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After having celebrated New Year in Chiang Mai, we crossed the Mekong river into Laos at the Chiang Khong/Houei Sai (Huay Xai) border crossing. From where a two day boat ride down the Mekong river took us to the historic Laotian town of Luang Prabang. <br />

Laos and Vietnam

Odv
2006-04-13 20:10:12

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After having celebrated New Year in Chiang Mai, we crossed the Mekong river into Laos at the Chiang Khong/Houei Sai (Huay Xai) border crossing. From where a two day boat ride down the Mekong river took us to the historic Laotian town of Luang Prabang.

The Mekong is still a wild river with many rocks protruding from the water making navigation difficult. There is hardly any human habitation along the river, the mountains are covered with forest, but very little wildlife seems to be present. The absence of birds, apparently because everything that moves is killed and eaten, is striking once it is pointed out.

Some of the forest looks like it is growing on fields that are no longer used. "Looks like all the poppy fields have unfortunately gone" was the explanation of a fellow traveler!

Luang Prabang is a beautiful town with temples on every street. The town is currently undergoing a facelift, many streets are being tastefully redone. Luang Prabang is bound to become a major hit with tourists in the coming years, we may have been there just in time to still be able to take photos without busloads of tourists.

One of the first things that strikes a visitor to Laos is the friendliness of its people. It is really indescribable, you just feel it. The only downside is that things close down early, even hotels close their doors before midnight.

Traveling from Luang Prabang towards the capital Vientiane we stopped in the small town of Vang Vieng. Although the town is really nothing to write home about, it is a very relaxed and incredibly cheap place (a decent double room goes for 4 to 5 USD). The main attractions are the surrounding landscape of karst mountains, caves to explore and a shallow river to float down in.

They will drop you off a few kilometers upstream, with just an inner tube. While slowly drifting down you can buy drinks and snacks from little stalls along the river. When you want something ...