A friend texted, saying she is living vicariously through the photos being sent her way. So here is a taste of Laos for anyone who cannot retire early or hop on a flight anytime soon.
Vientiane, the capital, mixes things up. Family owned restaurants sit near franchises like Starbucks. State run libraries reflect the communist party’s reach. Buddhist temples operate under government regulation. It all blends together in one city.
Head north and you hit Vang Vieng, a small town wrapped in karst mountains along the Nam Song River. Backpackers still flock here, mostly young ones. Years back, officials cracked down on the heavy drinking and drug scene that used to define the place. Now, during this low season, even the backpackers left standing tend to be the older crowd, and that includes us.
Everyone met along the way has been warm and welcoming. Kohb chai, lai lai, a respectful way of saying thank you very much. There’s still plenty to learn here.
Theo, pictured at a hotel in Vang Vieng, already covered the trip from Bangkok to Vientiane in an earlier post.
My Take…
So here’s Laos, secondhand. Vientiane’s a mashup: mom and pop joints beside Starbucks, state libraries flexing party muscle, temples on a government leash. Vang Vieng’s karst mountains once hosted booze fueled backpacker chaos. Now, off season, it’s mostly gray hairs like us. Everyone’s kind. Kohb chai, lai lai. Still learning.
Click on the link below for the full article:
https://www.earthvagabonds.com/living-vicariously-through-us-in-vientiane-vang-vieng-laos/
