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In spite of its role as the capital of Laos, Vientiane is unbelievably quiet, and a great place to hang out and relax, taking in the laid back atmosphere created by the country’s exceedingly friendly people.
War History
Across the Mekong River from Nong Khai in Thailand, Vientiane is the capital of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos). The warlord Fa Ngum founded the Lan Xang kingdom with Khmer backing in 1353. Its capital in modern-day Luang Prabang was shifted to Wieng Chan (Vientiane) around 1545. Over the centuries, Khmers, Vietnamese, Siamese, Burmese, French and Americans all fought wars on its soil before the communist Pathet Lao takeover in 1975.
City of Diversity
Today, Vientiane is a peaceful city of multi-cultural influences, most evident in its architecture: Lao temples, French colonial mansions, Sino-Vietnamese shophouses and Soviet-style administrative offices. Southeast Asia’s recent development has been slower here, so there are few tall buildings and little traffic, but hotels and foreign restaurants are multiplying as the communist government opens up to visitors.
Stupas and Sculptures
Vientiane’s majestic Pha That Luang is a 16th century gilded stupa surrounded first by a wall of 30 smaller stupas (also gilded), and then by a defensive cloister. This is actually the result of two restorations since the Siamese sacked Vientiane in 1828. The Bangkok-style Wat Si Saket (1818) is the city’s oldest temple, containing 2,000 small and 300 larger Buddha images, mostly from the 16th to 19th centuries. The Lao monarchy used to worship at Haw Pha Kaew, now a museum. Said to have once held the Emerald Buddha (now in Bangkok), it contains some of Laos’ finest and oldest Buddhist sculptures. The Patuxai monument, the Lao version of the Arc de Triomphe, commemorates pre-Revolutionary war heroes: climb the inner stairs for a view of the city and its avenues. 24 km south of Vientiane, Wat Xieng Khuan is really a park containing huge and unusual Buddhist and Hindu sculptures from the 1950s.
Morning Market
You can see the city, including shopping for hill tribe handicrafts and Lao textiles at the Morning Market, in a couple of days.
One of the world’s natural wonders, (and a common backdrop for films set in Vietnam), Halong Bay features more than one thousand awesome limestone karsts and islands of various sizes and shapes along the 120-km coastline of Bai Chay Beach.
Its waters are host to a great diversity of ecosystems including offshore coral reefs, freshwater swamp forests, mangrove forests, small freshwater lakes, and sandy beaches. The folk tale has it that the dragons descended from heaven to help locals by spitting jewels and jade to the sea, forming a natural fortress against invaders; these precious stones are represented by the lush green outcrops. Several islands boast beautiful grottos and caves with contiguous chambers, hidden ponds and peculiar stone formations.
The bay is about 160 kilometers northeast of Hanoi and accessed by road. Several travel agents in Hanoi offer overnight packages that include a selection of boating excursions from Chinese junks to kayaks.
Baichay Beach
Baichay Beach may not be the nicest beach but it is certainly the busiest one in Halong Bay. This is mainly because it has a pier where travelers board a boat for a leisure cruise along the bay. Local hotels and shops spread along its beach road.
Caves and grottos in Halong Bay
In Vietnam and many parts in Asia, it is common that some natural wonders and attractions are attached with folk stories and fables. In Halong Bay, many grottos, caves, stalagmites and stalactites have their own stories that explain how they got eccentric shapes and structures.
Hang Trinh Nu (Virgin Cave)
Hang Trinh Nu is known as the Mid Gate cave. It is also known as the Virgin Cave. The name comes from a stone statue lying atop a flat surface of the cave. The story has it that a poor but beautiful young woman was forced to marry an old mandarin who captured her from her family. She managed to escape but did not want to go home because of the fear of retaliation. Finally, she went to the cave and committed suicide. Her body then turned into the stone statue in that cave.
The Virgin cave has tunnels that crisscross the island for approximately 2 kilometres. There are many chambers along the tunnels. All are unique in their beauty.
Hang Sung sot Cave
Located on the same island as the Virgin cave, Sung Sot cave is said to be the most beautiful - Sung Sot means astonishment or awe in Vietnamese. The path to Sung Sot is quite steep and flanked with trees. The cave is comprised of 2 chambers. The outer chamber, which is referred to as the waiting room, is square and approximately 30 metres high. The walls of the chamber are very smooth and generate a range of colors that blend with its surroundings.
The inner chamber is known as the serene castle. Inside the chamber are stalactites and stalagmites that come in a variety of forms from conversing sentries to animals in varying poses. It is up to your imagination. Many visitors are impressed by the reflection of the water that caused the formation of images inside the chamber.
Hang Dau Go (Flowers on Stone)
Dau Go Cave is not only known for its beauty but also famed for its historical tie to the Vietnamese history. The most famous of all grottoes in Ha Long Bay, Hang Dau Go Cave has been visited by many high rank local officials or even a Vietnamese king.
The history of the cave dates back to 1288 when a Vietnamese general Tran Hung Dao fought against the Mongolian troops. He dispatched a convoy to cut wood from this region to make wooden stakes and hid them in Dau Go cave. The stakes were then embedded in Bach Dang River to form a barrier. The Mongolian soldiers were then tricked into the river. They got stuck in these wooden stakes and drowned. The cave was also used as a base where the general hid his force during the war.
Indeed, Dau Go Cave is a part of a huge limestone islet 8 kilometres south of Baichay Beach. It has 90 rocky steps that lead to the entrance. The cave’s outer chamber is the largest one that can accommodate up to 400 people. It has the most impressive stalagmites and stalactites - some are as tall as 20 metres.
The cave’s middle chamber has a round crystal like structure on the path that, when struck by light, emits a kaleidoscope of light that is both remarkable and unique. The inner chamber- the smallest one - has colorful stalagmites, stalactites and water filled stone wells.
Read more information about Halong Bay.
The biggest attraction for most visitors are the temple ruins at Angkor, just a few kilometers from the colonial city of Siem Reap. Well preserved stone temple ruins dating back about 1,000 years cover an area of 200 sq. kilometers. Visitors can easily spend several days exploring here, taking in the thousands of exquisite statues and bas relief carvings that adorn the walls of seemingly endless temple buildings and chedis (stone spires). A cruise on the Tonle Sap -- Asia's largest freshwater lake -- is also a memorable experience.
A Word of Warning: Though Cambodia is now more peaceful than at any time in the last 30 years, visitors should still exercise caution - particularly in the capital. Confine tourism activities to the daytime, since the dimly-lit streets can be dangerous at night. In the more rural areas, stick to well-established pathways (or better yet, travel with a qualified guide), since there are still countless landmines left over from the war years. Hazards aside though, a little prudence is all that's required to enjoy a safe and happy holiday in this remarkable country.
Read more about Cambodia.
Thailand is nestled between the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, bordering Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia. It is exotic yet accessible, with something for every visitor. Relax on white sand beaches, hike through vast areas of tropical forest, or live it up in the humming capital of Bangkok.
There is much for you to discover in Thailand. The country offers a huge range of new experiences in sights, sounds, tastes, and outlook. But different as it may be from your home, Thailand is probably the easiest exotic country for visitors. The people are friendly, leisure activities are well organized, the food is great and you receive excellent value for money.
Traveling in Thailand is easy, but a little background information will help you get the most out of your experience. You can check out comprehensive travel guides here
Two hundred kilometers west of Kathmandu lies Pokhara City, a centre of several recreational activities that make Nepal a dream destination of adventure seeking tourists. Situated in the Pokhra Valley about 500 metres lower than Kathmandu, the city boasts at least four rafting rivers, a boating lake (Phewa Lake) and Nepal’s most popular trekking trail of Annapurna region. That explains why there are numerous adventure expedition operators in almost every corner of the town.
For rafting, Pokhara offers four rivers with varied characteristics, namely the Seti, Marsyangdi, Trisuli and Kali Gandaki. Each presents different levels of challenges from 3+ to 5+. The best time to make a rafting trip starts from October to November. July and August are monsoon season in which the challenging water is recommended for rafting experts only. For ultimate fun and safety, you are advised to book your adventure expedition directly with a reliable operator, instead of agents.
For other waterborne activities such as kayaking and boating, it boasts some lakes that suit the taste of travelers who love recreational boating. They range from the glacier fed lakes up north, down to where the laden rivers ease into the Terai plains. Among them is Phewa Lake in Pokhara City. It is the most popular destination and the second largest lake in the Kingdom. Rowing boats, kayaks and sailboats can be rent around the lake.
Begnas and Rupa Tal Lakes are located 15 km out of Pokhara at the end of a road that turns off the Kathmandu highway. Phewa, Begnas and Rupa were all once part of the body of water that filled the Pokhara Valley. While Phewa is bustling with travelers, guesthouses and tour operators, Begnas and Rupa have remained largely pristine. These lakes are divided by a forested hillock called Panchabhaiya Danda. Boating in the Pokhara Valley is fun throughout the year, barring the monsoon months. The best time is between October and February, when the skies are clear.
Mountain biking trip is a another way to explore the suburb of Pokhara and Kathmandu, passing through lush green rice fields with roaming cattle, up and down the hillside, along the river bank, and along the suspension bridge. The trip can be made all year round but the best time starts from October to December and again January to March.
Even though independent cycling tour can be done with cheaper price and more flexibility, it’s recommended to go with an organized tour. Albeit a bit more expensive, mountain bike tour operators can save your time in finding mountain bike gear and a tour guide can help you show the trails you may never find on your own and interpret the culture you encounter. Mountain bikes are available for rent in many of the bicycle rental outlets in and around Kathmandu or Pokhara.
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