Laos Tours

Why visit Laos

Laos makes a calm contrast to Vietnam's busy cities. Traffic is light, and towns such as Luang Prabang are small enough to explore on foot or by bicycle. Monks in saffron robes, gilded temples and French colonial villas line the streets, while the countryside is a landscape of rivers, rice fields and limestone hills. With short flights from Hanoi, it is easy to add three to five days in Laos to a Vietnam itinerary.

Top things to do in Laos

• Luang Prabang old town: visit Wat Xieng Thong, walk the riverside lanes and climb Mount Phousi for sunset over the Mekong.
• Morning alms giving: watch monks collect sticky rice at dawn in Luang Prabang, keeping a respectful distance and following local guidance.
• Kuang Si Waterfall: swim in the turquoise pools about 45 minutes from Luang Prabang, next to a bear rescue centre.
• Mekong boat trip to Pak Ou Caves: cruise upriver to two caves filled with thousands of Buddha statues.
• Vang Vieng: kayak on the Nam Song River, explore caves and enjoy the karst scenery, now a short train ride from Vientiane or Luang Prabang.
• Vientiane: see Pha That Luang, the Patuxai monument and the COPE Visitor Centre, which explains the legacy of unexploded ordnance.

Best time to visit

The dry season from November to March is the most comfortable time to visit. November to February brings sunny days and cool mornings, especially in Luang Prabang and the northern mountains. March to May is hot, and in March and April smoke from field burning can cause haze in the north. The rainy season runs from about May or June to October, with green landscapes and full rivers and waterfalls.

Getting there

Direct flights link Hanoi with Luang Prabang and Vientiane in about 1 hour, and both cities also have flights from Bangkok. Within Laos, the Laos-China Railway has made travel much easier: Vientiane to Vang Vieng takes about 1 hour, and Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang about another hour. Many visitors fly into Luang Prabang from Hanoi and leave from Vientiane, or the reverse. Check visa rules for your nationality before you travel.