Setting Off: Into Southeast Asia's Last Hidden Gem

Laos is a name that often gets overlooked on the Southeast Asian travel map. It doesn't have Thailand's buzz or Vietnam's chaos. It sits quietly along the Mekong River, waiting for travelers in its most untouched form. In 2024, I joined the Taiwanese travel brand "Ninety Road Travel" for an 8-day, 7-night deep-dive trip through Laos.

And we're off! A group photo at the airport before flying into the unknown that is Laos

Looking down at the Lao landscape from the plane window

A sunset mid-flight that looked like an oil painting

Vientiane: The Laid-Back, Golden Capital

Vientiane might just be the quietest capital in all of Southeast Asia. No Bangkok-level traffic jams, no Hanoi-style motorbike armies. The pace on the streets is so slow you'd think time had stopped altogether.

A photo with a monk at Pha That Luang -- this golden stupa is the national symbol of Laos

Pha That Luang is the most sacred Buddhist structure in Laos and appears on the national emblem. The entire stupa is covered in gold leaf, so dazzling under the midday sun you can barely keep your eyes open. We were lucky enough to meet a young monk who struck up a conversation with us in English and happily posed for photos.

An ancient Buddha statue in the temple -- Lao-style Buddhas with both hands in the abhaya mudra

Striking the temple gong for blessings -- the sound echoed through the entire compound

A weathered ancient stupa, marked by centuries of time

A tranquil afternoon in the temple courtyard

Another thing that struck me about Vientiane was the Chinese influence. Big red Chinese characters at the Vientiane Railway Station, entire shelves of Chinese Moutai liquor at the supermarket -- since the China-Laos Railway opened, China's footprint is everywhere in this city.

Vientiane Railway Station, the starting point of the China-Laos Railway, with Chinese characters front and center

Shelves of Chinese Moutai in a Lao supermarket -- the railway brought more than just transportation

Red rooftops of Vientiane as seen from the hotel rooftop

The rooftop pool at our hotel -- pure bliss in 35-degree Laos weather

And of course, evenings called for a Beerlao -- the national beer. The menu listed seven or eight varieties: Dark, Gold, White, IPA -- a bottle starts at just 25,000 Kip (roughly USD 1), so drinking here comes with zero guilt.

The full Beerlao lineup -- from the classic lager to the IPA, starting at 25,000 Kip a bottle (about USD 1)

Vang Vieng: Adventure Paradise Among Karst Mountains

We hopped on the China-Laos Railway from Vientiane and reached Vang Vieng in about an hour. The moment we stepped off the train, we were floored by the karst landscape -- think Guilin, think Ha Long Bay, but wilder and more raw.

Vang Vieng Railway Station, another product of the China-Laos Railway

The karst landscape of Vang Vieng -- limestone peaks rising abruptly from tropical vegetation

Vang Vieng is an adventure playground for backpackers. On this trip we tried the zipline at Blue Lagoon and kayaking on the Nam Song River, both of which were absolutely thrilling.

Group photo before the Blue Lagoon zipline -- all geared up, ready to fly over the jungle

Helmet on, about to zip down from the hilltop -- adrenaline through the roof

After the zipline, we swapped into life jackets, jumped into kayaks, and floated down the Nam Song River. Towering limestone cliffs flanked both sides, the water was crystal clear, and every now and then a water buffalo grazed lazily on the bank. This kind of untouched beauty is hard to find anywhere else in Southeast Asia.

Our kayaking convoy on the Nam Song River, weaving through the karst landscape

Back on dry land after kayaking, grinning from ear to ear

The view from our rooftop in Vang Vieng -- a quiet little town encircled by mountains

Luang Prabang: A UNESCO World Heritage Town on the Mekong

Luang Prabang was the highlight of the entire trip. The old town was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. French colonial architecture and traditional Lao temples coexist in perfect harmony -- walking down its streets feels like flipping through a living history book.

A cafe converted from a French colonial building in Luang Prabang, with bougainvillea climbing the entire wall

Wat Xieng Thong -- the most exquisite temple in Luang Prabang, its walls covered in golden reliefs

Wat Xieng Thong is the crown jewel of Luang Prabang, built in 1560. The most breathtaking feature is the "Tree of Life" mosaic on the rear chapel wall -- a red backdrop covered in countless pieces of colored glass that shimmer in the sunlight.

The "Tree of Life" mosaic on the rear chapel of Wat Xieng Thong -- the pinnacle of Lao Buddhist art

A small chapel adorned with red mosaic -- every piece hand-inlaid

Temple architecture in Luang Prabang -- golden window frames against dark roofs, classic Lao style

Kuang Si Falls: An Emerald Wonderland

About a 30-minute drive from Luang Prabang lies Kuang Si Falls. Before we even saw the waterfall, we were stopped in our tracks by the surreal turquoise pools -- the blue-green water was so transparent it looked like someone had poured dye into it.

Kuang Si Falls -- a multi-tiered travertine waterfall with turquoise pools that look almost unreal

Walking across the wooden bridge, looking down at the turquoise natural swimming pools

A group shot in front of Kuang Si Falls -- this backdrop should be illegal

Markets, Cooking Class & Local Life

One of my favorite parts of the Ninety Road Travel itinerary was the market-to-kitchen combo: first we visited a traditional morning market to shop for ingredients, then headed to a cooking class to learn Lao cuisine. Walking into the Luang Prabang morning market, we found piles of dried goods, spices, and fresh produce everywhere, the air thick with that distinctive Southeast Asian aroma.

The traditional market in Luang Prabang, with dried goods stacked in little mountains

Dried ingredients at the market -- many of which I couldn't even name

The cooking class venue -- a semi-open-air space with fresh ingredients laid out on banana leaves

The instructor introducing Lao ingredients and spices -- everyone was completely engrossed

The Lao chef demonstrating each step in detail

Our finished dishes -- Lao sour-spicy soup and steamed vegetables

Aprons on, we went from travelers to Lao chefs (well, at least we looked the part)

Night Market & Souvenirs

The Luang Prabang night market was another delightful surprise. The entire street was lined with handcrafted goods -- colorful elephant-print coin purses, hand-printed "Laos" canvas tote bags, Lao-style postcards. Everything was so affordable you couldn't help grabbing extras as gifts.

Handicrafts at the Luang Prabang night market -- colorful elephant-print coin purses

Hand-printed Laos canvas tote bags, each with a unique design

Lao-style postcards, 2,000 Kip each

Lao coffee -- many people don't realize Laos is also a coffee-producing country

A dazzling array of locally made Lao spirits

The People Along the Way

The best part of semi-independent travel is finding that perfect balance between freedom and companionship. The Ninety Road Travel group came from all walks of life. We adventured together by day and bonded over Beerlao by night. By the end of eight days, strangers had become friends.

Piled onto a blue tuk-tuk -- the most authentic way to get around in Laos

A photo with our tuk-tuk driver -- his smile was the best welcome Laos could offer

An in-transit car selfie -- the most genuine smiles happen on the road

Arriving in Vang Vieng with our big backpacks, mountains looming in the misty distance