Come to Laos to witness the forgotten beauty

"I heard" Laos is very beautiful

Our group chose Laos as a destination for many reasons: it is close to Vietnam, the cost is cheap, and we “heard” it is very attractive… There were 7 of us in the group so we chose to travel by road and drive ourselves.

The procedures to enter Laos, including people and vehicles, do not take much time. Everything is processed very quickly. The border stretches from Lai Chau to Kon Tum with many international border gates, so visitors have many options for the route. We chose to go from Nam Can border gate, Ky Son district (Nghe An), because the first point on the journey is the Plain of Jars, Xieng Khouang province.

This route is really a minus point when going to Laos because it is so bad. This is probably also the reason why tourists hesitate when coming to Laos. But after passing this route, we received a worthy reward when standing in the middle of the Plain of Jars - a world cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO in 2019.

Walking in the afternoon, when the sunset falls, visitors leisurely walk through the Plain of Jars, surely everyone wonders why there are stone jars of all shapes and sizes here? This is a question because even scientists after many years of research still cannot find an answer for the Plain of Jars with nearly 2,000 jars scattered across 52 different locations in Xieng Khouang. A heritage that still contains many secrets that stimulate the curiosity of visitors when coming here.

The next surprise is Kuang Si waterfall. When discussing this destination, the group members all said "I've been to many waterfalls, they're all the same". But no, you will regret saying that because as soon as you reach Kuang Si waterfall, the ancient capital of Luang Prabang, visitors will be shocked by the beauty of this waterfall.

The first impression is the clear, emerald green water. The waterfall is tiered by natural stone steps. This is a three-tiered waterfall. The main waterfall of the Kuang Si complex is up to 60 m high with a giant stream of water pouring down from above, creating a misty white landscape. The waterfall is also surrounded by a pristine and lush green forest. Its beauty will melt any visitor, even the most demanding. We all "tsk"ed in regret for this late discovery.

Laos is also a destination with many famous temples such as: Wat Si Saket; Wat Phra Keo or Pha That Luang… When coming to Laos, you cannot be in a hurry, everything should be experienced slowly. Therefore, if you are a person who lives in a hurry, come to Laos to slow yourself down.

Slow down a few beats

Whether you are a person who likes noise and bustle, or you are a person who likes peace, it does not matter because when coming to Laos, all tourists have to follow the pace of life here.

When you come to Laos, remember to participate in the Tak Bat alms-giving ceremony, which takes place every early morning and is a sacred religious ritual of Laos. Every morning, Lao people consider offering food to monks as an act of filial piety, bringing blessings and hope for peace for themselves and their families.

In Laos, even if you have money, you cannot stay out all night. Most bars and restaurants close early. I still remember the fun feeling of sitting in the middle of the night food area, we bought food and beer, because at 10pm, even if you have money, it is difficult to find a place to drink. When we entered the bar, we were informed that it would close at 10pm and stop selling beer. It seems that Lao people are not very interested in the beer and alcohol business.

Laos tourism is also known as a non-shopping tour. Whether you go by yourself or with a travel agency, you will not go to any shopping spots in Laos. So when you come to Laos, you do not need to think about "when will you have money to travel", because Laos will never empty the wallets of tourists.

The pace of life is so sad, so steady, so quiet, that I and the members of the group can find ourselves again. There is no urging from the tour guides for the guests like we encounter in other countries. In Laos, tourists walk gently, no one dares to speak loudly for fear of disturbing the silence that has existed for ages.

Lao people do not put haste first, they enjoy a simple life, spend time going to pagodas, doing charity work. Life makes money but is not chaotic. So for many years, coming to Laos without shopping has made many tourists feel excited because everyone spends all their energy to explore this beautiful Land of a Million Elephants.

With reasonable costs and wild beauty, Laos is a destination not to be missed for those who are tired of the hustle and bustle. Come to Laos to find peace of mind, why not?