Laos was the second country I visited during my 10-week trip around Indochina (mainland South East Asia).

Spending a month backpacking around Northern Thailand only left me one more month to travel through Laos (from north to south), cross the Cambodian border, possibly squeeze a side trip to Vietnam, then rush all the way to Bangkok, where I was supposed to catch my flight to Myanmar.

Traveling around Laos from its northernmost border with Thailand to the southernmost border  took 19 days.

I loved the off beat vibe of Laos. It wasn’t a place the was filled with backpackers planning their trip around going to the next full moon party. I didn’t expect that Laos still retained its off beat charm especially because this country seemed to be a popular destination on the Banana Pancake trail.

My favorite experience in Laos were the scenic slow boat rides along the mighty Mekong river, wandering around remote riverside villages surrounded by the tranquility of mountainous countrysides and awesome views of beautiful limestone formations.