Laos itinerary in one week

Holiday season is coming, you have one week off work but don’t know where to go? If you are looking for a land of “green” with “laid-back lifestyle” to escape from the bustle of life, Laos in one week is definitely a good choice. This lovely country exists like a beautiful green gem in the crossroads of Asia, hiding a unique charm for adventurous travelers. With so much to offer, the whole country is too tremendous to be explored in some days. Here, let me share with you Laos itinerary in one week to make the most out of this beautiful country in the most enjoyable way.

Day 1: Vientiane

Located on the bank of Mekong River, Vientiane is the capital and the largest city of Laos. The first day of the city promises to bring you unforgettable memories of a real Vientiane. Vientiane is all about coffee and bakeries. Let your first morning start with something sweet and then we’ll walk for a little and hire a tuk-tuk to join a full day city tour. The first stop is Pha That Luang (Golden Stupa) – the golden-covered stupa and symbol of Buddhist religion in Laos. Leaving the monument, we’ll go and see must-visit wats like Wat Si Saket; and then, take a stop at the COPE centre. Remember to allow at least 30 minutes to stop here and learn more about the devastating US bombing and the current problem with UXO contamination. Late in the afternoon, you can take a boat or just stroll along the Mekong River, sit down in a café shop to enjoy the sunset.

Day 2: Vientiane

 

Natural dyeing class in Houey Hong Vocational Training Centre for Women

This is the second day in your series of “Laos itinerary in one week”. On this second day, you can join a natural dyes class at Houey Hong Vocational Training Centre for Women in the morning and sign up for a cooking class in the afternoon. These classes will surely bring you a deeper insight into Laos culture and Laos cuisine. Or instead, if you’re a more outdoor person, taking a kayaking and cycling trip in Phou Khao Khouay National Park may be a better option.

 Day 3: Vang Vieng

 

Take a boat in Nam Song River to feel the tranquil atmosphere

Vang Vieng is the land of beautiful mountains, villages and caves.  On the way from Vientiane to Vang Vieng, you can stop to visit Hmong Village of Km 52 and see one of the Laos oldest Buddha statute in Vang Xang. Before lunch, you’ll have time to go fishing in Ban Houy Mo Village. Arriving Vang Vieng, you can take a rest on a boat cruise along Nam Xong River. When the boat passing, you’ll see jungles, you’ll see cliffs and rice fields. This is such a tranquil experience in your Laos itinerary.

Day 4: Vang Vieng

 

Tham Chang Cave

You’re supposed to spend your whole day outside, immerse yourself in the huge of Mother Nature. You can start your day with Tham Chang cave. Then, in the afternoon, you can take part in the ziplining activity through valley, over river and jungle. Green Discovery provides a great service of this kind.

Day 5: Luang Prabang

For a wonderful Laos itinerary, you can never forget to pay a visit to Luang Prabang. This city was built on the intersection of two rivers, retaining a classical charm waiting for you to explore. Your first day tour of Luang Prabang will cover almost all main sights of the city. The first sight of these is Haw Kham – the former Royal Palace. Next, you can immerse yourself in Laos culture with a trip to numerous ornate monasteries like Wat Sene, Wat Xieng Thong and Wat Visoun.

 

Enjoy sunset in Mount Phousi

After a full lunch, let’s get ready to climb Mount Phousi from which you can get the best panoramic view in the country. As night falls, we’ll stroll around Luang Prabang Night Market and find something nice to bring home and maybe some souvenir for friends after your Laos vacation.

Day 6: Luang Prabang

 

Kuang Si Falls

The next day of Laos itinerary is all about exploration: waterfalls, wildlife and culture. For one morning, try to wake up early or you’ll miss out on the Buddhist Alms Giving Ceremony along Sakkaline Road near Wat Sensokharam. The spirit of giving is such a unique beauty in Laos culture. Luang Prabang is blessed with plenty of waterfalls. Kuang Si Falls is the most popular of all. You can go there on a tuk-tuk and don’t forget to bring your swimsuit. In the afternoon, fill you bag with water and snacks. We’ll get ready to explore Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre Kuang Si Butterfly Park (closed on Tuesday).

Day 7: Luang Prabang

 

Phosi Market

It’s your last days of your Laos itinerary. You have seen a lot. I think that’s enough discovery and exploration. Now it’s the little time left to rest, relax and go shopping. In the morning, you can pass by Phosi market to do some last-minute souvenir shopping. In the afternoon, you can go to have some coffee at Luang Prabang Artisans Café and treat yourself with some massage.

The ultimate tip for planning a Laos itinerary in one week is not to rush or try to visit many places. That way, your trip will turn into packing and unpacking on uncomfortable buses. Until now, Laos is still safe from the invasion of tourists. It’s just a matter of time when this untouched nature starts to attract more flocks of tourists. So, hurry up, grab you bag and go!

Wandering around night markets in Vientiane

Wandering around night markets in Vientiane

In some of our last articles, we have shared you the list of top night markets in Phnom Penh – the capital city of Cambodia. Our journey to night markets in Southeast Asia countries now continues with experience top night markets in Cambodia’s neighboring country – Laos. To help you out, we would like to share you our list of Top 3 night markets in Vientiane – Laos.

1. Vientiane Night Market - Riverside Night Market:

Vientiane Night Market is located at the riverside promenade, upstream from the Chao Anouvong park. This is the reason why Vientiane Night Market has another name of Riverside Night Market. The night market is featured with red awnings illuminated with reddish light bulbs. Vientiane Night Market offers great choice for clothes (shirts, blouses, pants, mini-skirts, Lao skirts, swimsuits), textiles, small crafts, accessories for mobile, music player.

Plus, the market also sells statues of Buddha, crafts, paintings, headphones, etc. Salespeople in the market are able to speak in English, French, Thai and Vietnamese so it makes easier for tourists to interact with local sellers. If you are seeking some souvenirs for your friends and family, then Vientiane Night Market is totally an ideal place.

Vientiane Night Market

There is one thing you may notice when visiting Vientiane Night Market is that, you may not see food sold here. But good news is, you can easily find many restaurants in just some stones’ throw away. A few years ago, the government decided to build a flood wall to help protect the city. They then moved restaurants away from the water’s edge to reduce the amount of trash being littered into the river and made a more communal area. Thus, the market is very tourist-friendly with clean, tidy and well-organized setting. In the evening, you can see plenty of locals go jogging through the nearby area.

Vientiane Night Market opens from 18:00 – 22:00 daily. So if you wish to see the bustle of a typical Southeast Asian night market, head to Vientiane Night Market at around 22:00.

          2. Ban Anou Night Market:

Coming next in the list of top night markets in Vientiane is Ban Anou Night Market. This is a well-known market set up every evening along the Khoun Boulom Road near the corner of Chao Anou. Ban Anou Night Market is a great place for you to enjoy Laotian food. When in here, take the chance to try out the best famous and yummy Laotian foods. Let see how much your body can take.

Food in Ban Anou Night Market

There are grilled meat kebabs, sausages, deep dried frogs, chicken and fish wrapped in banana leaves then skewed in hot charcoal grills. Then you will enjoy those foods with jeow (dipping sauce made from stalks lemongrass, fish sauce, soy sauce and lime juice). Do you hear your stomach calling?
To balance the taste with those dried grilled dishes, you are highly recommended to try out something sweet. Take some bubble tea and jelly or mung bean desserts in your menu when wandering around Ban Anou Night Market. The market opens from 17:00 – 22:00 daily.

          3. That Luang Night Market:

That Luang Night Market is the newest night market in Vientiane giving tourists more choices for nightlife escape. Located at That Luang Kang Hom 8, Vientiane, That Luang Night Market with likewise setting of two walking sides offers a quite spacious alley for tourists to walk around.
Products sold here vary from local to daily product with clothes, souvenirs, toys, electronics, etc. Interestingly, there are many food stalls set up here giving a variety of choices for customers. Polices close the area at exactly 17:30 and this place then turns into a walking area until 22:00.

That Luang Night Market

Just by walking along, tourists can see Vientiane New World Complex which serves cocktails and music making the place more vibrant at night. That Luang Night Market is a brilliant idea for both visitors and locals to spend a night enjoying the atmosphere, gathering with family and friends.
That Luang Night Market opens from 16:00 – 22:00 every day.

As a common saying, if you wish to learn the local lifestyle, the smart way is to head to its markets. With this list of top night markets in Vientiane, we hope you can now have more suggestions for your nightlife experience in the capital city of Laos – the country of millions of elephants. Some other articles below can give you more ideas to fulfill your journey in Laos:

1. Things to do in Laos
2. Laos itinerary in one week
3. Top 10 Laotian foods