Not visited
Laos
Mekong river towns and Luang Prabang's monks in saffron robes at dawn.
Laos moves at its own pace — Luang Prabang's morning alms-giving and riverside cafés, and the Mekong's slow-boat routes, make it Southeast Asia's deliberate detour.
Capital
Vientiane
Currency
Lao kip
Timezone
ICT (UTC+7)
Daily budget
~$35/day
Language
Lao
Best seasons
Cool dry season (Nov–Feb)
Safety
Generally safe and slow-paced; roads outside cities can be rough.
Getting around
Overland buses and the newer Laos-China railway connect the north-south spine.
Internet & SIM
SIMs available in Vientiane and Luang Prabang; connectivity limited in rural areas.