Where to go after Vang Vieng

Imagine a land where ancient Buddhist temples meld seamlessly with mist-veiled mountains, where vibrant night markets and quiet villages coexist in harmony, where the rushing of rivers and waterfalls calls you to adventure. This place is Laos. Once an undiscovered gem, Laos has opened its arms wide to welcome travelers seeking a blend of cultural immersion, outdoor thrills, and relaxation.

From the UNESCO World Heritage old town of Luang Prabang with its picturesque wats to kayaking adventures down the Nam Ou River, Laos packs plenty of sights and activities within its borders to keep you enthralled. As you make your transport bookings and plan where your footsteps will take you, get ready to fall in love with the Land of a Million Elephants.

Marvel at Buddhist Temples and Soak in Lao Heritage

Of the many draws in Laos, immersing yourself in Buddhist culture and heritage tops the list for most travelers. Luang Prabang boasts several first-rate wats like the temple of Wat Xieng Thong with its dazzling “tree of life” glass mosaic walls. Meanwhile Wat Visoun, also called Wat Wisunarat, stakes the claim as the oldest operating temple in Luang Prabang. If culture ranks high on your priority list, the Royal Palace Museum delivers in spades too with its trove of Lao artifacts from the Lane Xang kingdom era. And in the capital city Vientiane, the highly photogenic Buddha Park known locally as Xieng Khuan comes replete with larger-than-life Buddhist and Hindu sculptures amid lush gardens begging to be explored on foot or bike.

No first-timer’s journey through Laos is complete without witnessing Tak Bat, the Buddhist ceremony of giving alms. As the sun peeks over the horizon, you’ll see hundreds of Buddhist monks in their saffron robes emerge to walk down the streets of Luang Prabang. Locals kneel and place sticky rice and other food items into the monks’ alms bowls in a beautiful display of generosity that has remained unchanged for generations. Etching this moving ritual into your memory makes all that booking transport hassle worthwhile! Some other famous sites decked out in glorious gold include Pha That Luang stupa in Vientiane and the Patuxai war memorial resembling Paris’ Arc de Triomphe.

Step Back in Time with Colonial Architecture

In the midst of Buddhist temples stand traces of Laos’ French colonial past seen in buildings like the Presidential Palace and Ho Phra Keo museum (once a Buddhist temple) in regal French Beaux-Arts fashion. The excellent COPE Visitor Centre has multimedia exhibits explaining how Laos remains plagued by unexploded ordnance from the Vietnam War era. Should war history pique your interest, it’s worth adding this to your itinerary.

Ethnology buffs are also in for a treat in Luang Prabang at TAEC, the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Center. Through permanent exhibits, you can glimpse various artifacts used in daily living by Laos’ mosaic of ethnic groups. Understanding hill tribe lifestyles at TAEC primes you for visits to rural tribal villages to see the Hmong, Khmu and others continuing age-old ways of life

Commune with Nature and Rural Life

Speaking of rural villages, girded with a good pair of walking shoes, winding your way through lush jungle or terraced rice fields to remote tribal villages proves an easy way to commune with nature and rural life. Spend a night or three sleeping in a rustic treehouse or basic hut, hiking between thatched-roof homes meeting artisans and farmers, trying your hand at household chores. You’ll return with an enriched appreciation of village existence in Laos long after uploading your trekking route maps and photos!

If you crave more creature comforts while still soaking in scenic views, head just outside Luang Prabang to the Living Land community farm. Spend an unhurried day interacting with farmers harvesting organic vegetables and rice before retiring to the comfortable wooden farmhouse overlooking the fertile fields. Back in Luang Prabang town, it's simple enough to arrange day trips to the stunning tiered Kuang Si waterfalls cascading into idyllic turquoise pools perfect for an afternoon picnic and swim.

Get Your Adrenaline Fix with Outdoor Activities

While Laos impresses with its fabulous sights, quiet villages and splendid nature, the country also checks the box for outdoor adventures. If you’ve ever wanted to feel like Indiana Jones for a day, strap on a headlamp and go spelunking throughTham Khoun Xe cave. For river thrills, grab a kayak or tube and ride the rapids along rivers like the Nam Ou near Luang Prabang. Trekking routes abound from Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng offering valley or mountain trail options for various fitness levels. Arrange a local guide to steer you along safely and share interesting tidbits as you pass hill tribe homes, water buffaloes, and lush jungle.

Cycling tours hit a nice middle ground between adrenaline fix and slow-paced sightseeing. Pedal yourself from village to village, through undulating rice fields, across slow-moving streams. Let momentum carry you down gentle hills, hop off to snap pictures of wondrous mountain views before your next uphill climb. Then coast to a stop for refreshing fruit smoothies at that roadside cafe you spotted on the descent. For cycling tours, challenging routes exist; just as surely beginner-friendly options allow you to set the pace.

Unwind with Massages, Markets & Scenic City Views

When you need a breather between sightseeing and adventure, Laos lays out ample ways to practice relaxation and self-care. From Luang Prabang to Vientiane, talented masseuses stand ready to knead your weary muscles with techniques blending Thai, Swedish and traditional Lao healing rituals for the ultimate unwind. Reward hard-working artisans by buying hand-dyed textiles, Hmong embroidery, and other craft souvenirs at Luang Prabang’s bustling night market setting up around sunset.

For panoramas without the work, take the easy climb up Mount Phousi in central Luang Prabang or stroll along the Mekong riverside promenade and nearby parks in Vientiane. Or plan a laidback day swinging gently in the hammock on your guesthouse balcony with a book, marveling at distant mountains framing quiet rice fields as birds call to one another harmoniously.

Venture Beyond Luang Prabang and Vientiane

Most visitors flying into Laos land either in Luang Prabang in the north or Vientiane down south. But leaving after only seeing the usual capital and cultural hub sells the country short with places like Champasak and Pakse in southern Laos also holding worthwhile attractions. Cavers should add Vat Phou temple and its mysterious caves to their itinerary. For ancient Khmer ruins akin to Cambodia’s Angkor Wat on a smaller scale, consider the Oum Moung temple complex. And eco-lodge stays on the Bolaven Plateau promise cool mountain air, thundering waterfalls and lush jungle trekking sans the crowds. Wherever your final itinerary leads, with childlike curiosity and assuming respectful travel ethics, the wonders of Laos will open up to enrich you in unexpected ways!

Final Thoughts

Like a slowly unwrapping gift, the treasures of Laos reveal themselves to those who linger. Rather than rushing around frantically trying to cram every site onto a packed schedule, take things slow. Sip coffee at sidewalk cafes. Chat with the monks. Haggle genially for handicrafts. Snooze in the hammock. This helps to fully absorb the rhythm of local life. Return often from your activities to quiet contemplation, whether atop a riverside view deck or under a tree in the park. Laos has a way of working its magic to soothe the soul. With an unhurried pace and openness to spontaneity, prepare to fall under its spell!