1/Spend your time at Vientiane Capital
Located on a curve of the Mekong River , Vientiane is home to the most significant national monuments in Laos such as the Golden Pha That Luong, the most important national monuments in Laos and a symbol of Buddhist religion and Laos’ sovereignty. Some other highlights are Wat Sisaket, Wat Ong Teu Mahawihan, Wat Si Meuang and Wat Xieng Khouan (Buddha Park). This delightfully friendly capital, studded with crumbling French mansions, bougainvillea-blooming streets and steaming noodle stalls, is somewhere between a big town and a diminutive city. All of these rustic things will make you feel peaceful deeply and keep you busy all day!
2/Visit Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang, the jewel on the Mekong River, a protected UNESCO World Heritage site in the warm heart of Indochina is a must-see place in Laos. Surrounded by misty mountains at the junction of the Mekong and the smaller Nam Khan river, this ancient royal city used to the capital of former kings and an important post along river trade lines and it became a site of interest for visitors from all over the world now. You can find ancient buildings, the former royal palace which has been become the national museum today and numerous Buddhist monasteries with temples. In the middle of the small city is Phousi Mountain with truly stunning views of the surrounding temples and hills. Stay here, you also have other chance to explore charming Wat Xieng Thong, Kuang Si waterfalls, visit the famous Pak Ou Caves, visit night street local food market or even ride a giantlike elephants.
3/Explore the secret Xieng Khuang (Plain Of Jars)
The Plain of Jars is considered the most distinctive and enigmatic of all Laos attractions. The large area around Phonsavan, the main city of Xieng Khouang Province is dotted with stone jars but no one has a clear idea as to why they are there. In total there are 136 archaeological sites in this area, containing thousands of jars, discs and deliberately placed stones, but at the moment only three are open to tourists. The mysterious jars were carved from both sandstone and granite in various sizes from very small to about 3.5 metres high and are thought to be more than 2,000 years old. Until today the function of the jars is still disputed.
4/Visit to Pakse
Pakse is a city in the Champasak province of Southern Laos. It is one of the biggest cities in Laos and a major transportation hub for southern Laos. If you plan to go to the Bolaven Plateau, Wat Phou, or Si Phan Don you will probably have to spend some time here. In the Pakse’s area, there are about 62 tourist sites: 32 natural, 7 historical and 27 cultural. There are also many French colonial style buildings remain in the city. Some the destinations are Wat Luang temple, Wat phabat and Wat Chompet. You may also want to see the Stone Buddha sculpture work of the people in Chomphet village. Stone Buddha here is well known by Lao Buddhists. For people who like going to shopping, there is a new Pakse Market, shopping center and other markets around Pakse where you can buy local handicraft with reasonable price.
5/Explore Wat Phu
Situated on a hillside and offers stunning views over the surrounding land and Mekong River, Wat Phu or Vat Phou (meaning 'mountain temple’) is a ruined Khmer Hindu temple complex. Considered by many to be the most beautiful of all Khmer temples, Wat Phu is distinguished as much by its dramatic and symbolic environmental setting as it is for its masterful architecture and iconographic arts. The complex is enormous and includes several large reflection pools and statues of various ruling kings. All these figures are designed to reflect the ethos of goodness and strength behind the old Khmer Empire. Besides the main Wat Phou Temple Complex, there are several archeological and nature sites nearby that you can take some time to explore.
6/Trekking or take a motorcycle tour at Tadlo, Bolaven Plateau, Laos
Bolaven Plateau in southern Laos is famous for its great scenery, ethnic villages and unexplored corners. For the nature lovers, it is home to untouched dense jungle, sprawling coffee plantions some of the Southeast Asia's most spectacular waterfalls including. Hiking in the heart of coffee farms if you want to find out the local’s life deeply or visiting the famous waterfalls are the highlight for visitors undertaking the Bolaven Plateau motorcycle loop and are part of most people’s itinerary every single day.
7/Take a trip on a long-tail into the tropical paradise of Si Phan Don (4000 islands)
Known also as ‘Si Phan Don’, the Four Thousand group of small islands are dotted across the Mekong. The waters surrounding the islands are home to the rare and illusive Irrawaddy dolphin and provide plenty of fish to the local villagers. Self-sufficient villages survive on local produce including rice, coconuts, sugar cane and vegetables, with clothing and textiles made by their own weaving techniques as and when required. The islands are a great place to discover a new very rural side to Laos, rich in tradition and culture with old buildings, walkingtrails and a choice of places to sleep and eat. There are plenty of small islands but the most important islands of the 4000 islands of the Mekong are Don Khong, Don Det and Don Khon.