Welcome to Laos travel

Luang Namtha is both a province of Laos and the name of the provincial capital, located in the north of the country. The province is bordered by the other Lao provinces Bokeo in the south-west, Oudomxay in the south-east, by Myanmar in the northwest and China's Yunnan province in the north-east with the border crossing at Boten. The Mekong river (Nam Khong) constitutes the NW border of the province. Three large rivers drain westwards/southwards into the Mekong: Nam Tha, Nam Fa and Nam Long.

One of the best preserved and most spectacular pristine monsoon forest of all Laos can be found in Louang Namtha. It is partly preserved in the Nam Ha NBCA (National Biodiversity Conservation Area), that is also developed as an eco-tourism destination with the help of neighbouring and western countries as well as international organizations (New Zealand, European Union, UNESCO and Lao National Tourism Administration).

The main roads in Louang Namtha province connect Houayxay in Bokeo with Louang Namtha town and Oudomxay with Boten. Boten is an important border crossing with China (Mohan), and provides an export route from China, via Xien Kok, loading from trucks into boats on the Mekong.

Source: asiaqueentour.com
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Savannakhet town is situated on the banks of the Mekong river opposite Mukdahan in Thailand. The province bridges the country between Thailand and Vietnam and the town is a very active junction for trade between the two countries. The town itself can be easily explored by foot and has a number of interesting temples, including Vietnamese temple and school and a large Catholic church. Much of the town's architecture is French Colonial. Numerous examples of French architecture tell of the town's importance during the colonial era.
Getting there
Lao Aviation flies to and from Vientiane. Lao Aviation's domestic timetable.
You can reach Savannakhet by boat from the north (Vientiane, Tha Khek) or the south (Pakse), although these services change regularly.Buses run several times a day from Vientiane, Tha Kek and Pakse. The journey takes up to nine hours from Vientiane.
From Thailand: Savannakhet is a designated international border checkpoint, although visas are not available on entry. You will need a visa in advance or you will have to make arrangements with a tour company. The ferry from Mukdahan, in Thailand runs all day between 0830 and 1700 on weekdays, with some restrictions at weekends.
From Vietnam: The Vietnamese border town of Lao Bao can be reached 180km west of Savannakhet on Route 9. Tourists can freely pass between Laos and Vietnam, but note that visas are required in advance by both countries.

Champasak ( or Champassack ) as once, 1400 years ago, the centre of power in the lower Mekong basin, later a revered outpost of the Khmer Angkor empire and, later still, one of the three kingdoms to rule over the remains of Lane Xang. A fine heritage that, according to the last prince of Champasak, was brought to hard times by a former queen's indiscretion.

The beautiful Nang Pao ruled over Champasak in the mid-17th century. But it's lonely at the top and the queen found comfort in the arms of a prince from a neighbouring kingdom. Alas, for the lady's pennyroyal was ineffective, and Nang Pao fell pregnant. A great scandal ensued and, though the queen remained in power and was succeeded by her illegitimate daughter, Nang Peng, the unhappy Nang Pao decreed that all unmarried mothers in the kingdom must sacrifice a buffalo for their sins. The practice survived in some local communities until the 1980s, the unfortunate women being known as 'Nang Pao's Daughters.

Attapeu, the most southeastern tip province of Laos Province, is also the best known for the Bolaven Plateau, sharing borders with Sekong in the north, Champassack in the west, Vietnam in the East and Cambodia in the South. The Bolaven Plateau is covered in the Champassak section and easily accessed from Pakse, in Champassak province.
The province has a total population of around 87,700, with more more Lao Loum than the neighbouring provinces, consists of five districts: Saysettha, Sanamxay and Phouvong. Most of the population in Saravane, Sakong, Attapue is plunders minorities, comprising nine major tribes: Alak, Katang, Kaleum, Katou, Suay, Nge, Lave, Tahoy, Nyajeung. The capital town Samakhi Xai is built in a large picturesque valley surrounded by mountains and also in the loop of the river, opposite the confluence of the Sekong and Sekhamane Rivers. Where the join an island is formed by a small arm of water connecting them upstream.
Attapeu ethnic minorities people
Attapeu province is rugged, wild and very scenic, but transportation is very difficult, especially by land in the rainy season. Parts of the Ho Chi Minh Trail can be explored from Attapeu, although using a local guide is essential
In early morning you can visit the traditional market, where many different minorities go to buy and sell their product.

Xieng Khouang is located in the north of Laos. Most of its landscape consist of mountains and hills. XiengKhouang province offers the awesome beauty of high green mountains and rugged karst formations. The original capital city, Muang Khun, was almost totally obliterated by US bombing and consequently, the capital was moved to nearby Phonsavanh. Of several Muang Khun Buddhist temples built between the 16th and 19th century, only ruins remain. Vat Pia Vat, however, survived the bombing and can be visited.

Plain of Jars

The main attraction in Xieng Khouang province is the Plain of Jars. Stone jars of different sizes, apparently carved out of solid rocks, are scattered all over the plateau. The biggest one reaches a height of 3.25 meters. Researchers have advanced different theories as to the function of the stone jars, which are estimated to be 2,500 to 3,000 years old.
An air of mystery hangs over the Plain of Jars. Local folklore says that, in the 6th century, the warrior king, Khun Jeuam, brought his army from Southern China and defeated the evil chieftain, Chao Angka. The mighty battle was followed by a mighty feast, at which hundreds of gigantic jars of lao-lao rice wine were consumed. Khun Jeuam was, apparently, as bad at tidying up as he was good at throwing parties, for he left behind all of the empty jars, of which nearly three hundred remain, scattered around the flat plains near Phonsavan, including his own six-tonne 'victory cup.'
There is little physical evidence to say that this fanciful legend does not hold at least a little truth. Major wars have been fought on the plains over the centuries, as both Lao, Siamese and Vietnamese armies attempted to win control of them. In the nineteenth century, Chinese bandits further pillaged the plains so that, by the time French archaeologist, Madeleine Colani, arrived in the mid-1930s, almost all that remained of the ancient civilization of the plains were the jars.
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