This. It is so chill it melts. I did in around Pakse and 1000 Islands like 10 years ago. Bikes, chilling on a hammock on the river, beers with random French dudes, huge fricking spiders, waterfalls, more bikes, Khmer ruins, good eats, and very inexpensive. Be prepare for slllloooooooow.
I disagree. The moment you get out of Vientiane its nothing like Thailand. Every major Laotian town is like 2x smaller than most bigger Thai cities. Although Laos is changing rapidly, things are far more in-accessible in Laos as they are in Thailand. Especially in remote places. Traveling takes way longer as there are practically no major highways unlike in Thailand.
I disagree. The moment you get out of Vientiane its nothing like Thailand. Every major Laotian town is like 2x smaller than most bigger Thai cities. Although Laos is changing rapidly, things are far more in-accessible in Laos as they are in Thailand. Especially in remote places. Traveling takes way longer as there are practically no major highways unlike in Thailand.
temples. lots of temples. oh god so many temples
it's cool tho. you can go on day trips to places like kuang si waterfall although you'll have to push your way through the chinese tour groups and rich trust fund kids
pic related some old classic mercs i saw parked on the street one day
Dude SEA temples aparrently just don't get old to me. I always like checking then out, even just little neighborhood ones. They're just so damn aesthetically pleasing.
ok that's cool anon, in that case luang prabang is the place for you. lao temples do have a bit of a characteristic style that is a bit different from other countries in the region.
I disagree. The moment you get out of Vientiane its nothing like Thailand. Every major Laotian town is like 2x smaller than most bigger Thai cities. Although Laos is changing rapidly, things are far more in-accessible in Laos as they are in Thailand. Especially in remote places. Traveling takes way longer as there are practically no major highways unlike in Thailand.
I've never been there but when I was sitting at a live music bar in Bangkok this one semi autistic rich Laotian kid kept trying to chat with me and then tried to butt into the conversation when I was talking to a Korean girl
I disagree. The moment you get out of Vientiane its nothing like Thailand. Every major Laotian town is like 2x smaller than most bigger Thai cities. Although Laos is changing rapidly, things are far more in-accessible in Laos as they are in Thailand. Especially in remote places. Traveling takes way longer as there are practically no major highways unlike in Thailand.
That's generally true but now with the railroad you can go anywhere from Vientiane to the Chinese border at basicaly high speed and comfort.
The tollway between Vientiane and Vang Vieng is also a quality road and they'll extend it to Luang Prabang soon, but for whatever their reasons they don't let motorbikes on.
If going south or to Plain of Jars area I would take a plane out of Vientiane. Fares are reasonable.
What's the deal with driving there?
I know I can rent a car from major agencies like Hertz, and have driven in Thailand, but wondering how driving is over there and things like gas stations (when I first started driving in Thailand there were curfews and gas stations closed at 8pm, so you had to fill up before then or buy gas from people selling it in glass bottles which were really meant for scooters).
Driving in Laos is like in the USA, on the right side of the road (unlike Thailand). You wouldn't want to be out very late at night in Laos anywhere. In general, there's a curfew in most places (maybe everywhere). But there aren't that many cars or vehicles so driving is far less stressful than in Thailand or Vietnam.
https://i.imgur.com/8CWlJFE.jpg
temples. lots of temples. oh god so many temples
it's cool tho. you can go on day trips to places like kuang si waterfall although you'll have to push your way through the chinese tour groups and rich trust fund kids
pic related some old classic mercs i saw parked on the street one day
>chinese tour groups
They are still way below pre-pandemic levels with the Chinese.
What is the food like here? Is it similar to Isan food in Thailand?
>Is it similar to Isan food in Thailand?
Isan food is Lao food but Laos has had other influences come in (mostly from Vietnam) since the 19th century. So now pho is one of the most popular street foods in Laos whereas Isan people are not very familiar with it. Most of the well-known Viet dishes are also well-known and popular in Laos (but not so much in Isan/Thailand). The Lao also have their own style of paté sandwich (related to Banh Mi).
Also in general you have more variety of noodle dishes in Laos than in Isan, like Khao Soi (of Luang Prabang or Muang Sing), chicken noodle soup (Khao piek sen), and probably a dozen variations of vermicelli type soups (Khao Poun), which don't really exist in Isan afaik.
But yeah, grilled chicken, papaya salad, dancing shrimp, laap, sticky rice--all of that stuff is Lao food and available everywhere.
Along the border with Vietnam beware of places offering "village deer."
I know I can rent a car from major agencies like Hertz, and have driven in Thailand, but wondering how driving is over there and things like gas stations (when I first started driving in Thailand there were curfews and gas stations closed at 8pm, so you had to fill up before then or buy gas from people selling it in glass bottles which were really meant for scooters).
Did you drive inside Bangkok? I've ridden motorcycle taxis all over the place here and I mostly trust the reflexes of drivers who are accustomed to it but I think I'm probably constitutionally incapable of the level of aggression that seems to be required to fit into the flow here. I embrace the whole western defensive thing. Everywhere else seems okay.
It's not that bad, mostly because you're usually going so slowly. I'd say driving in NYC or London is just as bad.
The main thing I struggle with is when (particularly on Sukhumvit) the police change the direction of the traffic and I get stuck on the wrong side of the skytrain but need to turn soon. Worst case though is that I just make a turn and go around the block.
The main problem with Bangkok is parking. I always stay in a hotel with free parking and rarely drive around in Bangkok whilst I'm staying there unless I'm going somewhere really out the way.
The two most stressful things are:
1) driving to night markets, because the parking is crazy and there are people walking everywhere
2) actually picking up or dropping off a car at the airport - the process is slow as frick and there's no car rental lot, it all happens in the pick-up and drop off area outside the terminal. They say to call before you arrive to drop the car and someone will be waiting, but they're never there. So you have to park, go into the terminal and find someone. I definitely recommend getting a car from a downtown location instead where you have time to walk around it and ask them to swap it more easily.
I think I'll give Laos a try, Hertz seems to be about $1k for 2 weeks of car rental on a Toyota Fortuner.
5 dollar 1 hour legit massage it was fantastic. Great waterfalls literal villages. It's very cool. I visited paske for 3 days to see a missionary friend. We visited one of their student's coffee farm had a meal preped by family. They drove us to some awesome waterfalls and their is like no one there. It's just you the city is so small and just such a cook place. Would recommend.
i went 20 years ago. it was great. i went as a backpacker but before backpackers ruined it. the main tourist towns might be good or might be shit, it depends on how things are after covid.
don det in thousand islands, if that is what it is called was brilliant. only electric was lightbulb. slept in a bamboo and straw hut, got food cooked by the family whose yard i was in. cycled about the island, walked on broken train tracks over a small gorge. ate magic mushrooms and watched a lot of Friends dvds for a few days in one of the places where you float down the river on a rubber ring. visited the Plain of Jars. took a boat down the mekong for 2 days which was great. stopped at some random village which was only accessible from the river. very cool. i'd say i was lucky to have done all that at the time when it was not difficult but not simple. the prime time.
i am going back next year taking the high speed train from kunming down to Vientiane but that is for business.
I think you should not try too hard to figure this out in advance. Embrace the fact that you don't know what's there and explore blindly. I actively try not to let the internet spoil the wonder of the unknown for me too much. If you're good on a motorbike, maybe just pick a direction from Luang Prabang and go see what you see.
Is that the country where the Asian guy from king of the hill is from?
Yes
yes
No, he specifically says he's from the ocean, he just never specifies which ocean.
Breddy comfy. Least developed country in ASEAN(after Myanmar) so you get a very authentic rural Asian feel there. Very nice landscape too.
This. It is so chill it melts. I did in around Pakse and 1000 Islands like 10 years ago. Bikes, chilling on a hammock on the river, beers with random French dudes, huge fricking spiders, waterfalls, more bikes, Khmer ruins, good eats, and very inexpensive. Be prepare for slllloooooooow.
Sounds unfathomably comfy.
Redpill me on Luang Prabang
temples. lots of temples. oh god so many temples
it's cool tho. you can go on day trips to places like kuang si waterfall although you'll have to push your way through the chinese tour groups and rich trust fund kids
pic related some old classic mercs i saw parked on the street one day
Dude SEA temples aparrently just don't get old to me. I always like checking then out, even just little neighborhood ones. They're just so damn aesthetically pleasing.
ok that's cool anon, in that case luang prabang is the place for you. lao temples do have a bit of a characteristic style that is a bit different from other countries in the region.
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I've never been there but when I was sitting at a live music bar in Bangkok this one semi autistic rich Laotian kid kept trying to chat with me and then tried to butt into the conversation when I was talking to a Korean girl
Been to Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar. The next time I visit SEA I'll definitely go to Laos.
I want to visit it while it's not another Vietnam, China is building rail connections with them and shit so we better go as soon as possible.
It's like Thailand except poorer. Just go to Thailand.
Does poorer mean cheaper?
Actually no. It's a little more expensive than Thailand actually. I think because more things need to be imported. Still cheap though.
>because more things need to be imported
Ah yeah, makes sense.
I disagree. The moment you get out of Vientiane its nothing like Thailand. Every major Laotian town is like 2x smaller than most bigger Thai cities. Although Laos is changing rapidly, things are far more in-accessible in Laos as they are in Thailand. Especially in remote places. Traveling takes way longer as there are practically no major highways unlike in Thailand.
>Traveling takes way longer a
That's generally true but now with the railroad you can go anywhere from Vientiane to the Chinese border at basicaly high speed and comfort.
The tollway between Vientiane and Vang Vieng is also a quality road and they'll extend it to Luang Prabang soon, but for whatever their reasons they don't let motorbikes on.
If going south or to Plain of Jars area I would take a plane out of Vientiane. Fares are reasonable.
Driving in Laos is like in the USA, on the right side of the road (unlike Thailand). You wouldn't want to be out very late at night in Laos anywhere. In general, there's a curfew in most places (maybe everywhere). But there aren't that many cars or vehicles so driving is far less stressful than in Thailand or Vietnam.
>chinese tour groups
They are still way below pre-pandemic levels with the Chinese.
>Is it similar to Isan food in Thailand?
Isan food is Lao food but Laos has had other influences come in (mostly from Vietnam) since the 19th century. So now pho is one of the most popular street foods in Laos whereas Isan people are not very familiar with it. Most of the well-known Viet dishes are also well-known and popular in Laos (but not so much in Isan/Thailand). The Lao also have their own style of paté sandwich (related to Banh Mi).
Also in general you have more variety of noodle dishes in Laos than in Isan, like Khao Soi (of Luang Prabang or Muang Sing), chicken noodle soup (Khao piek sen), and probably a dozen variations of vermicelli type soups (Khao Poun), which don't really exist in Isan afaik.
But yeah, grilled chicken, papaya salad, dancing shrimp, laap, sticky rice--all of that stuff is Lao food and available everywhere.
Along the border with Vietnam beware of places offering "village deer."
Reminds me of this rorschach blot that reminds me of Big Bird. I hear the food is good but being landlocked makes them more poor and it reflects
What's the deal with driving there?
I know I can rent a car from major agencies like Hertz, and have driven in Thailand, but wondering how driving is over there and things like gas stations (when I first started driving in Thailand there were curfews and gas stations closed at 8pm, so you had to fill up before then or buy gas from people selling it in glass bottles which were really meant for scooters).
>and have driven in Thailand
Where did you drive in Thailand?
All over. Pretty much all of it down to Hat Chao Mai National Park in the South, but haven't gone further south than that yet.
So have driven on shitty minor roads in the north and places like Udon Thani, but it's pretty easy in Thailand as there's always help nearby.
Did you drive inside Bangkok? I've ridden motorcycle taxis all over the place here and I mostly trust the reflexes of drivers who are accustomed to it but I think I'm probably constitutionally incapable of the level of aggression that seems to be required to fit into the flow here. I embrace the whole western defensive thing. Everywhere else seems okay.
Yes, I've driven in Bangkok a bit.
It's not that bad, mostly because you're usually going so slowly. I'd say driving in NYC or London is just as bad.
The main thing I struggle with is when (particularly on Sukhumvit) the police change the direction of the traffic and I get stuck on the wrong side of the skytrain but need to turn soon. Worst case though is that I just make a turn and go around the block.
The main problem with Bangkok is parking. I always stay in a hotel with free parking and rarely drive around in Bangkok whilst I'm staying there unless I'm going somewhere really out the way.
The two most stressful things are:
1) driving to night markets, because the parking is crazy and there are people walking everywhere
2) actually picking up or dropping off a car at the airport - the process is slow as frick and there's no car rental lot, it all happens in the pick-up and drop off area outside the terminal. They say to call before you arrive to drop the car and someone will be waiting, but they're never there. So you have to park, go into the terminal and find someone. I definitely recommend getting a car from a downtown location instead where you have time to walk around it and ask them to swap it more easily.
I think I'll give Laos a try, Hertz seems to be about $1k for 2 weeks of car rental on a Toyota Fortuner.
5 dollar 1 hour legit massage it was fantastic. Great waterfalls literal villages. It's very cool. I visited paske for 3 days to see a missionary friend. We visited one of their student's coffee farm had a meal preped by family. They drove us to some awesome waterfalls and their is like no one there. It's just you the city is so small and just such a cook place. Would recommend.
They have the prettiest girls. So fair, soft, and feminine. However, not the best service.
how's getting a gf over there?
technically illegal, but a laos anon said it happens.
>However, not the best service.
What do you mean? What service?
I saw some interesting things in the far north east, more cultural, drunk tourists don't go there but it's still very accessible from north Thailand
You can get a bus to Paakse from Ubon. It is way more chill in that area. Just have American cash to pay for the visa at the check point.
What is the food like here? Is it similar to Isan food in Thailand?
Don't forget to walk with the elephants
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Sex with local women out of wedlock is illegal, how based can one country be
>I want it to be illegal to have sex on vacation
instead they have legal ladyboys that trick a lot of coomers lol
Pic related
Hope you know that if you take any of that stuff off the premises, you will end up having to pay for it with a huge get-out-of-jail bribe.
Does anyone know if slow boats from the border to Luang Prabang are operating regularly as of now?
I'm going there on the 2nd of August and I've read some reports saying the service has been disrupted.
Has anyone done it recently?
i went 20 years ago. it was great. i went as a backpacker but before backpackers ruined it. the main tourist towns might be good or might be shit, it depends on how things are after covid.
don det in thousand islands, if that is what it is called was brilliant. only electric was lightbulb. slept in a bamboo and straw hut, got food cooked by the family whose yard i was in. cycled about the island, walked on broken train tracks over a small gorge. ate magic mushrooms and watched a lot of Friends dvds for a few days in one of the places where you float down the river on a rubber ring. visited the Plain of Jars. took a boat down the mekong for 2 days which was great. stopped at some random village which was only accessible from the river. very cool. i'd say i was lucky to have done all that at the time when it was not difficult but not simple. the prime time.
i am going back next year taking the high speed train from kunming down to Vientiane but that is for business.
I’m going in a few weeks but can’t figure out what to do besides Plain of Jars and Luang Prabang
coom
I think you should not try too hard to figure this out in advance. Embrace the fact that you don't know what's there and explore blindly. I actively try not to let the internet spoil the wonder of the unknown for me too much. If you're good on a motorbike, maybe just pick a direction from Luang Prabang and go see what you see.