LAOS Places to Visit

In 1563 King Setthathirat made the riverside city of Vientiane the capital of Laos, In those days it was a small, fortified city on the banks of the Mekong with a palace and two wats. That Luang and Wat Phra Kaeo. The city became prosperous from the surrounding fertile plains and taxes levied on trade going upriver. Today, Vientiane is a spacious and charming city. It is South-east Asia's smallest capital and has only about 500,000 citizens - which makes it the most tranquil and laid-back capital of Asia. Tt lacks the usual hustle and bustle and amazes the traveler with its serene temples and gracious colonial villas. Countless temples and pagodas with important Thai and Khmer shrines and relics are a mirror of the countries' checkered past. There are numerous good restaurants and excellent shopping opportunities for Lao handicrafts at the Morning Market and a variety of specialist shops.

The ancient capital of Laos, Luang Prabang, is a city of golden temple spires, faded French colonial architecture and diverse hill tribes. Situated on the Mekong river, the city is nestled in a stunning river valley surrounded by dramatic mountains. Luang Prabang was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995 because of its well-preserved remnants of the ancient Lane Xang Kingdom, many of which date from the 13th to the 15th centuries. However, it is the peaceful charm and relaxed atmosphere of the town, with its thriving hill tribe population, which never fails to enchant. Luang Prabang's surroundings have much to offer as well; excursions include the Pak Ou Caves, reached via a pleasant boat trip up the Mekong River. These ancient caves contain thousands of Buddha images. Other interesting excursions include visits to Ban Phanom, a nearby weaving village, and the Kuang Si waterfalls.

One of the last mysteries of Asia lies here, in the form of over 300 giant stone jars, apparently carved out of solid rock and scattered around a nearby plateau, aptly named the "Plain of Jars." The jars vary in size from 1 to 3.25 meters high and weigh up to six tons each. There are several different theories as to the purpose of the jars, which are estimated to be 2,500 to 3,000 years old. Local legend relates that King Khoon Chuong and his troops from South China had a huge party after their victory over the wicked Chao Angka and had the jars made to brew enormous quantities of Lao rice whisky (lau-lao). A trip to this area is still worthwhile and is enhanced by visits to the local ethnic minority villages of the Hmong. A trip to the Tham Piew caves and the hot springs nearby are worth an extra day.

Pakse is synonymous with Wat Phou, just as Siem Reap is with Angkor in Cambodia. The founder of the first Khmer Empire, Jayavarman II, who built Angkor, also built Wat Phou. It is much smaller than Angkor, but about 30 years older and at times was the Khmer capital. After Angkor, Wat Phou is one of the cultural highlights of Laos and South-East Asia and was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 2003.

Pakse is a busy commercial town built by the French early this century as an administrative center for the South. The many colonial buildings lend an air of old world charm. Excursions from Pakse include the Bolaven plateau, with its many ethnic minorities and coffee plantations.