• By Shelley Bui

1. Luang Prabang

Anyone who has done research about the country must know about this UNCESCO Heritage Site. First major highlights of the place is its French and Buddhist influenced building. All the town is filled with villas with the absence of towering building, retaining its gorgeous skyline behind the natural backdrop of the mountains and river.

Novice monks walking to the monastery in Luang Prabang

A very good refreshing spot near the town is the Kuangsi Fall which is around 40 minute of driving. The fall is stunning with the startlingly aquamarine water. There are spots here in which you can bathe in. Nearby the fall, there is also a sun bear conservation center and a butterfly garden.

Kuangsi Fall

Pak Ou Caves is another great spot of out town which will be one of your stop in many of the river cruises. Important for their religious values, here you can find thousands of Buddha images of all shapes and sizes.

Pak Ou Cave

2. Vientiane

Vientiane – the capital of Laos and a former French trading post – the town is heaven for all urban explorers. Take on the city by a tuk tuk ride, as you reach a charming small bistro restaurant and dive into the exotic cuisine of Laos. 

Pha That Luang Pagoda

Outside of the city center, there is an extraordinary site call Buddha Park. Despite the name, it is not fully dedicated to Buddha but also some Hindu figures. Most cruises will not stop in this place, so you have to make the trip on your own.

Buddha Park

3. Golden Triangle (Huay Xai – Chiang Khong)

A border point between the three country Laos, Thailand and Myanmar. Used to be notorious for the opium trade, nowadays it has turned its back into the illegal trade through the effort. You can find the Opium Hall in Chiang Khong where people can learn about the damage and griefs the substance caused to the people.

Huay Xai by the river

4. Champasak Province

Famous for its wild landscape and a major highland of the country, Champasak Province will be exclusively on the agenda from one of our partner cruises – Vat Phou.

You will most likely begin your journey in Pakse founded by the French as an administrative outpost. So there are still many old French building remains in the city.  

Vat Phou Temple is a Khmer Hindu Temple Complex that is very similar to the renowned Angkor Wat Temple Complex. However, they are told to be older and smaller in size. Due to its location, it isn’t very much crowded and not well-known to the international travelers. With Vat Phou cruise, you will have the chance to make a temple run to this site in the middle of the jungle.

Vat Phou Temple

4000 Islands is a complex of islands and isles scattered south of Pakse on the Mekong River. They are famous for the waterfalls and scenic water scenes.

4000 Islands

These are all the major sites that you will have the chance to see while on the leisurely cruise on the Mekong River. All wonderful and combined with the people you meet along the way, you shouldn’t miss a chance to visit them.