Asia Travel: What Happens When You Start in Laos—Not Thailand

When you plan a trip through Southeast Asia, you're hunting for hacks that save money, time, and headaches. 

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But here's what nobody mentions: the places that stick with you aren't the ones you expect.

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Laos and Vietnam kept surprising us. Quiet temples, wild landscapes, unbelievable food, moments you can't script. Here's what our trip actually looked like.

Luang Prabang: Where Spirituality Meets Nature

Luang Prabang sits at the junction of two rivers, temples everywhere you look. Not the rush-through-and-check-it-off kind. 

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Active spiritual centers where monks go about their routines while tourists wander respectfully through courtyards.

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The temples impressed us. But what stands out is how this small town balances old and new. 

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Ancient Buddhist temples in the morning, decent wifi cafes by afternoon. The surrounding mountains create a natural amphitheater. 

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At sunset, the whole valley glows orange and pink. I took about 200 photos trying to capture it. Never quite got it right. Some things you just need to see.

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We visited a bear sanctuary outside the city. These bears were rescued from illegal wildlife trade. Watching them climb, play, just exist peacefully made the visit worthwhile. 

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One bear was obsessed with this bamboo pole, spent at least twenty minutes playing with it. Simple joy.

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The local food scene doesn't mess around. Laotian cuisine doesn't get the attention Thai or Vietnamese food receives, but it should. 

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The flavors are subtle, earthy, built around fresh herbs and sticky rice. Just point at what looks good and trust the process.

Vientiane: Capital City with Small-Town Charm

We took the train from Luang Prabang to Vientiane. Yes, Laos has a modern rail system now. Comfortable, air-conditioned, makes the journey easy.

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Vientiane surprised us because it doesn't feel like a typical capital. No overwhelming traffic, no towering skyline, no sense of urgency. 

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Instead: wide boulevards, French colonial architecture, sprawling markets. Day markets sell everything: textiles, electronics, food, random household items. 

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Night markets lean into handicrafts and street food. We spent hours just walking around, watching locals shop and socialize.

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One night we ate at this tiny restaurant where the owner's daughter kept practicing her English with us between serving tables. 

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Her dream was to study tourism management. You meet people like that when you're not rushing. Those conversations stick with you longer than monuments sometimes.

Vang Vieng: Adventure Hub with a View

Vang Vieng has a reputation. A decade ago it was synonymous with backpacker party culture. 

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The town cleaned up its act, refocused on what it does best: outdoor adventure against stunning karst mountains.

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We woke up before dawn one morning to catch sunrise from a hot air balloon. 

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Floating above the landscape as the sun broke over the mountains, illuminated rice paddies below, that moment made the entire trip worthwhile. 

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The silence up there was incredible. Just the occasional blast of the burner, this massive landscape unfolding everywhere. 

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Our pilot pointed out different villages, explained how geography shaped local farming. You're up there maybe an hour but it feels both longer and shorter.

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Next day, we rented a scooter, explored the famous Blue Lagoons. Natural swimming holes dot the countryside, each tucked into jungle with rope swings and jump platforms. 

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The water is genuinely that blue. Not filtered, not edited. We hit three different lagoons. Some packed with travelers, others nearly empty.

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Later we hiked to a viewpoint requiring steep, uneven steps. My legs were burning halfway up. Definitely questioned my life choices. 

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But the view at the top made every drop of sweat worth it. The whole valley, Nam Song River winding through, limestone cliffs jutting up everywhere. 

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By evening we were back in town, wandering through the night market.

Laos Highlights

Throughout Laos, staying connected never became a problem. We used GigSky eSIM unlimited plan, could navigate unfamiliar roads, translate menus, share photos, check accommodation details without monitoring data usage. 

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When you travel Asia, moving through regions where wifi isn't reliable, consistent mobile data stops being a luxury. It's essential. Eliminated probably 30% of travel stress right there.

Vietnam: A Month of Contrasts

Landing in Hanoi marked a gear shift. Vietnam moves faster than Laos, energy level jumps immediately. We dropped our bags at the hotel, went straight out before jet lag could pin us down.

Hanoi: Culture and Chaos

Hanoi hits your senses hard. Old quarter streets are narrow. Motorbikes flow past like schools of fish. The smell of pho cooking fills the air from dozens of street-side restaurants.

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We walked through the famous Train Street where houses line both sides of active train tracks so closely you can almost touch the trains as they pass. 

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Absurd and thrilling. Locals have their whole lives set up there, laundry hanging, kids playing, people cooking dinner. 

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Twice a day they casually move everything back a few feet when the train comes through. Wild.

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The museums tell Vietnam's complex history. Night markets transform entire neighborhoods. 

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You find yourself caught in the flow of people, trying street snacks you can't identify but taste incredible. 

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We had egg coffee one morning that sounds weird but was genuinely amazing. Think coffee-flavored custard floating on top of your drink.

Ninh Binh: Vietnam's Inland Ha Long Bay

After a few days of urban intensity, we bused south to Ninh Binh. This area gets called "Ha Long Bay on land" because of dramatic limestone karsts rising from rice paddies and rivers.

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We hiked up to Dragon Hill, a challenging climb in the heat with more stairs than we cared to count. 

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Stopped counting at 300-something, just focused on not dying. The view from the top showed the entire valley. 

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Karst formations creating a natural maze through green farmland. You see these landscape photos online, think they must be edited. They're not. It actually looks like that.

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That evening we took a boat ride on the river at dusk. Water reflected colorful lanterns strung between boats. Almost dreamlike. 

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Touristy, yes, but sometimes touristy things exist for good reason. Our boat operator was this elderly woman who rowed with her feet while sitting backwards. 

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Made it look effortless even though we were out there over an hour.

Da Nang and Hoi An: From Fairytales to Tradition

From Ninh Binh we took a night train to Da Nang. Shared a small cabin with two other travelers, slept to the rhythm of the tracks for fourteen hours. 

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Bunked with a couple from Germany also doing the Southeast Asia travel circuit. Swapped recommendations, compared notes on what to skip. Travel friendships are intense but brief.

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Da Nang immediately showed us something different. The Dragon Bridge lives up to its name, stretches across the river with LED lights that make it glow at night. 

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But the main attraction here is Ba Na Hills, massive French colonial-era hill station turned theme park sitting on top of a mountain.

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Getting there requires taking the world's longest cable car. When they say longest, they mean it. 

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You're hanging over valleys and forests for what feels like forever. Once you're up there you encounter the Golden Bridge, a pedestrian walkway held up by giant concrete hands. 

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Looks like something from a fantasy movie. Bizarre, impressive, absolutely crowded with people trying to get photos. 

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We waited probably 20 minutes for a shot without random strangers in the frame. Worth it though.

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Hoi An, just south of Da Nang, completely changes everything again. This small town is famous for lantern-lit old quarter, tailors who can make custom suits in 24 hours, unique experiences like paddling in coconut boats. 

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We did the coconut boat tour, sounds gimmicky but turned out fun. Round bamboo boats that look like oversized baskets. You paddle in circles for a while before you get the hang of it.

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Walking through Hoi An's old town at night feels magical. Every building glows with lanterns, neon signs reflecting off the river. 

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We had a custom suit made, multiple fittings and consultations but resulted in something that actually fit properly. 

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The tailor took measurements I didn't even know existed. My suit cost about $150, insane compared to what you'd pay back home.

Nha Trang: Beach Time and Amusement Parks

Continuing south by night bus, we reached Nha Trang, Vietnam's beach resort city. After weeks of temples, hikes, cultural sites, we needed downtime. 

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Nha Trang delivered with long beach, warm water, relaxed vibe. We basically became beach bums for a few days. No shame.

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We also hit VinWonders, an amusement park on an island accessible only by cable car over the ocean. 

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The park is massive, roller coasters, water slides, shows, everything. We watched a fountain show with synchronized lights and music, tried the go-kart track. 

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I haven't done go-karts since I was maybe thirteen. Brought back all that childish competitive energy.

Ho Chi Minh City: The Grand Finale

Ho Chi Minh City closed out our Vietnamese adventure with urban intensity dialed up even higher than Hanoi. 

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The buildings light up at night in ways that make the city feel electric. 

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We went to the 81st floor of a skyscraper one evening, looked out over the sprawling metropolis. 

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Watched traffic flow like luminous rivers through the streets below. From that height, the chaos turns into patterns. Weirdly calming.

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We ended that night at an ice-skating rink. Felt absurd after weeks in tropical heat but provided a fun way to cap things off. 

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The contrast of being cold for the first time in a month made us laugh. Next day we crossed the border into Cambodia.

Vietnam Journey

Throughout our month in Vietnam, reliable connectivity made everything smoother. 

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Whether we were up in the mountains at Ba Na Hills, sailing on lantern-lit rivers in Ninh Binh, or exploring vibrant city streets in Ho Chi Minh, the GigSky eSIM kept us connected. 

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When you're moving between cities every few days, having data that works everywhere removes one major headache. 

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No hunting for wifi passwords, no worrying about whether Google Maps will load when you're lost.

What This Journey Taught Us

Nearly six weeks between Laos and Vietnam taught us that Asia travel rewards those who take their time. You can't rush through in a week and claim to understand these places. 

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The experiences layer on top of each other. Quiet temples of Luang Prabang contrast with Hanoi's intensity. Natural beauty of Vang Vieng leads into cultural richness of Hoi An. 

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Relaxation of Nha Trang prepares you for the energy of Ho Chi Minh City.

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Moving between destinations felt manageable because modern infrastructure connects these countries well now. 

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Trains, buses, short flights make hopping from place to place straightforward. Consistent mobile data meant we could book accommodation on the go, find local restaurants, navigate unfamiliar cities, stay in touch with people back home.

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The beauty of long-term travel Asia like this? You stop rushing. 

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You can wake up for a sunrise balloon ride in Vang Vieng, spend an afternoon getting a suit tailored in Hoi An, just sit in a cafe in Vientiane watching the world go by. 

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Those unplanned moments often become the memories you carry longest. 

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Like that conversation with the restaurant owner's daughter in Vientiane. Or the elderly woman rowing our boat with her feet in Ninh Binh.

Recap: Your Asia Travel and Southeast Asia Travel Overview

• Start in Laos for a gentler introduction before Vietnam's intensity. Luang Prabang's temples, Vientiane's markets, Vang Vieng's adventure sports each offer something completely different.
• The sunrise hot air balloon in Vang Vieng ranks as one of the trip's absolute highlights. Worth every penny and every minute of that predawn wake-up call.
• Vietnam moves faster than Laos in every way. More people, more traffic, more sensory input, cities that never sleep.
• Night trains and buses make long-distance travel manageable, save on accommodation. You sleep through the journey, wake up somewhere new.
• Hoi An delivers on its reputation for lantern-lit streets, custom tailoring that won't break the bank, unique experiences that sound touristy but turn out genuine.
• Stay connected with reliable mobile data. Navigating, booking, translating, sharing your journey becomes effortless when you're not constantly hunting for wifi.

Cambodia was next on our three-month itinerary, but that's another story. 

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Laos and Vietnam provided the perfect start, enough variety to stay engaged, enough comfort to avoid burnout, enough memorable moments to fill a hundred conversations back home. 

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If you're wondering south east Asia where to travel, give yourself more time than you think you need. You'll thank yourself later.