Mandala Ou Resort: Relax . Recharge . Yoga (Laos)

After exploring the ancient town of Luang Prabang, we made our way to Nong Khiaw, a small beautiful village on the bank of the Nam Ou River in Laos. Nong Khiaw is famous for its amazing limestone karst mountain scenery, unspoiled virgin rainforest and the tranquil river of the Nam Ou. From Luang Prabang, we took a public minibus and we arrived at the Nong Khiaw bus station after 4 hours of journey through the beautiful landscape of Laos. Our first impression of Nong Khiaw was very peaceful and laid-back, and we didn't see any tour buses or tourist crowds like what we saw in Luang Prabang.

The unspoiled virgin rainforest and the tranquil river of the Nam Ou

Limestone karst mountain scenery

The Street of Nong Khiaw Village

Just a short 5 minute walk from the bus station, we arrived at the Mandala Ou Resort, the place where we stayed for 2 nights. We chose Mandala Ou Resort because it was one of the most charming and exclusive accommodation in Nong Khiaw. The Mandala Ou Resort is a boutique accommodation situated along the idyllic Nam Ou river offering 10 spacious and comfy bungalows with an eco-friendly room design and modern conveniences. The main features of this resort are the infinity edge pool, river side Yoga Sala, poolside bar, covered restaurant serving Lao, Thai and Western cuisine, and free Lao herbal steam sauna during the winter months.

Luang Prabang Residence: A Traditional Heritage Home (Laos)

Luang Prabang is an atmospheric and beautiful ancient city in Laos and it is also the historical, religious and cultural core of the country. Many visitors from around the world come to this charming place for the unique experience of the traditional Lao culture. For those who love to have a taste of authentic Lao hospitality, I would highly recommend the Luang Prabang Residence, a traditional heritage home.

The Luang Prabang Residence is situated in the historical center of the ancient town, Luang Prabang; in close proximity to many key attractions yet comes with a quiet setting and tranquil environment. The Luang Prabang Residence was designed to preserve the look and feel of a traditional heritage home, and it is also one of the most exquisite examples of a traditional Lao style architecture of Luang Prabang.

Lao Food: 30 Dishes You Should Try in Laos

Laos is a mountainous country surrounded by Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar (Burma) and China, and naturally their culinary traditions is influenced by different countries or the other way round. Lao cuisine is less popular and often overshadowed by the popular cuisines of its neighbours.  Before my Laos trip, I know nothing about Lao cuisine and only after some reading up, then I know that  "Sticky Rice" is the staple food of Laos, the Lao national dish is "Larb or Laap", another classic Lao dish is papaya salad and the people of Laos love fresh vegetables and herbs.

As I traveled through Laos, I noticed that Lao cuisine reflects a strong ethnic diversity of the country as I saw Thai curry, Vietnamese spring roll, French baguette, Chinese noodles and the Hmong fried dough were commonly sold throughout the country. During my trip, I tried my very best to hunt down as many Lao food as possible, and I also realized that the best place to discover and experience Lao food is the local morning markets.

Villa Nam Song: Room in the Lush Tropical Garden (Laos)

Just a short 3-4 hours journey from Vientiane, we have arrived in Vang Vieng, Central Laos. Vang Vieng is a riverside town surrounded by a scenic backdrop of karst landscape; and it is a great place for outdoor activities like caving, tubing, mountain biking and etc. Today, this small tourist oriented town is a backpacker hot spot and also well known as a party destination for the young travelers.

During our stopover in Vang Vieng, we stayed 2 nights with Villa Nam Song. This villa with picturesque views of the cliffs is tranquilly nestled in the lush tropical garden on the east banks of the Nam Song River. Villa Nam Song consists of 8 superior rooms and 8 garden deluxe rooms, which are surrounded by a beautiful garden setting and all rooms are just a few steps away from the Song river.

Hotel Khamvongsa: Charming with a Classic Indochine Style (Laos)

After 11 hours of overnight sleeper train from Bangkok to Nong Khai, then we took a shuttle train service from Nong Khai to Thanaleng by crossing the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge; and from the Thanaleng train station, we took a shared minivan and we finally arrived in the city centre of Vientiane, Laos. Although it may seem like a hassle, the whole journey was pretty straight forward, comfortable and enjoyable one. I am glad that we chose this option to get from Thailand to Laos.

Vientiane is the capital and the biggest city of Laos, hence trying to get a good accommodation is not an issue. With so many hotels and guest houses available, we had filtered and decided to stay 1 night in this charming mid-range hotel, Hotel Khamvongsa.