10 Things that Make Laos Special

_{Mesmerized by this lush of rice paddy view in Laos –}

After traveling in Laos for three weeks, I could finally say how Laos is more than just a little brother of Thailand. Laos, even though it is not so popular, is unique in its identity. And this country impressed me in ways differently than Thailand.

_{Laos’ Temple}

_{Did you know that Laos means a land of elephants?}

Below are ten things that I loved from Laos:

1 – Laos is still surrounded by a lot of greenery. And if you love nature like me you will be so happy being surrounded by mountainaries and rice paddy fields.

_{A moment after sunrise at Vang Vieng}

_{A POV after climbing one of the hills in Luang Prabang}

2 – People in general are humble and sincere. Maybe because the country is not yet so developed, people are not materialistic. The locals that I met were kind and modest.

_{A local boy with his buffalo on planting rice}

3 – Laos has an interesting history. Imagine being the number one bombed country in the world and it was a collateral between the USA and Vietnam war, which led you into being a communist country with still a lot of unexploded bombs until today.

_{While @COPE}

4 – If you want to try an extreme sport, you can start with Paramotor in Vang Vieng. Or if you are scared of heights, you can try cave tubing. Anyway Vang Vieng in Laos is a city with the most outdoor opportunities which one could explore.

_{While doing Paramotor @ Vang Vieng – PS: It was super fun & full of adrenaline. But I wouldn’t recommend it if you have height phobia & are a faint of heart}

_{So, opt for hot air balloon instead if you want to enjoy Vang Vieng from above}

5 – Vientiane is relatively a sleepy capital city. I was shocked by how calm the city was when I was there. It might seem like there is not enough stuff to do in Vang Vieng. But if you love cats, the cat cafe here is fantastic.

_{You don’t have to go to Paris to see the monumental arc since Vientiane has it as well}

_{Let me introduce you Ms. Donut, a lovely but fierceful lady from Le Cattitude Cat Cafe}

_{Le Cattitude Cat Cafe from Ms. Donut POV}

6 – Luang Prabang is a lovely town full of culture. And it totally deserves its UNESCO predicate. I love Luang Prabang so much that I felt sad leaving the town.

_{If you are in Laos, do take part in alms giving one morning. This is a local activity and a part of Laos culture.}

_{Learn about Laos traditional clothes while visiting Lao Silk Residence for free}

_{Or any other local culture while visiting the other museums}

7 – Laos in general is budget friendly. It is true that Laos is in general cheaper. Even in terms of hotels and restaurants, they are cheaper in comparison to Thailand.

_{You’ll know it once you visit the local market}

_{Or while visiting the local temples}

_{Or while enjoying the view of your 30€/night for 2 pax with BF}

8 – Laos cuisine is underrated. And in my opinion it is not widely represented in the world. In comparison to let’s say Thai food, food in Laos is sourer, spicier and bitterer.

_{A heaven for vegetarian – Tofu Lok Lak}

_{Or a seafood lover – fried fish platter}

^{And who doesn’t love fried rice? On pic. Lao fried rice}

9 – And cooking classes in Laos are affordable if you decide that you want to learn how to make Lao food yourself. I did mine at Pullman Luang Parabang for just 15 USD per person.

_{On pic. – Dave while learning how to cook Lao traditional food}

_{They also set up a table for you to enjoy your hardwork afterwards}

10 – There are a lot of volunteering opportunities in Laos. Since the country is still slowly developing, they need helping hands from everyone who is willing to help. Check below to help Laos:

Sae Lao Project