Vientiane
• Hotel review (S Park Hotel): Nice/modern facilities, a bit outside of the center of town but the shuttle service largely made up for that. We would recommend overall.
• Favorite restaurant: Local market outside of the bus station
• Favorite tourist attraction:
o Mike- Buddha park
o Hillary- Wat Si Saket
• Favorite non-tourist attraction: The random meat stands on the sidewalk by the river
• Favorite dessert: Mango sticky rice
• Most memorable moment:
o Mike-Working out in the local gym
o Hillary- Eating Pho at the bus stop restaurant with all the locals
• If we could do it over… we would have avoided all of the restaurants on the main ‘tourist’ strip
• If going, you must… make your way to the bus station to try the food and get a ride to the Buddha park
Vang Vieng
• Hotel review (Vang Vieng Boutique Resort): The least fancy of the 3, but definitely nicer than the hostel options we saw around town, and the staff were helpful. We would recommend.
• Favorite restaurant: Viman Vang Vieng!
• Favorite tourist attraction: Smile Beach Bar
• Favorite non-tourist attraction: The villages and views on the road to the blue lagoon
• Favorite dessert: Beerlao (we didn’t do much dessert here)
• Most memorable moment:
o Mike- The first few minutes of our bike ride, it was not memorable for fun reasons- Hillary struggling, my chain breaking, etc…
o Hillary- Walking the path to our secret cave
• If we could do it over…
o Mike- I would eat every meal at Viman
o Hillary- I would have spent more time visiting local villages
• If going, you must…spend time exploring the area outside the main part of town and go eat at Viman
Luang Prabang
• Hotel review (Villa Ban Lakkham): VERY nice and authentic feeling hotel. Friendly, and helpful staff, and a great location just off the main street. We would definitely recommend this hotel – it was amazing.
• Favorite restaurant:
o Mike- The night market in the alley of the main street (Chez Matt for wine)
o Hillary- Bamboo Tree
• Favorite tourist attraction:
o Mike- Kuang Si Falls!!!
o Hillary- Wat Xieng Thong
• Favorite non-tourist attraction: Watching the monks performing their evening chants (start ~5:30pm)
• Favorite dessert: Black sticky rice in coconut milk with fruit
• Most memorable moment: Tie between watching the monks chant and walking up to the water falls
• If we could do it over… we would spend even more time there. we did not want to leave!
• If going, you must…go to the Kuang Si falls early before the crowds arrive, to fully appreciate them