Laos Travel Guide: Luang Prabang, Vientiane and the Mekong

Laos is the country that makes Thailand feel crowded. The same river — the Mekong — runs through both, but on the Lao side the pace is genuinely slower, the tourist infrastructure is thinner, and the temples are quieter. Laos rewards people who travel for the experience rather than the itinerary.

This guide covers the key destinations and how to connect them, whether you are entering from Nong Khai on the Thai border or flying directly into Vientiane.

Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang is the former royal capital and the most visited city in Laos for good reason. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site — saffron-robed monks collecting alms at dawn, French colonial buildings along the main street, wats on every corner, the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers converging at the edge of the peninsula. The night market, Kuang Si waterfall, and Pak Ou Caves are the main draws. Most visitors spend 3–5 days here and it rarely feels like too long.

Vientiane

Vientiane is the Lao capital and possibly the most low-key capital in Asia. It has a population of around 800,000, a walkable riverside, Patuxai (the Lao Arc de Triomphe), and Pha That Luang — the gold-covered national symbol of Laos. The COPE Visitor Centre documents the aftermath of cluster-bomb contamination from the Vietnam War era. Most travellers use Vientiane as an entry point or a transit stop; it deserves more than that.

Crossing the Mekong from Nong Khai in Thailand to Vientiane by the Friendship Bridge takes 20 minutes. It is one of the most straightforward border crossings in Southeast Asia.

Vang Vieng

Vang Vieng sits in a valley between Vientiane and Luang Prabang, surrounded by karst limestone cliffs and the Nam Song river. It was infamous for a decade as a backpacker party town; the worst of the excess has been cleaned up, but tubing on the river and the scenery — genuinely spectacular — remain the main draws. Kayaking, caving, and rock climbing are also well-developed. Most people stop here for 2–3 days on the route between Vientiane and Luang Prabang.

Getting Around Laos

The slow boat from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang (2 days on the Mekong, stopping overnight in Pakbeng) is one of the great travel experiences in Southeast Asia. You enter at Chiang Khong in northern Thailand, cross to Huay Xai, and drift downriver through jungle and limestone for two days. The fast boat covers the same route in 6 hours but is loud, uncomfortable, and occasionally dangerous. Take the slow boat.

Between Vientiane and Luang Prabang, the Lao–China high-speed railway (opened 2021) covers the route in 2 hours for about 200,000 LAK (~10 USD). Buses take 9–11 hours. The train is the obvious choice.

Practical Information

Visa: Laos offers visa on arrival at major border crossings and the Vientiane/Luang Prabang international airports. 30 days, approximately $30–$50 USD depending on nationality. E-visa also available online.

Currency: Lao Kip (LAK). Thai Baht and USD are widely accepted near border areas and in tourist zones. ATMs are available in Vientiane and Luang Prabang.

Crossing from Thailand: The most popular crossing is Nong Khai to Vientiane via the First Friendship Bridge. The bus from Korat (Nakhon Ratchasima) to Vientiane is a popular option for those coming from central Thailand or Bangkok without wanting to stop in Nong Khai.