Laos

The arrival

The visa

Laos is one of the countries that require a visa for Brazilians, however, it can be easily obtained at the airport of arrival (visa on arrival). Still on the flight, the flight attendants give you a form to be filled out, upon arrival you hand it in at the first counter in the immigration queue, completed along with a 3x4 photo and your passport. The immigration agents will check your documents and give you your passport back at the second counter, where you will also have to pay 30 USD for the visa.

For this procedure, we previously contracted the fast track service as we were afraid of issuing the visa alone, however, Laos is a very peaceful country and I found it very easy for English speakers. It is not an essential service, just convenient.

Luang Prabang

The hotel

 We stayed at the Sofitel Luang Prabang, the hotel was the former residence of a former 20th century French governor. Surrounded by a lush tropical garden, it has 25 suites, ranging from 46 to 120m² (they are huge), each with its own private garden, jacuzzi or private pool.

The hotel is very charming and pleasant, the breakfast is wonderful and super complete with buffet and a la carte menu and the staff are extremely kind and attentive. We liked and highly recommend staying at Sofitel Luang Prabang.

Other hotel options

Amantaka - The city's main luxury hotel, belonging to the Aman group, is located right in the center, 5 to 10 minutes' walk from several tourist attractions. With a chic minimalist style, it mixes Laotian and French references with impeccable service.

Belmond La Résidence Phou Vao - The first luxury resort in Luang Prabang and still in the top 3 of the city's best hotels. As in other Belmond hotels, the experience is always exquisite.

Rosewood Luang Prabang - Opened in March 2018, the hotel is a heavenly retreat, located on the banks of Luang Prabang, super romantic and perfect for couples.

3 Nagas - In the heart of the old city of Luang Prabang, this small hotel offers great value for money and plenty of charm, romantic rooms and colonial architecture.

To Go

We stayed two nights in Luang Prabang and I didn't think so, Laos was the country we loved most on this trip, everything is so beautiful and special that I would have stayed four nights. Taking the average, I recommend three nights to enjoy the city without rushing.

We arrived late and went straight to the hotel to sleep, the next day the program would start early.

Alms Giving

Our first day began at 5:30 am for the Alms Giving ceremony, a morning spiritual ritual in which Buddhist monks go out to receive offerings from locals and tourists, symbolizing generosity and humility. It's a beautiful and "obligatory" ritual for everyone who visits the city, a very special experience. The streets come to life with the color of the monks' robes and the tranquility of the practice creates a magical, sacred and serene atmosphere.

Morning Market

After the ceremony we went to the Morning Market, a vibrant and colorful morning market where local vendors display a variety of fresh produce, traditional crafts and typical Lao products. The colors and scents offer visitors an authentic shopping experience and a glimpse into everyday life in the city. We liked it so much that we went two days in a row!

Living Land Farm

After the market, we returned to the hotel around 8:30 am to have breakfast and change clothes. To participate in the Alms Giving ceremony you must have your knees and shoulders covered, in addition, we received a strip of fabric to place across the body on the left shoulder, the side of the body considered sacred in the Buddhist religion.

We left the hotel towards Living Land Farm. Opened in 2005, this farm was formed by a group of locals to be, in addition to being an all-organic farm, a successful community enterprise that offers visitors a glimpse into rural life in Laos.

Rice is a central part of the Laotian economy and on this farm we were able to learn from local farmers the 13 stages of its cultivation. From selecting the seeds, through planting, to plowing the rice field with the farm's water buffalo. At the end of the class, we were able to taste several typical Lao rice-based dishes, everything was delicious.

Living Farm also supports a number of community projects that help improve villages and provide English classes to local children. Everything that is produced there is used to supply local hotels and restaurants, in addition, the farm is also a place for practical classes for students at the Northern College of Agriculture. It's a fun tour, which brings us closer to the local culture and also helps these projects continue.

Kuang Si Falls

Our next stop was an old dream that I had to visit. Kuang Si Falls is a wonderful set of waterfalls located near Luang Prabang. Its crystal clear waters in shades of turquoise blue form a series of natural pools surrounded by lush vegetation. I found the formations impressive, despite the water being very cold, I took the courage to swim, it really looks like a swimming pool. My family didn't love the program, they thought it was too full of tourists, in fact it would be much more special if it were still an untouched place, but in times of mass tourism, I didn't imagine it would be any different.

In the same waterfall complex, we were able to see Asian black bears, on the trail that goes up to Kuang Si Falls, there is a protection center with several of them!

Laos Buffalo Dairy

 We continued our itinerary by heading to Laos Buffalo Dairy, a socially responsible and sustainable farm that provides Lao farmers with additional income, animal management skills, and better nutrition for local children, all through the production and sale of cheese and delicious ice cream. buffalo milk base.

The company was created in 2014 by three North American partners who were going through a midlife crisis and wanted to do something that would have a positive impact on society. When they were still living in Singapore working for multinationals, they came up with the idea and after studying for a while, they adopted Laos and the local community as their homes. It was very interesting to learn about the project, its history and local impact, as well as being able to try the delicious products. It's an especially cool tour for those going with children who can interact with the farm's structure and animals.

Silk Road Cafe

 Our last stop of the day was at a local weavers' cooperative where we were able to see and learn about the Lao manual textile process, which you can see in Ad Astra's products.

After the cooperative, we went to Silk Road Cafe, a super relaxed restaurant/cafe/bar on the banks of the Mekong River, with an incredible view of the sunset. With "east meets west" cuisine, the menu is seasonal and healthy with some Laotian and other Western recipes inspired by the cuisines of the Silk Road and with a "farm-to-table" concept. A great choice for a beautiful and relaxing end of the day!

Night Market

 Another Asian country means another Night Market and in Laos it couldn't be any different!

Located in the city center, we were able to walk from the hotel - the city is super safe, the market comes to life as the sun sets, and, like the morning market, it offers a variety of local products, crafts, clothes and accessories and other souvenirs. The streets are filled with colorful stalls and tourists can take advantage of this culturally authentic and lively setting to explore and purchase a variety of unique products, interact and negotiate with local vendors. The market is an essential part of the Luang Prabang experience, its rich culture and nightlife.

Before boarding

The next morning, we woke up early, had breakfast at the hotel and went to the morning market again, we are crazy about a local market and wanted to make the most of the rest of our time in Luang Prabang.

When we returned from the market, our car was already waiting for us with our guide to go to the airport. En route, we stopped at the UXO Lao Visitor Center - a place dedicated to raising awareness and education about the dangers of unexploded ordnance (UXO) remnants of past conflicts - through interactive exhibits, audiovisual presentations, and in-depth information. It is a fundamental place to understand the history and challenges that the country faces in relation to UXO and its impact that extends to the present day in the lives of the Laotian population. The energy of the place is sad and heavy, but knowing its history is very important for anyone visiting the country. In the markets, it is even possible to buy various artifacts made from fragments of bombs that have been deactivated.

From there we headed to the airport, heading to our next destination: Siem Reap in Cambodia.

Extra tip

If we had had an extra day in the city, I would definitely have gone out on my bike to explore the little shops, cafes, bars and restaurants and the more than 30 wonderful Buddhist temples scattered around there. Luang Prabang is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city is beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, with colonial architecture and French influences, quiet streets, kind and friendly people. Including an extra day in your itinerary will give you time to feel the inexplicable tranquility of the place and get in tune with the local culture.