Laos |
|
| |
| Where To Go |
 |
|
| Luang Prabang |
| This is an impressive former royal capital that makes number of visitors leave their real world behind. Situated in the north of Vientiane, the town is 1,000 feet above sea level and anchored at the junction of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers. The exact year that Luang Prabang was founded is yet to be identified, but as far as story goes, the first Lao kingdom, Lan Xang was located here in 1353 by its ruler, Fa Ngum, during the Lan Xang period, the former capital was a center of monarchical power until Luang Prabang voluntarily became a French Commissariat after being attacked by Chinese Haw in 1887. Nowadays, remains of French influences are obviously seen at several buildings in Luang Prabang and the Royal Palace Museum that houses interesting royal artifacts featuring French art. A number of visitors are enthralled with breathtaking sceneries of lush forested hills around the town as well as several styles of 32 temples that are dating back to some 200 years ago. A small pleasant town of Luang Prabang is best explored by walking or cycling.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| Huay Xai |
| After crossing the Mekong River from Chiang Khong, you will see a border town of Lao P.D.R, Huayxai. Located in northwest of the country, the province stands along the Golden Triangle and is also a trading riverside town. Apart from romantic river views and precious stones of rubies and sapphires, the town offers a number of worth visiting places like Wat Jawm Khao Manilat where a set of naga stairs and views of Huayxai town can be overlooked from the hill. The French-built-hilltop Fort Carnot, and the bustle of morning market or Talaat Muang Bokeo Huay Xai (Talaat Sao) are also interesting. Huayxai as well offers excursions to villages of ethnic minorities. These days, it serves as a border checkpoint for people crossing to/and from Thailand, provided that they hold valid visas. |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Pakbeng |
| At the junction of the Mekong River and Nam Beng River or about half way between Luang Prabang and Huay Xai, you will find a cozy town cum village of Pakbeng. It is where more than 500 wooden houses built alongside steep hill. The area is filled with natural wilderness scenery; thus, numbers of visitors are not reluctant to do trekking or biking here, while the rest of them hop to local market in the morning to witness unchanged trading style of some hill tribes. The hill tribes as well as locals exchange their produces from their farms every morning. Some of the tribes such as Hmong and tribal Thais can be banged into on the main street. It is not a hassle to find good quality textiles and handicrafts in Pakbeng; the only thing you have to do is head to ferry and speedboat piers or stroll along its streets. |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Sam Neua |
| A district in Hua Phan Province is covered with mountainous and forested ambience.
Located in the north of Lao P.D.R near Hanoi, the town is rather influenced by Vietnamese. One of the proofs is a crumbling Chinese/Vietnamese style of building near the western end of a bridge close to market.
Sam Neua is also a permanent residence of various tribes of Hmong, Thai Dam, Thai Daeng, and Thai Lu who possess artisan in textile.
The finest textile of all is a typical “Sam Neua” textile weaved by Thai Daeng.
Sam Neua offers interesting attractions of Nam Sam National Biodiversity Conser-vation Area, the habitat for wild elephants, tiger, and Malayan sun bear as well as an access to Suan Hin.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| Phonsavan |
| A capital district of Xieng Khuang is home to the Plain of Jars dotted around from the southwest to the northeast. Not less than a dozen of groupings of huge jars are scattered with unknown origin, the biggest jar weighs six tones which at least 2,000 years old. There are several sites to be explored; the biggest of all is Site 1 or Thong Hai Hin (Stone Jar Plain), featuring 250 jars and the biggest jar is also found here. Upon viewing mysterious jar sites, you should be sure to stick to worn footpaths, for it is believed that besides Sites 1, 2 and 3, the UXO (unexploded ordnance) still exists. Many archaeologists, one of them is M Colani, a well-known French archaeologist who found a human shaped bronze figure and small stone beads at Site 1, has challenged the mysterious origin of the jars, but amazingly until now no one has definite answer for Pain of Jars’ origin. It is fascinating to imagine that in the past they must have been burial urns, rice stores or wine fermenters. |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Pakse |
| The capital city of Champasak was founded by the French in 1905 as an administrative outpost. Located at the confluence of Mekong and Se Don rivers, the town is a major gateway to surrounded attractions. To get pictures of Champasak’s history, visitors should take a look at Champassak Museum that exhibits relics from Wat Phu as well as from other interesting places. Those who love shopping shall not miss the central market, it is where good item of produces are found. While magnificent Wat Phu is an ideal place to examine sophisticated Khmer art outside Cambodia. Not far from Wat Phu, in the Bolaven Plateau, ones will see typical style residences of ethnic minorities such as Mon-Khmer, Suay, Ta-oy (Tahoy), Katang and Lavai among others. En route to the south of town, one of Asia greatest falls, Khone Phapeng awaits visitors with its pure untouched ambience. |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Champasak |
| A one-time center of trade and power in the lower Mekong basin is situated in the South of Lao P.D.R. Between 1st and 9th centuries, the city actively participated in Funan and Chenla Empires. From 10th to 13th century, the town was part of the Greatest Angkor Empire, later during the decline of Angkor; Champasak became the Lan Xang Kingdom. At the beginning of the 18th century, it turned to Lao Kingdom. Under the Kingdom, there were only three monarchs, which last in 1811. After that, the Kingdom had been functioned as an administrative block during the French era. Having been governed by Khmer Empire for about three centuries, historical sites of Champasak are influenced by Khmer architectural style. One of the proofs is Wat Phu, the fantastic Angkorian temple, which is recently listed in the UNESCO heritage site. It explicitly expresses an immortal beauty of the Khmer art. A visit to Champasak does not only mean to soak with charms of historical place but also to enjoy unspoiled natural beauty of fertile plateau and the Mekong River. |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Vientiane |
| A charming capital of Lao P.D.R curves along the Mekong River was once the capital of Lan Xang Kingdom in the 16th century, later Vientiane was ruled by Burmese, Vietnamese and Siamese, thus it lost its capital status but under a French protectorate in the late 19th and 20th centuries the city was named as a capital, though ruled by Communist today, the city remains its capital stance. In line with foreign influence, Vientiane holds various styles of attractions ranging from Siamese architecture to purely French art, but one preserved traditional culture and custom. Situated by the Mekong River, the city is blessed with spectacular views of the river, the sunset over wooden restaurants along the Mekong in particular. Nowadays, most visitors come to Vientiane to observed local lifestyles and a slight development of the town. |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Laung Nam Tha |
| An idyll northern province of Luang Nam Tha is blessed with dense forests and picturesque mountainous landscape. Lied in the north of the country and bordered with neighboring China and Myanmar, Luang Nam Tha is a permanent residence of the lowland Lao, Tai Lue, Thai Neua, and Thai Dam. A trip to northern Lao P.D.R shall not be completed without visiting Luang Nam Tha where travelers could explore a wide variety of wildlife and vegetation before heading for Boten, the Lao-Chinese border checkpoint. Staying in Luang Nam Tha means a chance to see wild dogs, tigers, and gibbons as well as flocks of birds flying in the clear blue sky over Luang Nam Tha town. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Privacy Policy 
