Laos or Lao People's Democratic Republic is a small country in Southeast Asia landlocked by Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and China. It's known for its rich natural resources and a backpacker haven for its affordability and friendly environment. Also, Laos is said to be generally safe, thus recommended to solo and female travelers.
Day 1: Vientiane
While very few speak English in Laos, the street signs are reliable and so you won't get lost in the capital. As general tip, Lan Xang Avenue serves as good reference point in the city center because it's where most tourist attractions are at.
Patuxai Monument
At the end of Lan Xang Avenue is a very noticeable Patuxai Monument, a memorial for all the heroes of war during the French colonial period. Its Europe-inspired architecture highly resembles the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
Entrance fee: 3,000 kip (PHP 18) if you want to climb the monument to get a 360-degree view of the city.
Presidential Palace
At the other end of Lan Xang Avenue is the Presidential Palace where all important ceremonies and events of the government are held. Though not open to public, the exterior is a sure standout thus a good stop for taking photos.
Entrance fee: Free
Sisaket Temple
The Wat Si Saket or Sisaket Temple is one of the oldest temples in Vientiane. It's distinctly known for the striking and yellowish color of the pillars. Several bronze and stone Buddhas can be seen around. Try going in the morning to catch the locals and monks praying in this temple.
Entrance fee: 5,000 kip (PHP 30)
Day 2: Vientiane
Pha That Luang
Seeing Pha That Luang was the highlight of my short trip to Vientiane. Also known as the Great Sacred Stupa, it's the main religious monument in the capital. Buddhists believe that it contains relics (a breastbone) of Buddha. Pha That Luang is also a national symbol of Laos. In fact, an image of it is depicted in their banknotes.
Entrance fee: 5,000 kip (PHP 30)
Mekong River
What's good about Vientiane is that despite being a city, the riverside provides a relaxing suburb feel. If you've been around Southeast Asia, you probably heard of Mekong River already. It's a long river that flows throughout the Indochina peninsula. The side of Mekong River in Vientiane is a perfect spot to catch the sunset. Then, stay until nighttime to chill at the riverside bars and restaurants.
Entrance fee: Free
Chao Anouvong Park
Next to Mekong River is this small park featuring a huge bronze statue of Chao Anouvong, Laos’ last king from the Lan Xang Kingdom. A short stop here is nice for taking photos and marveling at the size of the statue.
Entrance fee: Free
Day 3: Luang Prabang
On the third day, I left Vientiane at 8:30PM then took an 11-hour VIP sleeper bus to Luang Prabang, a province north of the capital and was named a Heritage Site by UNESCO for its rich cultural heritage. Here are a few places that I visited in the province:
Mount Phousi
From downtown, you can climb for 20-30 minutes to Mount Phousi, a 150-meter hill with a total of 335 steps. It sits between 2 rivers, the Mekong River and Khan River. The view from the top is breathtaking and a good place to catch the sunrise or sunset.
Entrance fee: 20,000 kip (PHP 122)
Luang Prabang Night Market
Starting at 6:00PM, the stretch of Sisavangvong Road gets closed for the Luang Prabang night market. Vendors slowly pull out and spread different products for sale, which are mostly souvenir items. Similar to other night markets in Asia, it's very common to haggle for the price here. Cheap and delicious local food are also in the night market. (The Lao baguette is a must-try!)
Entrance fee: Free
* Prices of items at the night market vary. Make sure to bargain. Fridge magnets, for example, usually start at 30,000 kip (PHP183) but I was able to bring the price down to 15,000 kip (PHP 91).
Day 4: Luang Prabang
Kuang Si Falls
As said, a trip to Luang Prabang won’t be complete without seeing the natural gem Kuang Si Falls, a huge 150-meter waterfall with 3 tiers of strong and rapid water. Looking at it is like a painting that came to life, which is truly a gift from nature. A 30-minute trek to the top can let visitors swim in the mini pools located at the peak (Tip: Two trails are available. The easier trail is at the left when facing the waterfalls)
Kuang Si Falls is far from downtown Luang Prabang, so a cheap way to get there is by joining a half day group tour that's usually composed of 12-15 participants. This tour is convenient since an air-conditioned van fetches you from your accommodation. The rate usually starts at 50,000 kip (PHP 305). Another way is to get a group of 6 travelers and negotiate a two-way ride with a tuktuk driver.
Entrance fee: 20,000 kip (PHP 122)
Day 5: Luang Prabang
Old Quarter
The Old Quarter is a long street of ancestral buildings preserved through the years. Looking at this street is like traveling back in time. It's a cool place to meet backpackers as most of the restaurants, bars, and guest houses are in the area.
Entrance fee: Free
At the moment, there's no direct flight from the Philippines to Laos yet. With that, the cheapest route I found was from Manila to Kuala Lumpur and then Kuala Lumpur to Vientiane. On the way back, instead of returning to Vientiane, I departed in Luang Prabang to save time and money.
I managed to spend only PHP15,000+ for this Laos trip including air fare, airport taxes, accommodations, food, transportation, and other basics. Overall, I can say that Laos is cheap especially the food. Here's a breakdown of the expenses:
WHAT TO SEE IN LAOS?
I spent 5 days and 4 nights in Laos where I was able to cover 2 cities, Vientiane and Luang Prabang. Here's a rundown of what I did and the recommended places:Day 1: Vientiane
While very few speak English in Laos, the street signs are reliable and so you won't get lost in the capital. As general tip, Lan Xang Avenue serves as good reference point in the city center because it's where most tourist attractions are at.
Patuxai Monument
At the end of Lan Xang Avenue is a very noticeable Patuxai Monument, a memorial for all the heroes of war during the French colonial period. Its Europe-inspired architecture highly resembles the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
Entrance fee: 3,000 kip (PHP 18) if you want to climb the monument to get a 360-degree view of the city.
Presidential Palace
At the other end of Lan Xang Avenue is the Presidential Palace where all important ceremonies and events of the government are held. Though not open to public, the exterior is a sure standout thus a good stop for taking photos.
Entrance fee: Free
Sisaket Temple
The Wat Si Saket or Sisaket Temple is one of the oldest temples in Vientiane. It's distinctly known for the striking and yellowish color of the pillars. Several bronze and stone Buddhas can be seen around. Try going in the morning to catch the locals and monks praying in this temple.
Entrance fee: 5,000 kip (PHP 30)
Day 2: Vientiane
Pha That Luang
Entrance fee: 5,000 kip (PHP 30)
Mekong River
What's good about Vientiane is that despite being a city, the riverside provides a relaxing suburb feel. If you've been around Southeast Asia, you probably heard of Mekong River already. It's a long river that flows throughout the Indochina peninsula. The side of Mekong River in Vientiane is a perfect spot to catch the sunset. Then, stay until nighttime to chill at the riverside bars and restaurants.
Entrance fee: Free
Chao Anouvong Park
Next to Mekong River is this small park featuring a huge bronze statue of Chao Anouvong, Laos’ last king from the Lan Xang Kingdom. A short stop here is nice for taking photos and marveling at the size of the statue.
Entrance fee: Free
Day 3: Luang Prabang
On the third day, I left Vientiane at 8:30PM then took an 11-hour VIP sleeper bus to Luang Prabang, a province north of the capital and was named a Heritage Site by UNESCO for its rich cultural heritage. Here are a few places that I visited in the province:
Mount Phousi
Entrance fee: 20,000 kip (PHP 122)
Luang Prabang Night Market
Starting at 6:00PM, the stretch of Sisavangvong Road gets closed for the Luang Prabang night market. Vendors slowly pull out and spread different products for sale, which are mostly souvenir items. Similar to other night markets in Asia, it's very common to haggle for the price here. Cheap and delicious local food are also in the night market. (The Lao baguette is a must-try!)
Entrance fee: Free
* Prices of items at the night market vary. Make sure to bargain. Fridge magnets, for example, usually start at 30,000 kip (PHP183) but I was able to bring the price down to 15,000 kip (PHP 91).
Day 4: Luang Prabang
Kuang Si Falls
As said, a trip to Luang Prabang won’t be complete without seeing the natural gem Kuang Si Falls, a huge 150-meter waterfall with 3 tiers of strong and rapid water. Looking at it is like a painting that came to life, which is truly a gift from nature. A 30-minute trek to the top can let visitors swim in the mini pools located at the peak (Tip: Two trails are available. The easier trail is at the left when facing the waterfalls)
Kuang Si Falls is far from downtown Luang Prabang, so a cheap way to get there is by joining a half day group tour that's usually composed of 12-15 participants. This tour is convenient since an air-conditioned van fetches you from your accommodation. The rate usually starts at 50,000 kip (PHP 305). Another way is to get a group of 6 travelers and negotiate a two-way ride with a tuktuk driver.
Entrance fee: 20,000 kip (PHP 122)
Day 5: Luang Prabang
Old Quarter
Entrance fee: Free
HOW TO GO TO LAOS?
At the moment, there's no direct flight from the Philippines to Laos yet. With that, the cheapest route I found was from Manila to Kuala Lumpur and then Kuala Lumpur to Vientiane. On the way back, instead of returning to Vientiane, I departed in Luang Prabang to save time and money.
HOW MUCH IS THE BUDGET IN LAOS?
I managed to spend only PHP15,000+ for this Laos trip including air fare, airport taxes, accommodations, food, transportation, and other basics. Overall, I can say that Laos is cheap especially the food. Here's a breakdown of the expenses:Cost | Expense Details |
PHP 1620 | Philippine Airport Tax |
PHP 700 | Manila to Kuala Lumpur flight (promo fare) |
PHP 2990 | Kuala Lumpur to Vientiane flight (promo fare) |
PHP 3300 | Luang Prabang to Kuala Lumpur flight (promo fare) |
PHP 1125 | Kuala Lumpur to Manila flight (promo fare) |
207,000 kip (PHP 1258) | Transportation in Vientiane for 2 days |
105,000 kip (PHP 638) | Accommodation in Vientiane for 1 day |
13,000 kip (PHP 79) | Entrance fees to attractions in Vientiane |
100,500 kip (PHP 611) | Food expenses in Vientiane for 2 days |
150,000 kip (PHP 912) | VIP sleeper bus to Vientiane |
60,000 kip (PHP 365) | Transportation in Luang Prabang for 3 days |
163,645 kip (PHP 995) | Accommodation in Luang Prabang for 3 days |
50,000 kip (PHP 304) | Kuang Si Falls half day tour |
40,000 kip (PHP 243) | Entrance fees to attractions in Luang Prabang |
189,000 kip (PHP 1152) | Food expenses in Luang Prabang for 3 days |
65,000 kip (PHP 395) | Souvenirs |
TOTAL: PHP 16,687 |
Shelly Viajera Travel
