| VIENTIENE AND ITS SUBURBS |
Vientiane is the
present-day capital city of Lao. It is located on a curve of the Mekong River sharing the
border with Thailand. Vientiane is interesting and attractive with its old town along the
Mekong River, ancient temples and tree linear boulevards that used to be a fortified wall
against foreign invasions. Vientiane is sophisticated with galleries, theatres,
nightclubs, shopping that’s so good, it is a major attraction of visitors from all
over the world.
Vientiane is a small city but offers its visitors a great variety of
restaurant with cuisine ranging from genuine Lao specialties to Chinese, Vietnamese,
Indian, Thai and European specialties.
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| ARCH MONUMENT "PRATUXAI" |
|
| Situated in the center of Vientiane
prefecture, this Victory Gate, also known as Anousavali was constructed in 1958, its
architecture was inspired from the Arcade Triumph in Paris and incorporates the typical
Lao motifs including Kinnari, the Mythical bird-woman. Energetic visitors can climb to the
top of the monument and enjoy a Panoramic view of the city. |
| THAT LUANG |
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| That Luang Shrine (great Sacred Stupa) is the
most important national monument in Vientiane, with golden stupa believed to contain a
relic of Lord Buddha. That Luang was constructed to gather Lao people all over the country
and became the cultural center since 1566. That Luang Festival is organized yearly on the
full moon of November and it is celebrated for 7 days and nights with traditional
performances. Top |
| WAT PRAKEO |
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| WAT Prakeo was built in 1566 by king
Setthathirat to house the Emerald Buddha for his personal place of worship. Unlike other
temples (or Wat), there had never been any monks residing in this temple of Wat Prakeo.
From the terrace of Ho Prakeo, you can enjoy a view overlooking the President’s
palace (former Royal Palace) and gardens. |
| MORNING MARKET |
|
| Morning Market consists of three main
buildings where each has two floors. This shopping market has become a lively commercial
center where a variety of goods is exhibited such as garments, souvenirs, jewelry,
electronic equipment and products from over the world. Top |
| NATIONAL ETHNIC Cultural Park |
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| Suan Vatthana Tham, The National Ethnic
Culture Park is located 20 km downriver from Vientiane, Follow Shady Paths past model Lao
Homes Sculpture of Lao literary heroes and small zoo. Relax at riverside, bars and
restaurant and enjoy the view of khua Mittaphab, The Friendship Bridge. Open daily from
08:00-18:00. |
| MITTAPHAB BRIDGE |
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| Beginning of construction in 1991, and
officially opened in April 1994 - length 1,174 meters. - Width 12.7 meters across the
Mekong River between Laos-Thailand. Top |
| BUDDHA PARK |
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| Buddha Park or Garden of Statues (1958)
comprises a collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures in a level field of grass. Buddha
Park is a religious sculpture park located by the Mekong River 24 km. down Stream from
Vientiane, where you can see the view of Nongkhai as well. |
| VANGSANG CAVE |
|
| Vangsang Cave or Elephant Court: remains of
ancient sanctuary dated over three hundreds years before foundation of the kingdom of
Lanexang. Vangsang consist of five large pink sandstone’s sculptures and two huge
Buddha. This place now becomes a tourist center and picnic area for Vientiane people in
weekend.
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| SALT EXTRACTION PLANT |
|
| A village called Banjo, Thourakhom district is
known for its salt extraction. It is 60 kilometers faraway from Vientiane. The majority of
inhabitants earn their living-part time-by producing salt. Here you can see the
traditional way of salt producing. |
| VANG VIENG & THAM CHANG |
|
| Vang Vieng is a famous district in Vientiane
province, and is about 150 km out of the capital. According to the local folklore, there
are many mysterious places in Vang Vieng such as Caves Patho Nokham, Patang, Tham Chang,
Nam Xong River etc, There is a guesthouse and you can spend the night. On the way to Vang
Vieng you can see picturesque landscape of country and should acquaint with local people. Top |
LUANG PRABANG “The World Heritage City” |
| Luang Prabang Province is one of the most
beautiful and attractive areas of Laos where there are many high river valleys along the
Mekong River and its major attributes. In the ancient time, Luangprabang was the capital
of the Kingdom of Lane Xang, literally means “the Kingdom of A Million
Elephants”, so it became the center of culture and religion of Laotian people. In
1996, Luangprabang had been voted as the WORLD HERITAGE site.
Every year, Luang Prabang attracts thousands of tourists, both local as well as
foreigners, especially during its yearly celebration called Pimai Lao (or Lao’s New
Year) in mid April. It is celebrated with emphasis on its own splendid features, unseen in
any other regions in Laos. Moreover, this ancient is not so large, and the visitors can
tour around the city on foot. The people are hospitalized, the atmosphere is typical, and
the cultures are unspoiled.
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| NATIONAL MUSEUM |
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| National Museum is the former Royal Palace,
which was constructed in 1904. The former Royal Palace displays a lovely collection of
personal artifacts of the Royal Family, photos, musical equipment and gifts received from
foreigners. |
| WAT MAI |
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| Wat Mai (1796) was built in a typical style of
Lanexang Kingdom and was purely in Lao’s architectural design. During Pimai Lao, the
Prabang (a Buddha statue) is put on display. Traditionally, the Laotian people pour water
with perfume and flowers over the Prabang to symbolize the purification of soul Top |
| WAT XIENG THONG |
|
| Wat Xieng Thong is the masterpiece of Buddhist
architecture in 16th century with golden facades and colorful murals. This
temple was used to organize the highest Royal Ceremony and houses the funeral vehicle of
the former king. |
| Tham Ting (Pak Ou Holy Caves): |
|
| It is one of the most attractive sites in
Luang Prabang. Tham Ting “mostly known as Pak Ou Cave” is an overhanging cave on
the cliff that could be seen from the boat on the Mekong River. The cave is like a
sanctuary which houses countless number of Buddha Statues. Since the past, it is the
tradition that the Laotian people visiting the cave will leave a Buddha Statue as an
aspect of reverence, so the number of the statues increases from year to year. Pak Ou
Cave can be accessible only by boat along the Mekong River. You can visit one of the local
village to see how the Laotian people produce Laos Liquor (Fermented rice liquor).
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| KHUANGSI |
|
| Tat Khuangsi is 30 kilometers away from
Luangprabang with scenic surrounding of fresh air, flowers and wild animals. Along the way
to the Tat Kuangsi, you visit local mountainous hilltribes with traditional lifestyle. Top |
BOKEO, THE LAND OF SAPHIRE |
| Located along the three-border intersection of
Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, from part of the Golden Triangle, it is the home to a large
number of ethnic minorities. Bokeo has five districts: Houixay, Ton Pheung, Pha Oudom,
with 36 townships, more than 450 villages and total population of 61,000, consisting of
many ethnic groups, each with their own lifestyles and costumes. The most lucrative
occupation in Bokeo is gold mining and digging for precious stones, where you can see at
Ban Nam Khok (The Lu village), 6 km from the town and Ban Houi Sala (The H’mong
village), it’s around 18 km far from the town of Houixay. At Ban Namkeung Kout, Ban
Namkeung Mai and Ban Done Deng, it’s 26 km away from the center of Houixay to the
north where you can visit the traditional Lu village, who came originally from Muang Sing,
LuangNamtha. The village can be reached by boat trip, upstream from Houixay.
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LUANG NAMTHA |
| Luang Namtha, is a northern province bordering
China and Myanmar and its selection is based upon a series of environment, social,
cultural, historical and development factors which make the site an excellent location to
evaluate the potential for sustainable cultural and ecotourism in and around a protected
area. The forests are dense, and cover near 99% of the protected area. Wild cattle (guard
and banteng), Asian wild dogs, tigers, clouded leopard, bears and gibbons also having in
the forests and there is still a large bird population. The area is populated by a
variety of different ethnic groups. They consist of Khamu. Akha, H’mong, Yao (Mien).
Besides the province also consist of the lowland Lao, Tai Lue, Thai Nee and Thai Dam who
live in village just outside the protected area and the historic town of Muang Sing.
Mauling Sing originally formed part of group of principalities loosely linked under the
leadership of a political entity called the Sipsongpanna whose political seat centered in
southern Yunnan province, China.
This province has a picturesque beauty with mountains, and many old temples. Although
many temples had been destroyed during the war, there are still some attractions and the
old temple noticeably different from other classical temples.
Usually tour itinerary includes an outing to Botten, the Lao Chinese
border checkpoint. South west of Luang Namtha, the still pistine forests of Nam Ha
protected area with varieties of wildlife and vegetation can be found.
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XIENG KHOUANG |
| Xieng Khouaung is a mountainous region full of
caves and waterfalls. From an aircraft, you will observe how large the province is with
its vast plateau. Xieng Khouang preserves a fine collection of archeological riches,
including the famous plain of jars. The jars, some of which weigh as much as 6 tones,
evoke the grandeur of the past. They are remnants of the Stone Age existing in the Lao
PDR. The surrounding mountains of Xieng Khouang are home to several tribes of indigenous
people with their colorful traditional dress and simple way of life. Top |
| THE MYSTERY OF THE PLAIN
OF JARS |
| The Mysterious Plain of Jars scattered on a
hill frame slope, about 12 kilometers outside (Phonsaven) are over 300 giant jars of
unknown origin. The jars vary in size from 11 to 2.5 meters height and up to 2.7 meters in
diameter. They weight between one and six tons each and must be over 1000 years age. |
| H’MONG VILLAGE |
|
| On the way to Muang Khoune, you will pass by
H’mong village where you can observe their simple daily life, so closet in touch with
their nature and elements. One can get a feeling of being back to the past; see their
traditional activities unchanged for centuries such as weaving, basket making, woodcarving
and the never-ending chores of farming. If you were there on Sunday you can visit its
Sunday market where many souvenirs and hand-made products are sold at the price lower than
anywhere in Laos can. There is a natural hot spring from the town. Its source, 80 cm.
underground, frowns, into a stream. The peasants in the area enjoy the warm water and some
say it has magical powers and cures skin diseases.
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| THAM PIEW |
|
| Tham Piew was a historical cave in Lao. During
the Indochina War in 1950, the villagers used this large cave as a bomb shelter. In 1969,
more than 400 villagers were killed when a single rocket hit directly into the cave Top |
SAVANNAKHET |
| Savannakhet is the second largest town on the
Mekong River bank, sharing the borders with Vietnam and Thailand. Its commercial
activities, as well as being a trade center between neighboring countries, give it an
exceptional and lively atmosphere. Savannakhet is a place where a number of dinosaurs
and Stone Age equipment was discovered. It also has a number a noteworthy pagodas and
ruins that perhaps constructed in the period 553-700 AD.
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| THAT ING HANG |
|
| The Ing Hang is located 15 kilometers in the
north of Savannakhet. It is high Point in the province. The relic that you will find their
dates back several centuries and attracts a number of tourists and Buddhist pilgrims each
year, particularly during the full moon in February, when a religious ceremony is
celebrated in its honors. |
| HEAUN HIN (Stone House) |
|
| It is located about 10 kilometers in the south
of Savannakhet. It was built in 9th century and is only one of the interesting
historical relic of Khmer civilization in the center of Laos. |
| MEUANG PHIN |
|
| Going to Muang Phin takes a half-day drive on
route Number 9 to Vietnam. Muang Phin is a nearly set up town and has become a meeting
place for visitors travelling back and forth on this route. Dinosaurs’ remains are
also discovered here. Top |
CHAMPASSAK - PAKSE |
| Champassak, a small town located on the right
or the Mekong river, shares a common border with Thailand. It is known as one of the three
principals of the Lane Xang Empire. One can visit Wat Amath, a famous pagoda in which
treasures dating back to stoner age are located: Wat Phu is a huge complex temple built in
the Khmer style since 10th century. Pakse is the capital town of Champassak.
Pakse sits at the influence of the Sedon and Mekong River. During the colonial days,
French used Pakse as its colonial administrative center.
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| WAT PHU |
|
| Wat Phu is situated on the Phu Passak slope 12
kilometers away from Champassak City. It is the pre-Angkorian temple as the largest
example of Khmer architecture in Southern Laos. The traditional festival of Wat Phu is
celebrated annually during the full Moon of February and organized before the Anger’s
ceremony. |
| KHONE PHAPHENG FALL |
|
| This tremendous mass of stone, which slopes in
curvilinear pattern, is sometimes tinted by rainbow. It is the Lao NIAGARA and falls in to
Li Phi, a place where the Mekong takes a deep before continuing its course into the South
China Sea via Cambodia and Vietnam. It is also renowned as a fish basin. Top |
| SARAVAN |
| Saravan is located in the Southeastern Part of
Lao P.D.R. where the culture is extremely different from the rest of the country. People
in this province preserve their traditional culture as well as atmosphere. The main
attractions in Saravan are the Bolovens plateau and Se Xet waterfalls. In Bolovens, there
are still a number of tribal villages who still maintain their cultures since the time of
Stone Age. They use extremely primitive agricultural tools. Their spiritual ceremonies
still exist nowadays. You can also ride on an elephant touring around the jungle and spend
a fascinating time with nature. Top |
| LAO THEUNG |
|
| Lao Theung is a hill-tribe in Laos, and
renowned as the most primitive indigenous people in Laos. The inhabitants of Lao Theung
gain their livelihood from the forest products. They also have their own unique ways to
weaving fabrics (without using handlooms as in other parts of the country). |
| SE XET |
|
| It was a famous dam producing electricity from
the waterfall. Constructed since late 1991 by the Swedish engineers, SE XET is now
producing 180 GWH per year where the majority of electricity is exported to Thailand. Se
Xet becomes a famous place where people come to visit have picnic in weekends. |
| TATLO |
|
| Tat Lo close to Se Xet is a picturesque
tourist site where you can overnight at Tat Lo bungalow, dining at restaurant and getting
fresh air flowing out from dense jungle. Top |
