Vientiane and Luang Prabang Itinerary

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Are you planning a visit to South-East Asia and contemplating visiting Laos (in all probability mixed with a visit to Thailand or Vietnam)? Don’t fear, we’ve received you lined. On this article, I’ll share our itinerary for five days in Laos, visiting Vientiane and Luang Prabang!

After all, you want not less than a few weeks to see all Laos has to supply. However realistically, until you’re backpacking in South-East Asia or are working remotely with a really relaxed schedule, you received’t have the ability to spend weeks in every nation. Should you solely have 25 days of annual depart, simply as we do, it’s important to be savvy, mix a number of international locations in a single journey, and attempt to see a number of the major highlights inside a really restricted timeframe.

Right here’s a really temporary overview of our itinerary for five days in Laos:

Day 1: Attending to Vientiane and exploring town, an evening at S2 Trendy Boutique Resort

Day 2: Flying or taking a practice to Luang Prabang, 2 nights at The Belle Rive Resort

Days 3-4: Having fun with Luang Prabang, a day journey to the waterfalls & rice farm

Day 5: Exploring the remainder of Luang Prabang, flying again 

Earlier than we begin with the detailed itinerary, listed below are some incessantly requested questions on Laos.

Issues to know earlier than travelling to Laos

Is Laos protected? How protected is it to journey round Laos?

Should you’re questioning whether or not Laos is protected, I’d say that essentially the most touristy cities and cities are protected! At no level throughout our journey did we really feel unsafe or really feel that there was a have to lie about the place we dwell or depart branded purses on the resort (that occurs in lots of locations, together with Jose’s hometown, Mexico Metropolis).

Folks had been additionally very pleasant, and at no level, anybody tried to rip-off us and even inflate costs! All people was useful as properly. Travelling round Laos was a stunning expertise and we hope to return sometime. 

How one can get to Laos?

Laos doesn’t have one of the best transport connections on the planet, and it isn’t simple to fly there immediately from Europe or the Americas. That’s why most individuals mix visiting Laos with Vietnam or Thailand, as each Vietnam and Thailand have good flight connections with Laos. Flight costs aren’t low-cost, although. You possibly can examine the costs and availability right here >

There may be additionally a pace practice from China, nevertheless, it is perhaps difficult to journey to China proper now (I ponder if they’ve resumed issuing journey visas). 

Some individuals journey to Laos by ferry – there are excursions from Thailand, nevertheless, we don’t know a lot about this manner of travelling to Laos. 

Are you able to pay by card in Laos? Are US {dollars} accepted?

One other incessantly requested query about Laos is whether or not you possibly can pay by card in Laos or pay by US {dollars}. Playing cards aren’t broadly accepted in Laos – only some resorts and only a few eating places settle for playing cards, each in Vientiane and Luang Prabang. Nevertheless, there are ATMs you could find in main airports and in addition throughout Luang Prabang city centre (there are only some, however the city centre just isn’t too massive, both). 

As for the US {dollars}, some distributors might select to simply accept them, however some received’t take them. It’s all the time good to go away a sum in {dollars} and the remaining commerce to the native foreign money; within the case of Laos, it’s kip.

How one can journey inside Laos? Travelling between Vientiane and Luang Prabang

Lastly, many individuals are questioning learn how to journey between Vientiane and Luang Prabang. The gap by land is sort of massive – until you might be on a really strict funds, I don’t suggest travelling by bus. There’s a pace practice that China constructed not too long ago and common flights between Vientiane and Luang Prabang. The practice station is sort of removed from Vientiane; getting there takes 45-60 minutes. As of the start of 2023, shopping for practice tickets on-line was unimaginable. A ticket workplace within the centre of Vientiane didn’t settle for money or card, only a native fee app you possibly can’t set up as a foreigner. Some individuals ask locals to purchase them tickets and provides them cash in money as a substitute. We additionally learn that some resorts should buy practice tickets for you as properly.

The issue is that the gross sales of practice tickets begin solely 3 days prematurely and get bought out fairly rapidly! 

That’s why we opted for an inside flight. It’s the most costly possibility (2 occasions dearer than the practice), however not less than you should purchase tickets prematurely and it’s additionally sooner if you happen to solely have just a few days in Laos. The practice takes round 4 hours, whereas the flight is round 45 minutes. The airport in Vientiane is tiny, so that you don’t want to return hours prematurely, 1 hour 10 minutes earlier than the flight is greater than sufficient.

We didn’t purchase return tickets as Luang Prabang additionally has worldwide flights. We flew from Hanoi to Vientiane and had a return flight from Luang Prabang again to Hanoi. 

Learn our 7-day itinerary for Vietnam on this put up >>>

Okay, with out additional ado, let’s begin with the 5-day itinerary for Laos: Vientiane and Luang Prabang.

Our itinerary for Laos: Vientiane and Luang Prabang in 5 days

Day 1: Exploring Vientiane

Vientiane, the capital metropolis of Laos, is understood for its quiet and relaxed environment with little site visitors, in contrast to the bustling and vibrant metropolis of Hanoi in Vietnam (town we had flown to Laos from). 

The place to remain in Vientiane

For our in a single day keep, we opted for the S2 Trendy Boutique Resort, which was moderately priced however situated fairly removed from most sights. Nonetheless, as a result of metropolis’s appreciable distances between locations, it’s essential to depend on taxis no matter the place you might be staying. 

Alternatively, these two resorts are nonetheless removed from the primary sights, however are nearer to town centre with plenty of eating places and the night time market close by: Lao Orchid Resort or Le Charme Vientiane Resort.

Issues to do in Vientiane in someday: 

Vientiane, in contrast to Luang Prabang, doesn’t have that many sights. It’s not a really touristy metropolis and plenty of guests overlook Vientiane in favour of Luang Prabang. Nevertheless, I feel Vientiane is attention-grabbing, and we wished to see a couple of place in Laos.

Listed below are a number of the finest issues you are able to do in Vientiane in simply someday (properly, someday might be sufficient to see most of Vientiane anyway).

1. Pha That Luang: a very powerful nationwide monument in Laos and an emblem of the nation’s Buddhist religion. It’s a surprising golden stupa and it’s believed to comprise a relic of the Buddha.
2. Patuxai – a monument in-built honour of those that fought for independence from France and satirically, it seems to be a bit just like the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. It’s potential to climb to the highest for gorgeous metropolis views.
3. Wat Si Saket: a stupendous temple, which is likely one of the oldest in Vientiane and contains a gorgeous courtyard crammed with 1000’s of Buddha statues.
4. Buddha Park – a component that’s dwelling to greater than 200 Buddhist and Hindu statues, together with an enormous reclining Buddha. 

Additionally, the night time market within the coronary heart of the previous city, proper subsequent to Mekong is an thrilling market to go to, nevertheless, there isn’t a lot to purchase there until you’re on the lookout for very reasonably priced pretend branded garments with misspelled logos. There are many locations to eat close by, in order that is perhaps a bit extra attention-grabbing!

Days 2-5: Luang Prabang

On the morning of the subsequent day, we took a brief inside flight to Luang Prabang. I defined our causes for taking a aircraft relatively than the practice earlier on this article, however lengthy story quick, flight tickets had been the one tickets we may purchase prematurely and due to this fact assured our journey for at the present time. 

The place to remain in Luang Prabang?

We stayed on the Bel Air Resort with pretty river views, nevertheless, the situation wasn’t preferrred as a result of each time we would have liked to go to the city centre, we needed to cross a bridge that was in shambles and on the verge of collapsing (The Outdated French Bridge). 

As a substitute, I like to recommend staying on the following locations:

Luxurious possibility: 3 Nagas

Mid-range resort: The Belle Rive

Inexpensive lodging: Villa Ouis

The perfect issues to do in Luang Prabang in 4 days: (properly, 3.5 days)

Whereas 4 days in Luang Prabang (which is just a bit larger than a village) feels like quite a lot of time, it’s really not! There are such a lot of issues you are able to do in Luang Prabang. If you wish to see the entire listing, I wrote this text in regards to the 18+ wonderful issues to do in Luang Prabang >>

Right here, on this article, I’ll deal with the actions and issues now we have loved essentially the most in Luang Prabang:

Go to the Unesco-protected Outdated City of Luang Prabang & night time market on Sisavangvong Highway

Luang Prabang grew to become a UNESCO world heritage website in 1994. Among the best issues you are able to do in Luang Prabang is to put on snug footwear and head for a stroll or a motorcycle experience across the Outdated City – there are many stunning picturesque streets with pretty outlets, stalls and eating places. 

Sisavangvong Highway is essentially the most well-known, busy and standard road in Luang Prabang. It will get particularly crowded within the night, round 6pm, when the night time market opens. The night time market in Luang Prabang has loads of stalls promoting garments, souvenirs and artwork. It’s primarily geared toward vacationers, but it surely’s a must-visit attraction anyway.

You can too strive native road meals there (proper in the beginning of the Evening Market, there’s a everlasting road meals market. The most well-liked dish in Laos is Laap – a meat or fish salad, which is scrumptious however very spicy. Most dishes in Laos are very, very spicy!).

Sundown cruise alongside the Mekong River 

A Mekong sundown cruise is likely one of the finest issues to do in Luang Prabang. Head to Khem Khong Road and also you’ll discover many boat homeowners providing their companies. We simply discovered a flyer for a $5.5 per individual sundown cruise from Svan Mekong Cruises and booked it! 

We had been so fortunate that there have been no different vacationers in addition to us that day, and we ended up having a non-public cruise!

If you would like a fancier expertise, you possibly can ebook a dinner cruise with a 3-course dinner right here >>

Go to the Kuang Si waterfall

Kuang Si waterfall is likely one of the major sights of Luang Prabang, 45 minutes away from the city. You possibly can both get there by motorcycle, purchase a tour or rent a taxi that can look ahead to you there for 3-4 hours for $20 for a day. Alternatively, you possibly can get there by boat if you happen to purchase a tour.

It’s good on your third day in Laos, when you’ve got a full day in Luang Prabang! You can too mix it with visiting the buffalo farm or the rice farm – each of them are on the way in which again to Luang Prabang!

Stroll the bamboo bridge throughout Nam Khan River 

The bamboo bridge is simply open 6 months a yr and will get rebuilt yearly because it will get destroyed as soon as the water ranges rise. It is advisable pay 10,000 kip ($0.6) per individual to cross the bridge, but it surely’s completely value it.

Climb the Mount Phou Si 

Climb Mount Phou Si – there are many stairs to climb, nevertheless, the views from there are properly value it. The ticket to enter the higher a part of Mount Phou Si prices circa $1 per individual. 

Go to the attractive temples in Luang Prabang

See essentially the most stunning temples in Luang Prabang – Luang Prabang has so many gorgeous temples, monasteries and stupas. Essentially the most stunning is undoubtedly Haw Pha Bang, situated proper on the backside of Mount Phou Si. 

Observe the Alm Giving ceremony with the Buddhist monks 

Should you’re an early chook and need to observe a novel, stunning ceremony necessary to locals, head to the Outdated City round 5:30am. It’s a ceremony the place native Buddhists supply the monks alms (do-it-yourself sticky rice). Nevertheless, until you’re a Buddhist, you must chorus from taking part; as a substitute, you possibly can quietly observe the ceremony. You can too take images (with out a flash), however be sure you’re not in the way in which and never obstructing anybody.

Calm down and luxuriate in Luang Prabang

Despite the fact that there are such a lot of issues to do in Luang Prabang, it’s a good vacation spot for enjoyable. It’s quiet, the distances are small, and nobody is speeding anyplace.

Many resorts and resorts have swimming swimming pools, the place you possibly can spend just a few hours on a lounger suntanning and studying a ebook. 

After nearly 4 days in Luang Prabang, I hope you’ll really feel properly rested and prepared for a protracted journey dwelling. 

Abstract: 5 days in Vientiane: the itinerary for Luang Prabang and Vientiane 

I hope you loved this itinerary for 5 days in Laos, visiting one of the best of Luang Prabang and Vientiane. Each Vientiane and Luang Prabang have issues to see and do and I like to recommend visiting each of those locations as they’re very completely different. Luang Prabang, nevertheless, is undoubtedly extra spectacular than Vientiane!

I hope you loved this put up and may you’ve got any questions, ship me a message on Instagram @lizatripsget!

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