Laos

Laos is a fascinating country to explore. The country is bounded to the north by China, to the northeast and east by Vietnam, to the south by Cambodia, to the west by Thailand, and to the northwest by Myanmar (Burma). 

Foreign residents are likely to be interested in either the present city, Vientiane, or the previous Lao Kingdom's little capital, Luang Prabang, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Vang Vieng is a modest but growing tourist destination, with several affordable restaurants, internet cafés, and stores, as well as over a hundred guesthouses, attracting international students and backpackers. Daytime activities include river tube rafting, 'pub crawling,' and swimming. Vang Vieng is a three-hour bus ride north of Vientiane, on the way to Luang Prabang and further to Vietnam and China. The Mekong River is followed south from the capital to Savannakhet and Pakse, with several crossing places into Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia.