Located near Vietnam, cheap and with simple procedures, Laos is an ideal destination for Vietnamese tourists. However, Mr. Nguyen Hong Nhat (35 years old, architect in Hanoi) has other special reasons when choosing to travel to the land of the million elephants.
As a person who always seeks new inspiration from unique cultures and pristine beauty, Laos has attracted itself for its own reasons. Laos has a unique Buddhist architecture, vibrant indigenous culture and a slow, gentle lifestyle.
In addition, Laos also has a wild and majestic natural beauty, which can hardly be found in countries like Korea, Japan..., Mr. Nhat said.
The male tourist said that he and his family traveled to Laos on their own by private car, exploring places in the North and Central regions of Laos such as the capital Vientiane, Vangvieng and the ancient capital Luang Prabang. In particular, Luang Prabang ancient town is his favorite place because of its ancient beauty, rich cultural values, cuisine, and peaceful atmosphere.
Both a tourist and an experienced architect, Mr. Nhat is "attracted" by the architectural works here.
"The streets are preserved intact, not destroyed or changed too much over time. Architectural works such as pagodas, temples, villas... are both traditional and influenced by French style. The wooden houses have a strong influence on Lao culture.
The special thing is that this place still maintains peace, not being disrupted by urban development. The narrow streets, without noisy vehicles, bring a comfortable and relaxing feeling. The peaceful living customs and respect for Buddhism of the people also made a deep impression on me, Mr. Nhat shared.
In addition to its cultural and spatial beauty, Luang Prabang is also a culinary paradise. Night food tours on the food street, visiting the market in the morning and afternoon are a great opportunity for visitors to enjoy typical Lao dishes.
According to Mr. Nhat, despite the successful trip, in line with his desire to explore Lao architecture and culture, his family still faced unforgettable challenges.
"One of the biggest challenges of the trip was traveling through the winding, rough mountain roads. There are sections of road that are so bad that it is almost impossible to pass. Once, encountering a large tree block the road forced his family and a group of overseas backpackers to join hands to clear obstacles to continue the journey. Because they are going in opposite directions, both sides support and guide and share advice for the distance ahead, said Mr. Nhat.
Language barriers are also a problem. According to the male tourist, although Laotians are very hospitable and hospitable, in rural areas, few people speak English or Vietnamese.
"Once, my family could not order at the restaurant for 10 minutes because the menu did not have images or 4G to use the Google dich application. Luckily, thanks to his son's ingenuity and body language, his family was able to order the right lunch," he said.
Because they traveled a long distance and were in another country, Mr. Nhat's family carefully prepared their vehicles, fuel and learned about passport and immigration documents. Tourists should fully prepare both winter and summer clothes because the weather in Laos has a large temperature difference between day and night. In addition, there is no shortage of medicine, swimmers, phones, SIM cards and Lao Cups (the official currency of Laos) ...
The male tourist shared that the total cost of the 4-person trip was 25 million VND, including travel, accommodation and experience. Of which, experience cost is the most expensive item.
Laos has many attractive tourism activities such as trekking, zipline, hiking, hot air ballooning and kayaking. These are all great experiences to explore the unique natural beauty and culture of Laos. Although the cost of these activities may be higher than other costs, the value they bring in terms of memories, family connection and unforgettable experiences is completely worth it, Mr. Nhat affirmed.
The male tourist said that the most sincere advice for families who want to travel to Laos is to prepare carefully about their itinerary, means of transportation... and a spirit of optimism and openness to new things.
At the same time, it is equally important to learn about Lao culture and the basic rules of communication and behavior. Respecting local culture not only helps visitors avoid unexpected situations but also brings deeper and more meaningful experiences in the journey to explore the land of a million elephants.
As soon as he returned, Mr. Nhat's family agreed that they would return to Laos as soon as possible to explore the Southern region. He also considered traveling to Thailand - a country with a unique blend of traditional culture and modern life; or China - a country with a long history and majestic landscape in the near future.
