Indochina vacation. Where should sightseers go in Laos? And, what should they do? It is common for first-timers to be confused when planning a visit to Laos, so follow our guides to experience top 10 most superb activities without any preparation.
1. Go sailing on the Mekong River at sunset
The Mekong River is considered as the soul of the nation towards Laos- a country which is not bordered by the sea. Sit on the boats rode along the flow of the Mekong River, especially at sunset and observe little villages locating along the river sides and the daily floating life by the water of the locals. We’re sure that boating along the Mekong River and watching the peaceful sceneries on both river sides will be a wonderful and unrivaled experience to visitors.
2. Admire the wild beauty of PhongSaly
Situated in the northernmost point of Laos, PhongSaly is an alluring destination that is almost visitors do not know much, so there is no surprise that PhongSaly is not affected by commercial activities. Therefore, travelers can comfortably enjoy the pleasure of exploring the extremely pristine beauty of the massive mountains and tropical forests.
3. Discover the mysterious jar field in Xiengkhuang
Sited in Xiengkhuang Province, the field of jars is a mysterious place attracting the sightseer’s curiosity to Laos to discover. No one has yet explained why these strange jars are located here up to now and the story of the jar field still remains an unsolved secret for even scientists and the residents.
4. Watch the majestic waterfall in the Bolaven Plateau
As a plateau in southern Laos, Bolaven is well-known as ‘the coffee paradise’ which provides the delicious unique coffee to the local community. Moreover, what makes this plateau an amazing location for visitors is its abundant layers of beautiful majestic waterfalls hiding deeply in the wild jungles.
5. Visit temples in Luang Prabang
Touring the country with the majority of population idolizing Buddhism, visitors can easily encounter temples and pagodas throughout the long journey to discover "the country of million elephants". Although Laotian temples’ structures are not as monumental as that of Cambodia, Lao religious works are in unique and creative designs. Actually, the best place to visit the temple system in Laos is the ancient and beautiful heritage city of Luang Prabang.
6. Enjoy Laotian unique cuisines
The dishes of Laos are characterized by the freshness and the simple but palatable processing with unique flavors. The most prominent dishes include vegetables along with greaves, Lao signature noodles, papaya salad and other yummy delicacies. Due to the great influence of French cuisine culture, almost Lao dishes are commonly combined with breads. In addition, Lao beer is extremely worthwhile for visitors to enjoy.
7. Explore the caves in Vang Vieng
Owning the abundance of spectacular caves, Vang Vieng is worthily regarded as "a paradise of discovery" that international travelers are eager to expose. This is the perfect area where visitors will be able to admire one of the most spectacular landscapes of Laos and participate in conquering the waterfalls and rapids or impressive caves.
8. Go shopping in Savannakhet
Savannakhet gains the reputation for its numerous French-styled boutiques which are interesting stopovers for fashionistas can’t ignore. Moreover, it is easy to purchase special Laotian souvenirs for your close-knit relatives and friends consisting of handcrafts and silks.
9. Admire the sunset at That Luang
That Luang is among the most important religious works in Laos that travelers definitely can’t miss the opportunity to visit. The best time to visit That Luang in a daytime is at sunset when the sun light at the end of the day will shine on the top of the tapering tower in brilliant yellow color to create wonderful spectacular sceneries.
10. Relax with massage and sauna
After continuous 24-hour tired journey, experiencing massage accompanied by a sauna in a steam room is a great therapy for visitors to soothe the body tiredness. Need something cool and affordable in Laos? Lao traditional massage is somehow similar to Thai massage but different in some used technics by the staffs and you only have to pay 300 Baths in spa and massage shops. It is also an awesome experience to ease the body pressure in a steam room filled with fresh herbs and odorous spices including lemongrass, mint and eucalyptus.
