Surprisingly, Laos has been the highlight of my trip around Asia so far. Despite the nightmare which ensued trying to get here from Cambodia, Laos as a country has impressed me more than I ever thought it would.

Many (mostly my mum and dad) had a few reservations about me backpacking Laos, and with the country’s turbulent past I had a few of my own too. I knew I wouldn’t be alone, but staying safe was a concern of mine. However, these reservations were smashed to pieces after a great two weeks here.

Laotian people, with their limited English, are so far the most friendly of the South East Asian countries I’ve been too. Their willingness to help you when you’re in need without wanting your money or directing you to their cousins husbands tuk tuk was the breath of fresh air I really needed.

One of the highlights was in Vang Vieng. Phil and I rented a motorbike and decided to ditch the map and explore the villages in the less touristy parts of town. We were met with waves, happy smiley locals, and little girls blowing us kisses when being picked up from school. A few local lads, with their limited English, even tried chatting to Phil about their favourite football teams. This is just one of the many highlights from Laos (another story for another day).

Laos as a country only gets around 5 million foreign visitors per year, which is measley compared to their neighbouring countries. So, if you’re going to South East Asia ADD LAOS TO YOUR ITINERY NOW. Many people bipass it, but if you go now you will not regret it.

Here are 20 photos to inspire you to add Laos to your bucket list.

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Quick heads up. Beer Lao is awful.

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