For many, a journey through Laos consists of a whistle-stop tour through the two main towns of Vientiane and Luang Prabang, with perhaps a brief detour to the mysterious Plain of Jars or ancient Wat Phou.
Luang Prabang is the ancient capital of the Lane Zang (million elephants) Kingdom, dating back to the middle of the 12th Centery. It sits at the intersection of the Mekong and Khan Rivers and is surrounded by green hills. In the glare of the mid-day sun, the city glows from the rays of its many golden temple. A climb to the top of the Phousi Hill offers astonishing views over the vast and mostly uninhabited territories of northern Thailand and Laos, to experience sunset at Phousi Hill touches the soul
Vientiane, the capital of Laos, is located on the bank of Mekong river. Across a nerrow stretch of water is northern Thailand, a country with similar traditions and ethnic minorities, only a few hundred yards of water separate these two country, but almost 50 years of isolation has left Laos a very different country from its neighbor. Vientiane is a composite of many cultural influences, wide free-lined boulevards and timeless villas are the legacy of the French
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