Story Archives

Laos Travel Stories

Laos: Slow Boat Down the Mekong River - Story by Aaron Smith
- 9th Online Issue

Five hours north of Chang Mai in Northern Thailand on the Mekong River, bordering Laos, is Chang Kong. This is the Golden Triangle which, in its heyday, was the black market capital of opium production. The black tar is still here and offered to tourists on whispered breathe on street corners by predatory tuk tuk drivers. Those curious should tread carefully, as the police are often not far behind. Hefty fines, bribes or worse still, the hang man's noose, await those fallen to the fold.

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Vientiane, Laos: Vientiane on bended knees - Story by Alvin Lee
- 8th Online Issue

You know the old saying; “There’s more than meets the eye”? Well, for Laos, this rings so true. The World Bank rated Lao PDR the poorest and least developed among all the Indochinese countries. Laotians even earn 20% less than the struggling Cambodians! Geographically, Lao is landlocked save for the Mekong River. Yet, many travelers have voted Laos the best country to visit in Asia. Compared to its rich and busy neighbours such as Vietnam and Thailand, Laos is still unscathed from the tsunami of globalisation and the dark side of capitalism. Called “The Land in Slow Motion” by Asiaweek, the “PDR” could very well stand for “Please Don’t Rush”.

Vientiane, the capital, was spared from destruction by US bombs during the Vietnam War. Many of its old French colonial buildings still remain intact. Scrape away the fading communist varnish – and you will find it is an undiscovered city steeped in cultural heritage and elegance, with warm and friendly people. Thus, the urge to experience the romance of one of the world’s few remaining Leninist countries was a compelling one. This was made a reality with the advent of Tiger Airways’ new route to Udon Thani from Singapore, in northeastern Thailand.

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