5 Creative Ways You Can Improve Your Laos Tourism

Many banks, travel agents and guest houses will allow you to take out cash from a credit card as a cash advance. There are formal daily tours of the caves. After the 1973 ceasefire, Vieng Xai briefly became the capital of Laos thing to do, before that function was moved to Vientiane in 1975.

Schools, hospitals, and markets as well as government ministries, a radio station, a theatre and military barracks were all hidden in the caves. During nine years of almost constant American bombing, the Pathet Lao sheltered in these caves, and lived in a largely subterranean environment. A whole 'Hidden City' was established which supported around 20,000 people.

Under much bombardment, the Pathet Lao moved east to Vieng Xai and established their headquarters in the limestone karst cave networks around the town. In 1964, the US began intensive bombing of the Lao communist movement - Pathet Lao - bases in Xieng Khouang. The town of Vieng Xai provides a striking insight in the recent history of not only Laos, but the whole of Indochina.

If you are lucky you might get a close-up view of a Mekong pink dolphin. There are also some wonderful river-based sights, including the largest falls anywhere in Southeast Asia. Experiencing local village life, taking it all in and doing absolutely nothing should be the aim here.

Si Phan Don (four thousand islands) is a great base for experiencing what is surely the most chilled and relaxed region anywhere in Asia. In direct contrast to Northern Laos, the Mekong delta lowlands in the South are perfectly flat. Either way, the scenery along the way is gorgeous and unexploited, and Luang Prabang is an incredible city that is worth a thousand of these journeys.

The choice between the slow boat and the speedboat is largely based on your required comfort level; would you prefer a slow unpleasant trip, or a faster but more dangerous & unpleasant trip? Stories of small, overloaded speedboats sinking or hitting driftwood are common, but if you are a good swimmer, take comfort in the fact that you can see both shores throughout the entire trip. Expect the engine to break a few times, and stops for delays to fix it. However when, or if, you arrive you will never be happier to see Luang Prabang.

Expect an incredibly loud engine inches behind your head. Expect to be crammed into a modified canoe made for 4, with 10 other people, along with all the luggage somehow packed in. Expect to sit on the floor of the canoe, as there are no seats, with your knees against your chin for the full 6 hours. An attractive choice for some, with a 6 hour journey from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang , as compared to the two-day trip on the slow boat, but not for the faint of heart.

However, it is still a beautiful way to travel and much quicker than Route 13 from Vientiane to Phonsavan. The lush primary forest once boasted about is fast disappearing due to logging.