Laos is a small, extraordinarily friendly and fun country in South East Asia. To the north East of Thailand it also borders Cambodia, Vietnam and China. It has a population of just 6.5 million, which is widely dispersed but with GDP growth rates at 8.3% in 2006 and new pushes on everything from ecotourism to adventure tourism it is a small country with a big future, and nowhere can this be seen more than its capital Vientiane.

Laos has been a popular destination for backpackers for many years and is now beginning to enjoy a wider customer base. The reason for this change is the world’s recognition that this small and very poor country really has a lot to offer, from the stunning natural beauty of the four thousand islands (Sii Pan Don) in Pakse province where you may be lucky enough to see the rare and endangered Irrawady dolphins to the artistic flair of its silver workers to the archaeological splendour of world heritage sites such as Luang Prabang in the North. But in reality, no town or city most reflects Laos like Vientiane.

Vientiane is hectic by Lao standards, with a population around half a million it blends the French colonial history with its SE Asian roots and creates a unique capital city with modern touches creeping in. There can be no other capital city, or certainly that I know of, that you can walk around and see almost all of its attractions in a day; to that end must sees are That Luang, Wat Si Saket, Victory monument and Buddha Park although this is a little way outside of the city so walking is not the best idea. Having discovered the city tourist attractions what’s left? Well you can hang out in some of the cafes or restaurants, watch the Mekong wind its way towards Cambodia or just enjoy mixing with the locals. This laid back capital offers a special brand of enjoyment and is a great place to unwind and enjoy the simple life. But the time to do it is now because things are changing and here quicker than other places, with bars and restaurants beginning to pop up and new investment money filtering in. Within a matter of years this place will likely have completely changed to resemble the more traditional Asian cities we are used to.

To get to Laos most people will arrive from Thailand, from here there are several ways to enter, easiest is to fly from Bangkok but you can also travel by road through a number of different routes, or by boat down the Mekong river.
It is also possible to cross from all of the other surrounding countries into Laos.

Things to Know:

- Most places will accept US dollars and a lot will accept Thai Baht.
- The currency in Laos is Kip, unfortunately the exchange rate means that Kip is mostly valueless unless in very large quantities. It is also very difficult to get rid of it once you leave the country as many currency exchangers will not accept it. Try to get rid of all you have before you leave.
- Laos are Buddhist therefore respect this and use most of the same rules as other Buddhist countries – no touching heads, no pointing with feet, never disrespect a Buddha statue, did not reveal too much flesh, don’t do public displays of affection and don’t get angry or yell in public.

Laos really is a small country with a big future as it opens itself to foreign investment and starts improving infrastructure. Chinese support has added in this and new routes are opening up through Laos linking China and Thailand amongst others and facilitating the building of large hydropower stations. A visit to this inexpensive and quite beautiful country through the gateway of Vientiane will often be the highlight of a visit to South East Asia.