While Southeast Asia is certainly home to some of the best beaches and island getaways in the world, there’s a lot more to its magic than its sparkling coastline. Southeast Asia also abounds with fascinating culture, history, friendly people, amazing food, exotic wildlife and its own unique charm that you can’t find anywhere else on earth. And it’s these areas where lovely and often overlooked Laos really shines. In case you’ve never given Laos the fair shake it deserves when considering a holiday to Southeast Asia, here’s why it should be on your bucket list.
12 - EASY IN, EASY AROUND
After its recent full reopening, Laos has quickly gone from being one of the most closed-off countries in Southeast Asia to arguably being the most open country in the region for travellers. Basically, vaccinated travellers can now enter and explore Laos completely as normal before the pandemic, while even unvaccinated travellers need only to show proof of a rapid ATK test before departure to the country. Furthermore, with the launching of the Kunming-Vientiane Railway in December 2021, it is now easier, more time-efficient and cheaper than ever to get from one amazing place to another in Laos.
11 - Friendly Locals
Laotians are renowned for being among the warmest and most friendly peoples in all of Asia. Generous souls who are quick to laugh and eager to have fun. At the drop of a hat, and on virtually any occasion, Laotians will happily party on the streets, invite other locals and passersbys to join in the and be merry. Nearly every traveller to Laos walks away from it with the same impression: the people are absolutely one of the highlights.
10 - Amazing & Adventurous cuisine
While Thailand and Vietnam are renowned for their amazing food and Cambodia is famous for its adventurous offerings, Laos perhaps has the best combination of attributes among the three. Similar to Vietnamese cuisine, Lao meals typically consist of a soup dish, grilled dish, a sauce and greens of some sort -usually raw. Where it differs would be in the addition of a mixed dish known as koy or laap, which is something also commonly found in Thai cuisine. And for those seeking to try unique flavours and dishes you won’t have back home, Laotian cuisine is infamously varied to include all kinds of ‘interesting’ options for those with a more adventurous palate.
9 - Simply Relaxing
The most commonly used adjective to describe Laos is ‘Laid back’. When you combine the friendly laid back nature of locals with the chill vibes found throughout most of the country, the resulting feeling on the ground there is one of ultimate relaxation where you never feel rushed or hurried to do anything, you have plenty of space to yourself and you can enjoy your holiday at a pace that suits you. Simply put, Laos is a relaxing place to be.
8 - Robust coffee culture
If there’s one positive relic of Laos’ colonial past that is readily apparent in Lao society, it’s the robust coffee culture. Similar to Vietnam in this manner, a great cup of joe can be found on nearly every street corner in towns throughout Laos, making mornings in lovely Laos that much more lovely. If the abundance of coffee isn’t enough to get you out of bed in the morning, the quality of it will, as Laos also boasts some of the best coffee in the world. The Bolaven Plateau in southern Laos rests at 1,000 metres above sea level. With its cool, damp climate ideal for coffee growing, it is one of the major exports and can be readily found in cafes throughout the country.
7 - Stunning sunsets
We’ll be the first to admit it -this reason isn’t borne of any particular logic, but those who have been to Laos will all agree that it is absolutely true: Laos boasts of some of the best sunsets in Southeast Asia. To put this theory to the test, park yourself next to a river in Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, or almost anywhere else in the country, buy yourself a cold drink and wait for the show. What ensues will not disappoint!
6 - Gorgeously green
Owing to its small population relative to land area, Laos has the bragging rights of being the most forested country per hectare of any country not just in Southeast Asia, but all of Asia. In all, some 71.6% of Laos’ total land area is covered by forest, with most of it being the tropical variety. For those looking to unwind while surrounded by the vibrant greens of nature, there is no better place in Asia to do it than Laos.
5 - Marvelous mysteries
Let’s be honest: for many travellers, Laos will always be a bit of a mystery compared to the likes of tourism icons like Bali and Thailand. Simply visiting Laos at all allows one to uncover the hidden mysteries and charms of Asia that not many tourists see. But there are legitimate mysteries in the country waiting to be explored, too. The Plain of Jars is a megalithic archeological landscape consisting of thousands of giant stone jars scattered around a network of valleys and hills in the Xiangkhoang Plateau that even to this day has defied full explanation by researchers. Thought to have been constructed and put into place as early as 1240-660 BC, it is one of the great mysteries of Asia and should be high on anyone’s to-do list when visiting the country.
4 - Colourful culture
Owing to its mountainous geography and proximity to remote regions of China, Laos abounds with colourful cultures, some 49 in all!
So many, in fact, that in the 1950’s a simple classification system was created to better understand them. Lao ethnic minorities are divided into Lao Loum (Lowland lao), Lao Theung (Lao of the Mountain Slope) and Lao Soung (Highland Lao). Some of the more prominent ethnic groups include the Hmong, Tai, and Khmu. Among the many fascinating reasons to visit Laos, its people are certainly one of them.
3 - Dramatic scenery
While Laos may not have the gorgeous coastlines of Indonesia or Thailand, what it lacks in beaches it more than makes up for in stunning and dramatic scenery. The dazzling mountain ranges and stunning karst formations that are prevalent throughout Laos are a sight for sore eyes and are sometimes even ‘Avatar-esque’. With one look at places like Phou Bia, or even ‘normal’ views in Vang Vieng, any regrets about not choosing a beach destination will instantly fade away.
2 - Wonderful Waterfalls
We’ll be the first to admit it -this reason isn’t borne of any particular logic, but those who have been to Laos will all agree that it is absolutely true: Laos boasts of some of the best sunsets in Southeast Asia. To put this theory to the test, park yourself next to a river in Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, or almost anywhere else in the country, buy yourself a cold drink and wait for the show. What ensues will not disappoint!
1 - Strong sustainability
Since the mid-2000’s, tourism has been a big part of Laos’ economy, and building its economy around sustainable tourism has been central to their long-term vision. With a new high speed railway, it’s possible to travel long distances in Laos with a carbon footprint while a growing number of businesses including our own have leveraged the expertise and knowledge of Travelife to guide their operations to have meaningful positive impacts while reducing negative ones. Through a project to replace inefficient cookstoves commonly used in Laos with more energy-efficient ones, we’re even able to compensate for the unavoidable carbon emissions of travel. For those looking to have the lightest footprint possible while travelling, Laos is an excellent option.
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt="">