Laos

So, instead of enduring a 20 hour bus ride, we chose to fly to Laos. Best decision we ever made. We landed in Vientiane, the capital, but immediately decided to skip it and jumped on a short bus to Vang Vieng. Laos is even quieter than I expected, probably because it's less touristy than its neighbouring countries. But there's definitely still a happening party scene.

 

Vang Vieng 

 

Vang Vieng was a hub for outdoor adventures, jungle hikes, and lazy river days. Motorized paragliding through the clouds was a major highlight. We started at sunrise, and the views were incredible. After our 6 am ride we watched an older lady from our hostel paraglide next, accompanied by a random drunk guy who she just met at our reception still cooked. We stayed at Nana Backpackers hostel, and it was crazy. You get free alcohol at happy hour, but something important to know, this hostel recently made headlines after two Australian girls from my area died from methanol poisoning after drinking there. It’s a tragic reminder to be cautious about what you’re drinking overseas, especially when it’s free. Always check if the alcohol is sealed and from a trusted source.

 

The lagoons are also one of the main attractions to see in Vang Vieng but weren't as blue as we thought, it was brown from all the rain. Wasn't the best experience.

 

Tipsy tubing down the river was a pretty fun and unique experience for me. It involved three hours of floating down the river in an inflatable tube from one bar to the next with about 40 other drunk people. We were driven in a tuktuk that took us to the starting point, armed with bottles of vodka and mixers for the day. As you float down the river, there are three bars to stop at. Stopping was tough, and watching people miss stops was amusing. Love it or hate it, it's dangerous. Over 20 deaths are reported annually. I made the mistake of bringing my phone with me. Despite being in a waterproof pouch, it got wet and stopped working, leaving me without a phone again :( I never learn. 

 

I had the best time at Gary's Irish bar, probably the best bar in Laos, and Gary is an exceptional host. We actually went there almost every night. There's also a bar nearby where you can order drugs from a menu but you can only have it there. They are illegal obviously so if you leave the bar with anything, you'll end up at a police station, and the fines are expensive.

 

One of my favourite moments was watching the sunset behind the mountains while eating wood-fired pizza at Green Restaurant. I got a coca-cola and a whole pizza for just $6. We also tried a Japanese place right across from our hostel called Naoki To Go. Despite an awkward experience with an Asian/Australian man who paid for our dinner and wanted photos, the place was still delicious, and we went back for lunch the next day.

 

If you're in Vang Vieng, you have to do the Nam Xay Viewpoint. A very interesting and a difficult hike. The track is pretty muddy and slippery. Got a cheap film camera in Hanoi when my phone got stolen and accidentally took one of the coolest pictures ever. How did the motorbikes end up there? Well, apparently a few locals carried them up. 

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Luang prabang

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Caught the train from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, be mindful, they treat these train stations like airports. Stayed at Sunrise Riverside Pool Hostel. Really chill but wouldn’t stay here again. Luang Prabang has a strict curfew, all drinking spots close by 11:30pm. After this time, you can head to Luang Prabang bowling alley. 

 

Around 200 Buddhist monks hit the streets at 5:30am for their daily meal. Really regret not getting up to see this. I hiked to Buddha’s Footprint Temple for sunset with some friends from my hostel. Highly recommend this stunning viewpoint, you can see the Mekong. Then headed to Luang Prabang Night Market – had Pho and my first Taiyaki (Japanese waffle).
 

Mostly dined at the cafés and bars near my hostel, my favourites were Zürich Bread Café and Zaori Cafe Luang Prabang. Zaori is this super cute and modern café with yummy western & asian food.

 

Had a rough day being sick and bedridden without a working phone, which was really depressing. At this point, I was ready to go home. I think I became unwell after playing finger cup with randoms. The next day, I went to fix my phone for $60 and bought some cheap Valium that you can get over the counter.

 

Went on a day trip to Kuang Si Falls, famous for its milky turquoise waters. The place was magical, and within the park, there is a bear rescue center with moon bears. So cool, definitely a must-see when in Laos.

 

Getting out of Laos was a challenge. Flight prices were ridiculous, so we caught a bus and an overnight train to Bangkok. We were pretty lucky to find a $500 ticket back to Melbourne with Scoot Airlines instead of the initial prices of $1500+ online. In summary, Laos was a gem with unexpected party vibes and thrilling activities. There's so much to explore and I highly recommend renting a motorcycle to get around. I wish I had the opportunity to explore the town further, visit cafes, and experience a new cuisine, but I ran out of energy after six weeks of constant movement.