Worth a read this article. I haven't been to Laos for 25 years, maybe another trip next year

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-66924300

Vientiane is a bit of a dive.

2 minutes ago, bignok said:

Vientiane is a bit of a dive.

Luang Prabang was my clear favourite 25 years ago, I'd probably just go back there

2 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Luang Prabang was my clear favourite 25 years ago, I'd probably just go back there

Yep good plan. Just fly. I would go there for a week. Chill out and eat on river. 

Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Luang Prabang, Siem Reap 1 week each. Be a great month.

China declining, and taking every country they lent large sums of money to, down with them too... Countries like Laos, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, etc., etc., are screwed.

3 minutes ago, bignok said:

Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Luang Prabang, Siem Reap 1 week each. Be a great month.

I'm looking forward to my exciting life after 2024; 186+ days in Vietnam/Laos/Myanmar/Indonesia etc., and less than 180 days in Thailand...

22 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Worth a read this article. I haven't been to Laos for 25 years, maybe another trip next year

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-66924300

Having to import basically everything from Thailand, or China clearly doesn't help with high inflation and living costs. Even before the pandemic, things imported from Thailand were overpriced.

18 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Having to import basically everything from Thailand, or China clearly doesn't help with high inflation and living costs. Even before the pandemic, things imported from Thailand were overpriced.

People used to like it because it was backward, sounds like it still is, as the article says, good for travel not to live

Laos has always been broke.  Said Garnier, the first explorer, "be not fooled by the presence of a few brass beads, there is nothing here".

 

It has always been a patron state, first from the French, then The American, now The Chinese.

 

Went in June, barely 2 dozen tourists in Luang Prubang and maybe half a dozen restaurants open, including Obama coconut, where he had one. 

 

The new train was super narrow seats and squat toilets. 99% locals. You have to book it a day in advance. 

1 minute ago, Prubangboy said:

Laos has always been broke.  Said Garnier, the first explorer, "be not fooled by the presence of a few brass beads, there is nothing here".

 

It has always been a patron state, first from the French, then The American, now The Chinese.

 

Went in June, barely 2 dozen tourists in Luang Prubang and maybe half a dozen restaurants open, including Obama coconut, where he had one. 

 

The new train was super narrow seats and squat toilets. 99% locals. You have to book it a day in advance. 

Yeah id fly. Train sounded like a good idea but squat toilets. June is low season.

50 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Worth a read this article. I haven't been to Laos for 25 years, maybe another trip next year

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-66924300

They've only got themselves to blame.

37 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

China declining, and taking every country they lent large sums of money to, down with them too... Countries like Laos, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, etc., etc., are screwed.

But of  course those recipient countries who sold their assets to the  IMF  are doing  just peachy  yeah ?

7 minutes ago, bignok said:

Yeah id fly. Train sounded like a good idea but squat toilets. June is low season.

I like squat toilets!

 

How do you think our ancestors took a dump...? Doctors of authority say it is the best position to have a 'maximum' release. I know that there are those amongst us that like to hold their 'poop' in, but I am not one of them.

 

"Squat till I drop"...!

 

Optimal Bowel Movement Position (nutritionfacts.org)

4 minutes ago, tkramer said:

I like squat toilets!

 

How do you think our ancestors took a dump...? Doctors of authority say it is the best position to have a 'maximum' release. I know that there are those amongst us that like to hold their 'poop' in, but I am not one of them.

 

"Squat till I drop"...!

 

Optimal Bowel Movement Position (nutritionfacts.org)

Gross

11 minutes ago, Prubangboy said:

The new train was super narrow seats and squat toilets

That's no use with the average fat falang traveler

Leave it to the commies to mess up an economy. I don't think it is possible to point to a single success story. Maybe Vietnam. Maybe. All others have failed miserably. The world is not ready for an idealist philosophy put into action. We are simply too backwards as a species. 

4 minutes ago, bignok said:

Gross

I.T.T.

 

(intestinal transit time). You should test your own ITT just to see how 'healthy' YOU really are...

 

But for you personally...I suggest not!

 

Why the Size of Poop Matters (nutritionfacts.org)

9 minutes ago, bignok said:

Yeah id fly. 

Lao Aviation has some crazy prices. $198 OW to/from Chiang Mai. 

 

You need pristine currency, partic US $100's, to book anything.  There's one travel agent open in Vientiane. I'll fish her card out. Or just ask where she is at your hotel.

 

Vientiane was always small, but now it feels like only 4 short streets with so much closed. A lot of the old sun brick 60's buildings are being replaced with luxury hotels that will never see a guest. Unless they legalize casino gambling, which is prob only a couple of years away. Then when that train extends to Bangkok, it will be an improved version of the Cambodian Chinese resort model.

 

In Laos the travel budget is that the room costs more, but they're practically giving the food away. 'Much nicer than Thai food. Imagine French-ified Issan food. 

I quite liked Pakse - and in easy striking distance of Ubon.

1 minute ago, tkramer said:

I.T.T.

 

(intestinal transit time). You should test your own ITT just to see how 'healthy' YOU really are...

 

But for you personally...I suggest not!

 

Why the Size of Poop Matters (nutritionfacts.org)

No thanks

1 minute ago, Prubangboy said:

Lao Aviation has some crazy prices. $198 OW to/from Chiang Mai. 

 

You need pristine currency, partic US $100's, to book anything.  There's one travel agent open in Vientiane. I'll fish her card out. Or just ask where she is at your hotel.

 

Vientiane was always small, but now it feels like only 4 short streets with so much closed. A lot of the old sun brick 60's buildings are being replaced with luxury hotels that will never see a guest. Unless they legalize casino gambling, which is prob only a couple of years away. Then when that train extends to Bangkok, it will be an improved version of the Cambodian Chinese resort model.

 

In Laos the travel budget is that the room costs more, but they're practically giving the food away. 'Much nicer than Thai food. Imagine French-ified Issan food. 

Food was worse. CM and Bangkok far superior.

2 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

I quite liked Pakse - and in easy striking distance of Ubon.

Is Pakse better than Ubon?

3 minutes ago, bignok said:

No thanks

PERFECT...just as I had predicted.

 

Carry on...

Crying shame for ordinary Lao folk. Trust the Chinese to ruin another country, obviously with the help of corrupt (now rich) Lao officials!

Just now, bignok said:

Food was worse. CM and Bangkok far superior.

If you go to a tourist style, $20 a head restaurant, Luang Pubang was the best Asian-fusion food I ever ate, mixed in with all local river cuisine, and killer Chinese. Covid killed all that. It's like losing The French Quarter.

 

I stayed at The Apsara, formerly Michelin-starred, still trying by making their own granola, unlikely to be a restaurant again. That article saying things are "bustling" was nuts.

 

$400 RT from Chiang Mai is high, but if Luang Prubang was like it was, I'd go every other month.

5 minutes ago, bignok said:

Is Pakse better than Ubon?

It's been a decade, but Pakse is mostly a stopover en route to the deeply hippy 4,000 islands. I watched a YouTube recently, not much new.

 

Not even a one day town. You can prob still grab cab out to an Animist village where all the tree's have back strings on them.

 

Ylang Ylang is available in the market for low $$$'s. Coffee from The Bolivan Plateau is some of the best I ever drank.

10 minutes ago, bignok said:

Is Pakse better than Ubon?

I don't know Ubon, I only stayed there one night en route.

 

 

My knowledge of Ubon girls is that they are prettier than girls in Pakse (although there were a couple of Vietnamese...........)

 

 

They should do like Vietnam and try to steal business from China from foreign companies who want to escape China.

A few Western factories would greatly improve the local economy. The locals are lovely.

1 minute ago, hotandsticky said:

I don't know Ubon, I only stayed there one night en route.

 

 

My knowledge of Ubon girls is that they are prettier than girls in Pakse (although there were a couple of Vietnamese...........)

 

 

You found that out in one night, wow..............