Spending nights in river villages allows unique cultural interactions with people who do not have contact with the outside world. As PaddleAsia takes small groups into Lao, we feel our visits do not have any negative impact on these villages and their inhabitants. We hope mass tourism never reaches into the heart of this precious culture. The Nam Ou eventually joins the mighty Mekong. The allure of this wonderful town is making it a very popular destination for all travelers to Laos.
Handmade textiles are available at the market as well as plenty of other unique souvenirs.
People who aren t particularly interested in temple tours find the soft colors used in the wall murals very appealing. Luang Prabang is being promoted within the tourism industry, but it is still a small and entirely charming place to visit. Our next destination is to the rivers near Vientiane. This has been our most popular trip in Laos. It s easy and convenient, yet it offers cultural delights beyond description.