Following the rather underwhelming time in Vang Vieng and Laos so far I had big hopes for Luang Prabang. So after 4 hours of another crazy mini bus ride I finally arrived in Luang Prabang – the beauty spot of Laos.
Vang Vieng to Laos by Bus
There are plenty of mini van buses going from Vang Vieng to Laos. I booked mine through the hotel and let’s say, you just never know what you get, in terms bus quality and driver. I hoped for the best. Once in the bus I realised it had no seatbelts. And I had no desire to drive 4 hours through dangerous roads and high mountains without a seatbelt. So I changed the bus.
The second bus might have had seatbelts but the driver spend 90% of the time on his phone. Not good when you have to avoid bumpy holes and look out for sharp bends and traffic. After I complained I think he did it even more on purpose. So when he stopped at the petrol station, 2 hours into the drive, he basically told me to get out and find another bus. Ok for me! Funnily I ended up back in the bus without the seatbelts but at least the driver was better.
The scenery and landscape from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang was absolutely stunning. The mountains were a mix of palm trees and forrest surrounded by rice fields with little wooden huts. Unfortuanly I am here in the wrong month to fully see the beauty of the country. It is past the harvesting of the rice fields so it is rather brown in contrast to the usual bright green. Nevertheless it was still quite picturesque. Especially after arriving at the top of the mountains. At almost 1900 altitude we were suddenly above the clouds. Stunning view!
Let’s hope we make it downhill safely!
Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang – the beauty spot of Laos is an ancient town situated in northern Laos. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. As the centre of Laotian culture the old town is full of funky bars and restaurants and very popular with many travellers and tourists. Why go to Vientiane when you can go to Luang Prabang?
In addition Luan Prabang is encircled by mountains and sits 700 metres above sea level at the confluence of the Nam Khan and Mekong Rivers. There is definitely more than one spot to enjoy the sunset over the river. Unfortunately I didn’t get to experience it in my 5 day stay due to the bad weather. The weather realy wasn’t on my side. It was raining or threatening to rain for about 80% of the time I was in Laung Prabang, and thus, except for the first afternoon, photos were not really worth taking.
During the dry mornings was walking the streets of Luang Prabang. I walked plenty of stairs up to the Phou Si Mountain and saw some Buddha’s and had lunch and dinner at a different place every time.
I still also enjoy seeing the local markets with all the colours. The night market is long but everybody sells the same. Amazing how the locals set it up every day, no matter the weather. The houses are once again a mix of french architecture with local huts and homes in the back street. It is in my opinion the cleanest city I have seen in Asia.
Laos summary
I can see why some travellers would like Laos. It is cheap and there is enough to do and see. From temples, waterfalls, to hiking and visiting caves, you can do it all. In addition the countryside is certainly stunning. It was a shame about the weather but I can’t always escape it. I also don’t think December is the best time to come here because the fields are already harvested (as mentioned) so it misses the background of the beautiful rice fields. That said, there are hardly any tourists around so that is a bonus. It was a bit odd actually as I read December was the start of peak season.
All in all I am glad I came to see Laos but unfortunately it wasn’t for me. I was hoping to make it at least to the famous Kuang Si Waterfalls on my last day but not only was it still cloudy and cold, I also managed to get food poisoning from the night before. So after a night driving the porcelain bus amongst other toilet activities I was rather ready to fly to Vietnam and start a new chapter in my Indochina adventure. Next stop Hanoi!
