"The Jewel of Southeast Asia" Many travelers come away from Laos with only a vague sense that they'd like to return and do so quickly before that special "something" is gone. Fear not, though, for change comes slowly here, and the genuine smiles of Laos' kind people endure. In Laos, travelers can enjoy some of Southeast Asia's most untamed natural beauty, kayak or trek in the back of beyond, experience ancient architectural wonders, enjoy the kindness and lightheartedness of Laos's unique hospitality, and experience Buddhist ritual and culture in a way that might add tranquility to your travels. It's an enchanting land that demands that you slow your pace to match its own. The beauty of Laos exists not only along the Mekong at sunset, but in smiles at the market or impromptu.
Laos is a strange place. It is a sleepy and curiously pleasant country with inhabitants among the friendliest people on earth. But it wasn't always so. Bordering Thailand across the Mekhong River in the west, Myanmar and China in the north, Vietnam to the east, and Cambodia to the south, it is a miracle this former French colony wasn't carved up as spoils to the ambitions of its powerful neighbours long ago.
Though not high on many travellers' list of places to visit, those who do come are usually enchanted by its easy-going lifestyle, varied architecture, and its startling array of food, including Royal Laos, French, Italian and Indian cuisines - all done to perfection at incredibly low prices.
Vientiane, the capital, has a population of about 300,000 people, most of them seemingly unemployed, and a visitor could be forgiven for thinking that they must have arrived on a national holiday. The streets are virtually empty, and rush hour lasts about ten minutes, with none of the traffic snarls that characterise most Asian capitals. Most of the major tourist attractions can be covered in a day or two, but the real reason for being here is to relax, eat, have a drink by the river and watch the world slowly pass by.
Aside from a few local temples and the Victory Monument (a bizarre Asian Arc de Triomphe), one place well worth visiting is the Buddha Park about 20 kilometers east of the city. The park, designed and executed by a Laotian monk is filled with huge (and often horrific) concrete images taken from Theravada Buddhist lore, strongly reflecting the religion's Hindu roots.
