Of all the countries in Southeast Asia, Laos is definitely the most laid-back. The frenetic traffic and the sheer mass of humanity found in Bangkok, Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh City, and even Phnom Penh is mostly absent from Laotian cities like Vientiene and Luang Prabang. Laos' quietness might come as a surprise, albeit a welcome one, to many tourists familiar with Southeast Asia.

Though the trappings of other major urban areas are absent in Laos, there is still plenty to do and try.
Take the historic city of Luang Prabang as an example:


Luang Prabang is what many people traveling to Asia are looking for. It has the ancient vibe of Cambodia's Angkor Wat, but without the hordes of tourists pushing each other over to get a better picture of a temple. I once heard a fellow traveler describe the city as "exotic, but still delightfully quaint."

So, if the pace and pollution of Southeast Asia are getting you down, be sure to pencil Vientiene and Luang Prabang in on your itinerary.