[WanderingSoul]

Gonna be in Vientiane for a night for my visa.

Any bar or club recommendations?

Also, last time I was there had young guys who looked like soldiers following us around on a motorbike with the lights off, and strapped with AKs. Makes you a bit uncomfortable hah.

[marksoc]

(12-07-2011 09:40 PM)travolta Wrote:  

Also be sure to travel north of Luang Prabong. Most people don't venture further north than Luang Prabong, but I think they are missing out.. Muang Ngoi is a must see place, IMO. One of the most beautiful places I've ever been. The only way to get there is to take a bus from Luang prabong to Nong Khiew, then take a boat ride from there to Muang Ngoi. Muang Ngoi is a great place if you like to trek. There's no need to hire a guide.. just follow the trail and go by yourself. After walking for about an hour you'll come across a HUGE rice field. If you walk to the other side and cross over the river, you'll see a trail. Walk down that trail for about 30 minutes and you'll come across a village.. It cost me $0.70 to stay the night in the village. Incredible experience. If you go to Muang Ngoi, stay in BANANA GUESTHOUSE. The lady who owns it is really nice, and only charged $1.25/night.

If you're feeling really adventurous I'd highly recommend gong up north to Phongsali. It was absolute hell getting there, but it was completely worth it... First you have to take a 5 hour boat ride from Muang Ngoi to Muang Kuah (the scenery along the river is unreal). From Muang Kuah it was a 11 hour bus ride to Phongsali. It's one of those bumpy mountain bus rides where everyone is puking, and if the bus driver messes up, the buss falls off a cliff and everyone dies. The trip sucks, but it's so worth it once you finally arrive. There isn't much to do in Phongsali, but it's one of the most amazing places I've ever seen- it's a small town on top of the mountains. If you really want to go off the tourist track, check out Phongsali.

Ha!, I did exactly this a couple of years ago, also going from Non Khiaw (a very nice spot to rest, btw) to Xam Nua and the "communist caves". A truly "traveler" experience. Phongsali in the middle of a thick fog and the mountains, signs in Chinese, monkeys wide open and sold in the morning market, locals inviting me to endless rounds of Lao Lao (oh my), some very old local dude that could speak French and remembered 2nd World War... Laos, go while is still Laos and not Thailand the Second.

[Soma]

(11-30-2013 06:06 AM)RioNomad Wrote:  

Gonna be in Vientiane for a night for my visa.

Any bar or club recommendations?

Also, last time I was there had young guys who looked like soldiers following us around on a motorbike with the lights off, and strapped with AKs. Makes you a bit uncomfortable hah.

No bar or club recommendations, but I have a restaurant one. The fried fish with tamarind sauce and sticky rice at Douang Deuane Restaurant is amazing, my favorite meal in the country. Good wine too.

[WanderingSoul]

Check out @ Home in Vientiane. Solid club.

[Papi Rico]

Been scouting VT for a few days and absolutely love it. As a SEA destination in which to base up for a month or two and get biz done, I think it would be a solid alternative to Chiang Mai and Da Nang. The only thing lacking would be the networking opportunities and support systems found in said cities. I did see a coworking space and am on the lookout for local entrepreneurs and digital nomads.

I completely agree with everything that has been said heretofore, and thanks to all for the solid advice. The food is indeed bomb and the women are indeed sexy, albeit in a reserved, mysterious way. Power and money are extremely concentrated in the governing elite (read, People's Revolutionary Party), more so than in Vietnam (booming business elite increasingly disconnected from politics), and extremely more so than in Thai (politically fragmented) and Indo (ethnically fragmented). All you need to do is to roll into Vientiane, impress one girl with a powerful daddy, and you've unlocked a world beyond your wildest dreams (imaginative speculation). If you get off on chasing high-end tail around the world, this wouldn't be a bad place to do it: the average outsider appears in his late 50s and is invariably wasted off his ass.

(04-07-2012 10:47 PM)Beyond Borders Wrote:  

...if you're into the international playboy thing only and looking for cities that pop off and have tons of hot, stylish women, this is not it.

Agreed. However, you can take the "international", but never the "playboy" out of "international playboy". Dates with seemingly well-to-do locals have been extremely easy to line up, given the extreme shortage of younger, non-backpacker guys here. I ran a few coffee shop approaches and used a couple dating apps to book my week. Apart from getting a hard-on from chasing high-end tail, I love chasing rare flags. I'm determined to smash a local in Lao, and it seems that with proper planning and careful execution, the chances of something going awry are extremely low.

Just a pass-through for me, but will report back on any further items worth noting.

[Americas]

I actually really enjoyed myself in Vientiane. Found a nice guesthouse for really cheap from some meth addict expat, could basically do whatever I wanted there.

Me and a friend went to a bar and started talking to a couple local girls and they took us to a discoteque. Felt like a celebrity in there and was getting the whiplash effect where every girl was eyefucking me because they probably haven't seen too many gringos before. I ended up leaving with one of them there to her hotel room and capturing a nice rare flag. She was from Vang Vieng and I imagine outside the norm of your typical Lao girl.

It can be possible to game there if you try and meet a couple locals and they get you into the right places at night. A lot of things close down early in Laos, but there is often afterparties and all-night places if you know where to find them.

Love the baguettes and Beer Lao as well.

Would have stayed longer if I could have.

Laos is the kind of place where you can basically do anything you want. Little rules and shit just happens if you have an open mind. I remember biking through the forest in Vang Vieng and some guys invited me off the road for a lunch in the jungle. Couldn't speak a lick of English obviously but fed me and were the nicest guys you would meet anywhere in the world. I got invited to drink with some random dudes off the street in Vientiene in the middle of the day as well. This is the type of thing that happens in Laos on a pretty semi-regular basis.

[Beyond Borders]

(10-08-2014 05:34 AM)Papi Rico Wrote:  

The only thing lacking would be the networking opportunities and support systems found in said cities.

It has been a few years since I was in Laos, but there did seem to be some decent networking opportunities when I was there. The expat crowd doing business was more of the boots-on-the ground, pioneer country type of entrepreneur than the digital nomad and multi-national business type, though, so unless you're into commodities or something, maybe not the best fit. The guys there taking advantage of opportunity seemed to be having a blast - they come across as a bit stand-offish to outsiders, so maybe they don't want to share, but you stick around and inevitably one or two in these groups starts welcoming you in.

Quote:

All you need to do is to roll into Vientiane, impress one girl with a powerful daddy, and you've unlocked a world beyond your wildest dreams (imaginative speculation).

Landing those girls will come with its challenges, but buddying up with the powerful may not be that imaginative, actually. My first time there, I made friends with a restaurant owner who, it turned out, had what sounded like a pretty solid position in the government. He had studied in Russia and owned some places in Japan as well, which his son ran.

I first met his wife and daughter-in-law when I broke the ice with them to get in with the girl, then I met the son and dad when when they showed up, at which point I'd already charmed the women. The guy had a real serious demeanour but he must have liked me because he ended up buying me a ticket to the SEA games, which were being put on at the new stadium at the time. I thought we'd have a group, but it turned out to be just him and I.

Drank some brews in his plush ride on the way and watched the games - otherwise uneventful, but it was a business lead I probably could have done a lot with had I stayed in the country. They had a hotel they were going to give me a free room in to run some online marketing for some of their businesses, and he said if I could bring in biz online he could introduce me to a bunch of people around town and help me get the proper licensing. Nice guy. Laos wasn't for me at the time, so I didn't stick around, but maybe some other day.

(10-08-2014 05:34 AM)Papi Rico Wrote:  

(04-07-2012 10:47 PM)Beyond Borders Wrote:  

...if you're into the international playboy thing only and looking for cities that pop off and have tons of hot, stylish women, this is not it.

Agreed. However, you can take the "international", but never the "playboy" out of "international playboy". Dates with seemingly well-to-do locals have been extremely easy to line up, given the extreme shortage of younger, non-backpacker guys here. I ran a few coffee shop approaches and used a couple dating apps to book my week. Apart from getting a hard-on from chasing high-end tail, I love chasing rare flags. I'm determined to smash a local in Lao, and it seems that with proper planning and careful execution, the chances of something going awry are extremely low.

Just a pass-through for me, but will report back on any further items worth noting.

Good to hear. Times have definitely changed because I don't think there were many Laos women on online dating sites at all just a few years ago. The girls are a go though. It's definitely not that hard to pull ass there - just use common sense about not rubbing it in people's faces too much.

[WanderingSoul]

I love going to VT for visa runs. Could definitely post up there for a month and hang out.

[Adrenaline]

Is the tubing scene in Vang Vieng completely dead now? Would have been great to experience the party at it's greatest a few years back.

I'm guessing there's nothing much else to experience in Laos, that you can't get in Thailand/Vietnam etc, when it comes to gaming?

[Travel Museums]

The Lao govt cracked down on VV bc so many Aussies died recently by drugging and drowning. You can still get hammered on alcohol and drugs are not hard to get. There's just less bars open along the river. Maybe 2-3 per day alternate opening instead of all dozen. i tubed sober in winter. Found it long drawn out and boring with water sometimes so low my butt scraped. I hitch hiked with kayakers after awhile. Better to kayak it.

Most female backpackers are fugly unless ur thirsty. A few hotties though. I didn't think it was worth sticking around VV just to party. I spent several days doing the outdoors stuff.

I traveled with a lao girl for a month and never had a problem staying in guest houses a night or two. In Vientiane I went back for pi Mai and stayed in her home. Her neighbor got nosy. Told her family who got worried so I moves to guesthouse.

Laos is like Thailand was in the 1920s. Thank god china went bust and never built the railway it had planned.

[Rawmeo]

That's a pretty huge necrobump.. while I never had the chance to pick a Lao girl (had the jealous gf with me back in the days), I'd advise to always carry at least USD$500 cash on you if you get caught. A little "tip" can get you out of trouble.

[Sandstorm]

I only went to Laos once, to Vientiane and hated every minute of it. Mostly. Just every fucker from the second I crossed the border from Thailand was trying to rip me off, starting with the ride in the Songtaew type vehicle to Vientiane.

Then the triple currency nonsense - and the hugely over-priced everything given how fucking poor it is compared with Thailand. Massive vicious mosquito's too!

Good points - found one nice restaurant that did super healthy green Laos style soup. So much greenery!

Um.... nice to stroll along the riverfront at sunset, see everyone sat out on the pavement eating BBQ and stuff.

Nice to sit up in that famous bar along the riverfront, the one chock full of pros.

Soviet era style bowling alley quite fun despite moody bitches working there.

Hmm... what else. Yeah Home club was alright, lots of hookers. I guess like Vientiane's version of Insomnia.

Not going there for visa this time - just the thought of it was making me depressed! Going to check out Malaysia instead. Place I'm going looks far nicer than nasty old Laos.

[Travel Museums]

Go easy on Laos!

Admittedly Vientiane is soporific and has little to offer culturally besides a few good museums and cafes.

If that's all you saw of Laos your reaction is justified. I flew into Luang Prabang and got ripped off for a ride from the airport bc I was clueless. Oh well it amounted to $4 extra. Lesson learned.

Laos has a lot to offer if you're adventurous. I've been on ziplining and trekking adventures past amazing waterfalls. Rented a motorbike and zipped around Boliven plateau on an impromptu romantic vacation straight out of an old school novel. Full of daily waterfalls, sex, nightly Lao style massages (from my girl), cheap wholesome food, laughs, great winter weather.

Bor Penyang is the bar on River in Vientiane you mentioned and its very hit or miss. I went several times and almost gave up. The pros are gross and the locals ugly. Best I had was overweight tourists in pairs. But on Valentine's Day I finally had luck and ran into my LTR who is a 9 in looks and 10 in personality. The locals don't go out all that much. Every other time I was with her we drank at one of her friends or families home or some small local bar in the suburbs. The kind of place where even if you were there it'd be awkward as fuck to run game.

I suggested Wind West which I was staying across street from. She then drove me to @ Home that night. Finally split from her group and banged her by 2am. 4 hour meet to lay cum month long trip heading south all the way to Champasak and Wat Phu.

I'd traveled with a Chinese girl Id met in Luang Prabang but she was moving to fast for me so we split in VTN. I met a Japanese girl there by she was living there and kinda cold. So I killed my Valentine's Day date with her and forced myself to go out a find something.

Laos is a bit rough but it has charm if you're willing to find it. If you're not happy in Laos you just need to keep looking or get out of Vientiane.

I know this board and section tends to be more about expat lifestyle versus backpacking around. But I feel like way too many people have opinions about countries (even if you live there) but haven't really traveled much outside one or two cities.

One thing I tell people to do is buy the combined LP guidebook for SE Asia and follow some of the multi-country routes. This way you get to make an economical loop from Bkk to CM to Laos to Cambodia and back to Thailand. Then you get a much more comprehensive feeling for the region and a more appreciative understanding of its history.

For instance you know one reason Laos is so badly underdeveloped? We dropped more ordnance on them than all
WWII combined. There's still so much unexploded ordinance it will take 100 years to clear. Farmers are afraid to sow areas of their land. Every year hundreds of kids get blown up by "bombies" small cluster bombs that look just like balls used for Laos version of bocce.

Macnamara said "bomb them back to the Stone Age". Didn't work and now it's a bit of a mess. But no Laos person ever gave me a hard time bc I'm an American. I had to pay a small fine once for blowing a red light right in front of a moto cop. Big deal. I played dumb. They were nice about it.

I think the no sex with local rule is mostly about preventing prostitution. The dudes who get busted tend to be old nasty fat dudes who think they own the place bc they get away with banging teenagers in Thailand. The night I picked up my girl I had a grizzled fat but super nice old British expat guy warn me and tell me his story about getting thrown in jail and needing a Thai lawyer and paying a huge fine (In Bor Penyang one table over from the girls I was picking up!). But you know what he was essentially living with the girl and reacted angry and rude then tried to stonewall them over it. If you're careful and respectful plus not spending too much time there on the Reg I think it's not something to be too worried about.

[Travel Museums]

Also if you're doing visa runs its way cheaper to fly Thai smile or whatever to udon Thani or Ubon rachathani then cross by vehicle then same thing on way back. Once you cross the international border by air the flight of the cost goes way up. By I thought there are no more visa runs anyway for Thai expats. Didn't they crack down??

One annoyance about Laos is the 30
Day full page visa with no multiple entries. I crossed the border a few items and it feels like they took up half my passport with the visas. It's just dumb and annoying if you want to hop across the border a few hours. I actually crossed illegally down in 4,000 for a day. Just paid a boat driver to ferry us over to pound some Cambodian beers and head back. Coulda went to a waterfall of we had more time lol. He said come back again. Apparently it's a touristy thing to do.

[iknowexactly]

Friend of mine cut foot severely in rafting place, going barefoot I think, hospitalization and several surgeries.

Consider getting those water sandals with web strapping to keep on feet.

[Kamaki4]

Ok, so I'm in southern Laos right now and for the guys that are complaining about Vientiane and Luang Prabang, you should see the rest of the country, because those two are as good as it gets for modernity here.

Arrived in Savannakhet on Sunday to apply for a long term visa. Been here before and quite a few visa runners I meet, don't like this city. Amazingly it's Laos 2nd biggest city, but it is far less developed than Mukdahan across the Mekong on the Thai side. That said Laos is perfect for adventure travel, which I am doing on a motorbike since I left Savannakhet yesterday.

[Travel Museums]

I lost my wallet in savannakhet. It was returned almost immediately with nothing missing to police. They laid the contents out and filed a report. Nothing like being in a room full of police as they pull condoms out of your wallet chuckle and lay them out on the table. Then your Laos girlfriend coming in to make sure everything is ok and having to play it off like you're just friends when you're obviously banging. And to top it off one of the cops insisting on getting my Facebook me bothering me for her phone number. Crazy but funny story. Try the Bolivan plateau on motorbike with a girl. Best trip of my life. They should be harvesting the coffee by November.

[wolfpack]

I am currently there in Vientiane and been here for 9 months so far... But due to a fact that I have a best friend who is married to lao..i kinda not going to "bang the locals" mode(since im here for longer terms... and the city is SMALL so in the way the rumors amongst locals will spread like wild fire <---i.e banging a talent A, her friends of friends of friend or family members of family will find out)

[MajorStyles]

(09-18-2016 09:10 PM)Adrenaline Wrote:  

Is the tubing scene in Vang Vieng completely dead now? Would have been great to experience the party at it's greatest a few years back.

I remember this well. I have fond memories of rafting through the canyons in Vang Vieng around 15 years ago. It was jaw-dropping beautiful.

There was a little opium scene there as well. Some Westerners used to disappear in Vang Vieng for quite some time.

I'll never forget pulling into Vang Vieng by bus, and meeting some local guy selling barbecued rat on a stick.

[Kamaki4]

(09-22-2016 12:03 PM)Travel Museums Wrote:  

I lost my wallet in savannakhet. It was returned almost immediately with nothing missing to police. Try the Bolivan plateau on motorbike with a girl. Best trip of my life. They should be harvesting the coffee by November.

Got back home to Thailand a few days ago and I agree, touring the Bolaven plateau by motorbike was a great trip.

[LMRking]

It looks like a few guys were able to bang a local without getting nipped. It makes it all the more appealing to try and score. Any tips on how to pull it off? Meet online, get a hotel for a day (even hours) then dip out like a ninja?

[Travel Museums]

I think the biggest threat is a girl scamming you with a cop. Honestly I don't know how this isn't a thing in Laos. Girl and cop split a $500 fine. Easy money.

I think it just goes to show how people in Laos have honor and the law is actually meant and enforced to prevent prostitution and sex tourism.

I read a post somewhere here about a guy who joked with girls in Vientiane like he was gonna pay the $100. Then in morning she got stiffed and left upset. I think he got lucky. I would just avoid any pay for play there. Wealthy Laos girls are either going to be living in Vientiane or maybe VV if on a short vacation. Can't imagine laying them anywhere else unless all your planets are in alignment and there's drinking involved.

My girl there is amazing. If she had an education and better English I'd wife her up. Well probably not but still you get an idea. Most laos girls are ugly but there's a few stunners and they're not stuck up. It's like 1920 there.

I'll be there soon traveling around northern Laos.

[LMRking]

Nice, preciate the reply. Quality isn't too important, more scoring a potential flag while in that neck of the woods. P4P isn't on the radar. The 1920s aspect sounds interesting though.

[Travel Museums]

Laos is like Thailand was in the 1920s. If you just want the flag it shouldn't be too hard.

[FretDancer]

For Vang Vieng I recommend Sakura Bar after 10pm. It is probably the only place with decent action at that time. While I was there they had a very good party going on with good alcohol, beer pong, lots of people and girls.

If you are into Koreans then you will see lots here as well, and they are even more accessible than otherwise meeting them in Luang Prabang. Just invite them over to play a few games of beer pong and go from there.