Visit 6 spiritual places in Laos

Laos is a majority Buddhist country with many functional temples and sacred places. It also has some of least touched natural areas in Southeast Asia. If you are looking to contemplate life and engage in a spiritual experience, consider visiting one of these most spiritual places in Laos.

That Luang

The national symbol of Laos, That Luang, is an imposing golden monument reflecting both the Buddhist religion and Laotian sovereignty. Built in 1566, the architecture of this temple is a combination of Asian pagoda architecture and the traditional Laotian temple specific to this particular region.

Other Vientiane temples such as Wat Si Saket temple, Wat Haw Pha Kaeo temple, Wat Si Muang and Wat Ong Teu temple should also be on the list to visit for anyone hoping to understand the culture and beliefs of Laotian people and to discover the collections of sacred art and superb Lao Buddhist sculptures within.

Irrawaddy Dolphins

Called Pah Kha in Laos, the one critically endangered pod of Irrawaddy dolphins in Si Phan Don lives just south of Don Sanlat. Boats can be chartered from the beach at the southwest coast of Don Khon or from the ferry pier at the southernmost tip of the island for less than US$10 per hour. Sightings are best in the early mornings or early evenings. Bring some water; many of the boats are uncovered, leaving you exposed to the sun. Then, with the engine off and a little patience, you will see dolphins, albeit from a distance. Forget trying to take photos unless you are a professional nature photographer and simply take in the sounds and sights of these majestic animals.

Pak Ou Caves

Bring your headlamp and take the slow boat up the Mekong to Ban Pak Ou. Pak means mouth and the two caves at the mouth of the Ou River are Tham Ting and Tham Theung. Hike up the long staircase to the pitch black upper cave, Tham Theung. The lower cave, Tham Ting, is smaller and less busy with some sunlight shining through. Both caves are pilgrimage locations for devout Buddhists who have been leaving carvings of the Buddha in the caves for centuries. Over 4,000 statues are located inside.

That Ing Hang

That Ing Hang is second only to Wat Phou in Champasak when it comes to ancient sacred places in Laos. Built during the mid-16th century, the Stupa is a National Treasure of Lao PDR and is located 11.5 km north of Savannakhet. Said to contain a piece of Buddha’s spine, a story that Buddha rested at the base of a Hang tree at the site inspired the construction. Women must wear a traditional Lao sin (wrap skirt) to enter the temple grounds and may not enter the promenade around the stupa. Nuns and monks bless visitors and tie their wrists with colorful strings. After your visit, try some delicious black bamboo sticky rice with coconut for sale near the temple.

Dong Ling

Buy a bunch of bananas from the monkey-proof road side stands and head to the sacred monkey forest in the Chomphone Districts of Savannakhet Province. These are most well-behaved monkeys in Southeast Asia living on three hectares near Donmeuang Temple. The monkeys are sacred to the local people, and their images can be seen on the temple. The forest itself has a walking path with a pond in the middle and two small shrines toward the back. Visit in the dry season for Hotay Piddok, an ancient Buddhist palm scroll library near the forest.

Read more: Things you need to avoid when traveling to Laos

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The most beautiful attractions in Northern Thailand

Although Northern Thailand suffers from a dreadful lack of islands, this region is usually known as one of the worth-visiting destinations in Southeast Asia. The best places to visit in Northern Thailand are so diverse. The culture inspired by Lanna, Shan, Karen, and other indigenous ethnic groups has provided a noticeably friendlier atmosphere.

Chiang Mai

Known as the largest city in Northern Thailand and once the capital of the Lanna Kingdom, Chiang Mai is such a significant city in this region. In the Lanna language, Chiang Mai means "New City". The city offers the classic features that attract visitors: friendly locals, great food, and affordable prices. With the usual amount of frugality, you get more bang for the travel buck in Chiang Mai and Northern Thailand in general than in Bangkok or the islands.

Chiang Rai

The city of Chiang Rai is an anomaly among the places to go to Northern Thailand. The most famous of Chiang Rai attractions is the iconic Wat Rong Khun (The White Temple) which was designed by Chalermchai Kositpipat. Another famous work from Chalermchai is Chiang Rai’s golden clock tower set prominently in a roundabout in the center of town. Unveiled in 2008 as a tribute to the King of Thailand, the clock tower comes alive every hour as one would expect an ornate clock tower to do.

Chiang Dao

Located around 90 minutes from north of Chiang Mai, Chiang Dao is the place to go for picturesque limestone cliffs and Thailand’s third-highest mountain, Doi Chiang Dao (7,135 feet). Although the mountain is barely a pebble when matched up against the massifs in Asia’s Himalayas, Chiang Dao is the premier place for bird watching in Thailand. Over 300 species, many of which are rare and can be spotted.

Read more: Take a day trip to Ayutthaya, Thailand

Pai

A bit less than four hours north of Chiang Mai, Pai is a much smaller, chilled-out, riverside option for getting away from concrete. Although still mostly green, Pai’s popularity and its development have grown tremendously in the last decade. So far, the charm has survived. Travelers of all budgets and nationalities cram into minivans to visit Pai. A surprising number come and decide not to leave.

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Explore Phu Quoc island in one day

Phu Quoc Island attractions are not just limited to its stunning beaches, but extends to historical sites, Buddhist shrines, and fishing villages that have stood the test of time. If you have only one day in Phu Quoc, what will you do?

Phu Quoc Prison

Phu Quoc Prison is where Northern Vietnamese soldiers were imprisoned during the Vietnam War. The prison is now a museum where you can see torture instruments, photographs of former prisoners and various exhibits with life sized mannequins depicting graphic scenes of what life was like in prison during its operation.

Whilst not for everyone, the prison is a way for tourists to learn more about Vietnam’s history and a reminder of the brutalities of war. The prison is open between 7.30 am to 11 am and 1.30 pm to 5 pm daily and entry costs around 3000 Vietnamese Dong per person. Guided tours are available in a variety of languages.

Saigonese

The hippest, casual dining on Phu Quoc delights with fusion dishes lifted from designer cookbooks. The appetisers excel in bao (steamed buns filled with pulled beef and beetroot), and squid with avocado cream. Try the caramelised shrimp clay-pot and for dessert, popcorn banana cake. Manager Thao’s experiences abroad show in the chic ambience and the biggest surprise is the reasonable bill for on-trend eats.

Suoi Tranh Waterfall

Suoi Tranh Waterfall is a four-metre-tall waterfall within the Ham Ninh Mountains that is surrounded by lush greenery, natural caves, and rock pools. A 10-minute drive from Duong Dong, this natural attraction is ideal for those looking to escape the bustling town centre. Nature-lovers can enjoy recreational activities such as picnicking, camping and bird-watching, with small walking paths available for those who prefer a leisurely hike through the jungle. Various flora and fauna such as shrimps, birds, orchids, ginseng and mushrooms can be found here.

An Thoi Islands

Just off the southern tip of Phu Quoc, these 15 islands and islets are a paradise of white sand and blue waters. They can be visited by chartered boat for a fine day of sightseeing, fishing, swimming and snorkelling. Hon Thom (Pineapple Island) is about 3km in length and is the largest island in the group. Most boats depart from An Thoi on Phu Quoc, but you can make arrangements through hotels on Long Beach, as well as dive operators.

Other islands here include Hon Dua (Coconut Island), Hon Roi (Lamp Island), Hon Vang (Echo Island), Hon May Rut (Cold Cloud Island), the Hon Dams (Shadow Islands), Chan Qui (Yellow Tortoise) and Hon Mong Tay (Short Gun Island). As yet, there is no real development on the islands, but expect some movement in future. Boat trips generally do not run during the rainy season.

Dinh Cau Rock

Dinh Cau Rock, also known as Cau Temple, is an odd-shaped natural formation in Phu Quoc Island, which local fishermen pray to before embarking on fishing excursions. Located just next to the Duong Dong Fishing Harbour, it features a brightly-coloured lighthouse and Buddhist shrine, making it a popular photography spot among travelers.

Dinh Cau Rock was constructed in 1937 to commemorate Thien Hau (the goddess of the sea), whom locals believe provides protection for fishermen heading out to the open sea. There are 29 winding stone steps to reach Cau Temple’s rooftop terrace, where you will be greeted with spectacular sunset views of Dinh Cau Beach, traditional fishing boats, DSuoi Tranh Waterfall

Read more: The best luxury resorts in Phu Quoc Island

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