10 min read
Where Laos's New Hotels Are Going: Eco-Lodges, Boutiques and Quiet Luxury in 2026
International brands are arriving in Vientiane and Luang Prabang while village lodges quietly scale up. A clear look at Laos's changing places to stay.
On the Ground Laos
Insights, updates and local perspectives to better understand Laos as it evolves.
All articles
11 min read
Vieng Xai and Sam Neua: Laos's Underground City and the Slow North-East
In Houaphanh, a wartime cave city, megalithic stones and hand-woven silk sit far off the Laos loop. Here is how to travel this quiet north-east properly.
11 min read
Speaking a Little Lao: Greetings, Numbers and Everyday Words
You do not need fluent Lao. You need about forty words, said with care. Here are the ones that matter most, with pronunciation and when to use each one.
8 min read
Staying Connected in Laos in 2026: SIM Cards, eSIMs and Coverage
Local SIM or eSIM, what it costs, why your passport is required, and exactly where the signal disappears. A practical connectivity update for Laos in 2026.
11 min read
Renting and Riding a Motorbike in Laos: An Honest Guide
Licences, deposits, insurance and road conditions: what renting and riding a motorbike in Laos really involves, and how to do it without a bad ending.
10 min read
Laos's Protected Areas Moment: Hin Nam No, UNESCO and the Rise of Nature Travel
Hin Nam No became Laos's first natural World Heritage site in 2025. What that says about where Lao travel is heading, and what it can realistically deliver.
10 min read
Luang Namtha and the Nam Ha Forest: Northern Laos at Walking Pace
Luang Namtha is northern Laos at its quietest: one long street, a rice valley, and behind it the Nam Ha forest. A slow-travel guide to trekking it well.
8 min read
How to Get Around Laos: Trains, Boats, Buses and the Slow Roads
Laos moves at its own pace. A practical guide to getting around by train, Mekong boat, bus, minivan and expressway, and how to choose for each leg.
8 min read
Champasak and Wat Phou: Southern Laos at Its Slowest
On a quiet stretch of the Mekong in southern Laos, Champasak pairs a pre-Angkor Khmer temple with faded colonial streets. A slow guide to Wat Phou.
9 min read
Laos Land Border Crossings in 2026: The Overland Entry Points
Laos has dozens of overland crossings with Thailand, Vietnam, China and Cambodia. A 2026 guide to the entry points and how to cross smoothly.
8 min read
The Changing Mekong: Dams, Low Water and Slow River Travel in Laos
Dams are reshaping the Mekong that defines Laos, with lower water and struggling fisheries. What the river's transformation means for slow travellers in 2026.
9 min read
The Kunming–Vientiane Through-Train in 2026: Crossing Between Laos and China by Rail
A direct high-speed train links Vientiane and Kunming, but the border crossing has strict rules. How the Laos-China train works in 2026.
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