Poverty, mystery, faith, primitiveness, simplicity, are the keywords of Laos travel.
When it comes to Laos, in addition to the familiar Luang Prabang and Vientiane, in fact, this niche route in northwest Laos, which is easy to be overlooked by tourists, is a rare "pure land" and is worth exploring in depth.
Laos in Southeast Asia, as a super niche country, the tourism industry is not developed and has not been exploited by large-scale commerce. The price is cheap, and it is a country with a high comprehensive cost performance for traveling abroad.
This time, a few friends and I started from Xishuangbanna in Yunnan, China, and took the China-Laos Railway to enter Laos.
Along the way, I felt the Luang Namtha Province in Laos, the capital of Bojiao Province, and the Bojiao Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone, with unique cultural and natural scenery, quiet and mysterious.
"We had a bumpy ride, went to many corners together, watched sunset after sunset together, drank wine after drink. Dump as before. New friend, Lao travel companion Xiaoxi wrote.
Traveling to Laos, it is indeed backward and poor, and the gap with China is not a little. The travel facilities and road facilities are completely incomparable to neighboring Thailand, and there is no sea to see.
But because of this, the original and simple place has been preserved.
There are enthusiastic Lao people, there are luxurious temples built, and most of the people here believe in Buddhism and have no quarrel with the world. There are two sides to everything, and when you travel to Laos, you can feel a different parallel world.
So what are the experiences and attractions of this niche route in northwest Laos that should not be missed?
I|Luang Namtha Province, Laos
From Boten, you arrive at Nam Tha, the capital city of Luang Namtha province in Laos, located in the north of Laos, bordering China and Myanmar to the north and Thailand to the south, named after the Nam Tha River.
One of the best hotels we stayed in in Nanta City is called Nanta Royal Hotel. This hotel is located in the city center, which is the tallest building visible in the city of Nanta, with 6 floors.
However, the conditions are worse than the domestic three-star hotels, the hotel does not provide breakfast, and there is an elevator.
The city has no high-rise buildings, a small population, only less than 10,000 people, very pristine, not developed by tourism, and the locals are still very simple.
The South Tower from the perspective of the drone, the small house with the colorful roof, is cute.
1. Luang Nan Pagoda Golden Pagoda
Check out the Luang Nam Pagoda Golden Pagoda, a landmark of the city of Nanta located on the top of a hill to the west of the city.
This is the tallest building in the South Pagoda, and it is quiet and mysterious, and you can enter the inside of the stupa.
I also went to another five- or six-hundred-year-old golden pagoda, but the old tower next to the golden pagoda only has collapsed ruins, which is a pity.
Many things are unsolvable, so there are Buddhas.
2. Nanta Night Market
Nanta Night Market is slowly set up by locals from 4 p.m., and it is very lively at night.
The night market is only a street of three or four hundred meters, selling all kinds of drinks, clothes and hats, vegetables, fruits, etc., many foods are rare in China, very novel, but the price is not expensive, 100 yuan is difficult to spend.
A lot of the food here is packed in clear plastic bags for easy takeaway. The locals saw us taking pictures and were very enthusiastic.
When you travel, you like to visit the local night market and vegetable market, and you can feel the daily life of the locals?
3. A bowl of dried rice
The morning of the trip to Laos begins with a bowl of dried rice.
A small shop in Nanta City, Lang Nanta Province, which has been open for more than 50 years, has the name of Ati, which is also the name of the restaurant owner.
Lao dried rice is a daily routine for locals, just like a bowl of noodles in the morning in my hometown of Changshu. A Lao dried rice costs about 20,000-30,000 old coins, which is only about 8-12 yuan.
The taste is a bit similar to pho, with some minced meat added to the dried rice, and some green vegetables such as bean sprouts, bean seedlings, lettuce, cowpeas, etc.
This bean sprouts and cowpeas are actually eaten raw?
Rice is the staple food raw material in Laos, and there are many varieties of rice and rice products. All kinds of rice noodles, rolled flour, and dried rice products are the most common foods. Sticky rice is a favorite staple food of the Lao people, accounting for a large proportion, and is also made into rice dumplings and nasi lemak.
On the roadside of Nanta City, there are scattered European and American tourists, but Chinese tourists are rarely seen.
4. Weaving and dyeing in Yi'an Village
On this day, my friends and I came to the village of Yi'an in Luang Nam Pagoda, a quiet small village where we came to experience the local weaving and dyeing handicrafts.
It is still dyed with traditional grass and trees, which is all natural. The village chief personally showed us how to dye, a variety of natural dyes, from turmeric to unknown red fruits.
The village chief mashed turmeric and put it in a pot with other dye, and it was said that it would be boiled for 12 minutes without losing color.
In another room, there are several local women from remote villages quietly weaving cloth, which looks very intricate, and the pattern is very Laotian.
Handmade, the output is not high, and the woven fabric is made into bags, clothes, scarves, and then sold at the market.
The locals in Laos are really friendly and rustic. There is no heavy traffic and buildings, everything is back to basics.
This small yard is very freshly maintained and full of all kinds of flowers. Grab a cup of coffee in the yard and take your time to feel the journey.
2. Bokoo Province, Laos
Bojiao, Laos, is located at the junction of Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, and can reach the next door to Chiang Rai Province in Thailand to the southwest, and to the northwest you can overlook the Tachili of Myanmar across the Mekong River.
On this day, we drove from Luang Nan Pagoda into Bojiao.
1. Will post the center of faith
From the South Tower to Bojiao, passing by the Huiyang Faith Center, it was on the side of the road, and I stopped and punched a card. The Huisun Faith Center is a landmark building of Huitan, a tower-shaped building that is free to visit.
This is my second time in Laos to sunbathe, and the last time I came was in 2019. This season's sun, as is associated with its name, is a bit sunny.
Further on, pass a thousand-year-old stone carving by the river, known only to locals, on the banks of the Mekong River.
Did you know that the Mekong River originates in the Tangula Mountains on the mainland, called the Lancang River in China, and the section of the river after flowing into the Indochina Peninsula is called the Mekong River, which is the most important transnational water system in Asia.
2. Kapok Star Hotel
This is the Macau on the Mekong River-Laos Bojiao Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone.
When I came to the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in Bokoo Province, Laos, when I first saw it from the dilapidated houses and dusty roads, the contrast was too great, which subverted my impression of Laos.
In 16 years, from dilapidated to today's high-rise buildings, this is the speed of China. In 16 years, Chinese built the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in Laos.
"The Lao people lend me a piece of land, and I give the Lao people a city." This is the propaganda slogan of the SAR. Today, there are about 50,000 people in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in Laos, mainly Chinese, Laotian and Burmese.
Looking at those Chinese signs on the side of the road, you will sigh at the power of China's infrastructure, in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in Laos, there are no barriers to communication with Chinese, and the shopping price is also the price of RMB.
It seems that I have gone abroad, and it seems that I have not gone abroad, and the feeling is very novel. The service staff are all Laotian, but they can say Chinese and can also pay in yuan.
Stay at the best Kapok Star hotel in the area. In such economically backward Laos, there is such a hotel, there is such a suite, the contrast is really great.
Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Kapok Star Hotel is luxuriously equipped with more than 500 rooms. 5 star standard with good quality details.
3. Chinatown and Chongshan Temple
If I didn't say that this is in Laos, you would think that this is a city in the country. That day, wandering around the Chinatown and Chongshan Temple in the Golden Triangle Special Zone, full of Chinese style.
Chinatown is not only the pride of "Chinese culture", but also a witness of Sino-Laos friendship. The Golden Triangle Chinatown of Laos, although only 16 years old, has a gorgeous and quaint architectural complex.
Chongshan Temple is a typical representative of Chinese Mahayana Buddhist architecture, symmetrical and quiet, and many local Chinese come here to pray.
Chinatown and Chongseonji Temple are within walking distance of the Kapok Star Hotel where I stayed.
4. Golden Triangle Night Market
At 22:00 in the evening, change into hot pants and go to the night market with friends, the night is still a little cool, wear long sleeves.
Scoop papaya, grilled fish, Lao beer, and have fun traveling with a few good friends. Laos time is an hour behind Beijing time, and nightlife has just begun.
The night market near Chinatown is mostly set up by Lao locals, but it can be paid in yuan, and the price is also in yuan.
A bottle of Lao beer 6 yuan, a box of grilled shrimp 35 yuan, a bunch of squid 5 yuan... The price is about the same as in the country.
The locals were very welcoming and simple, and when they saw me taking pictures, they posed for me. There are also many hot women in the night market, drinking beer and watching beautiful women, and it feels so good to be on vacation
5. The window of the Golden Triangle
The Golden Triangle of the world, the style of Kapok Island. The "Window of the Golden Triangle" reflects the past and present of the Golden Triangle.
The landmark of the Golden Triangle Window is this large-scale landscape sculpture! The blessing of Demeter, the mother of the earth, the goddess of drugs, is a reminder to the world not to forget the tragic history.
Taking the history of the Golden Triangle as the main line, the "Three Kingdoms Story Village" condenses the cultural history and traditional folk customs of Laos, Thailand and Myanmar, and reproduces the tragic history of the "Golden Triangle" through rich experience methods such as historical scenes and historical material exhibitions.
There is also the world's first "Immersive Anti-Drug Cultural and Creative Museum", which presents a rich and colorful anti-drug culture to the world through interactive methods of science and technology.
Today's Golden Triangle is not the same as it was at the beginning, it is much safer and more prosperous. In the evening, there is also a performance on the center stage of the Golden Triangle Window, where everyone sings and dances together.
6. Sunset on the Mekong River
How long has it been since you watched a sunset? I have seen several sunsets on the banks of the Mekong River, and every day is red.
That day I had dinner at a riverside restaurant and waited again for a beautiful sunset to watch a red sun quietly fall on the mountains of Thailand on the opposite bank.
Boats come and go, I'm in a foreign land, and some thoughts creep up in my heart. A cup to yourself, a glass to the sunset.
7. Seven Dragon Temple
A local friend took us to a temple in a village, about a 15-minute drive from the Kapok Star Hotel where we stayed.
Before I entered the door, I was arrived by a tree blooming triangle plum beauty!
This is the Seven Dragon Temple in Northwest Heng Village, Dongpeng County, Bojiao Province, admission is free, but few tourists come here, it is very quiet, and the exquisite corners of the house are shaped like dragons.
Northwest Heng Village is a natural village in Laos, located on the banks of the Mekong River, all of which are low bungalows. The temple is so elaborate that it is related to the beliefs of the locals.
Just like our Tibetan villages in China, there will be extremely luxurious temples, and the local people will contribute to the construction of temples when they earn money.
8. Banmo Wharf and Banmo Village
Further on, Seven Dragon Temple goes to Ban Mo Pier and Ban Mo Village, a historical relic and a legendary pier.
It used to be one of the largest immigration and trade terminals in the Golden Triangle, and the camp of troops escorted by the four countries on joint patrols was located near the pier.
The village, called Banmo Village, is inhabited by the native Lao Yuan and Dai people who migrated from Xishuangbanna, China, and the former drug trade has caused damage to the residents of Banmo village near the pier.
In the 80s of last century, many men in Banmo village joined the troops in Khunsa in Shan State in Myanmar to make a living, leaving only their wives and children to guard the home and nursing home.
It is said that people in the village take out their savings to dry on sunny days during the rainy season.
Now the village is quiet and peaceful, a small western-style building, the local people are living well, and some Dai elders still say Chinese.
9. Dongshawan Temple
When I traveled in Laos, I visited many temples, each of which was elaborate and luxurious, in stark contrast to the dilapidated roads and houses.
Passing by Dongshawan Temple that day, there are no tourists here and no entrance fees, very quiet temple.
It features a tower and an ancient well, and a temple donated and inscribed by Zhao Wei, the owner of the Golden Mupok Group.
The plantains in the temple can be eaten at will, and the water from the ancient well, which is lifted up to wash your hands, is said to be used for blessings.
10. Golden Triangle Wharf
How easy is it to get to Thailand from Laos? A river apart, it really only takes a few minutes by boat. From the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in Bojiao, Laos, you can take a boat directly to Chiang Saen in Thailand, and the procedure is very simple.
Therefore, many Chinese tourists start from Xishuangbanna, pass through Mohan Port to Laos, then to the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in Laos, and then to Chiang Saen in Thailand to Chiang Mai. And Laos and Thailand can both sign on arrival, you can just go.
Stand at the pier of the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in Laos, opposite the Golden Buddha in the Golden Triangle of Thailand, drinking the same river water. At this pier you can take a boat to Chiang Saen, then you can go to Chiang Mai, and from Chiang Rai and then take a plane to Bangkok and other places.
"Dear tourists, you are leaving Laos for Thailand." Tips at the pier are available in three languages: Lao, Chinese and English.
That day I stood at the pier in Laos and flipped through the pictures I had taken in the Golden Triangle opposite Chiang Rai, so close and so far away.
11. Traditional Lao cuisine
That day the local took us to a restaurant that said it was authentic local Lao cuisine, right on the banks of the Mekong River. To be honest, traditional Lao dishes are not very tasty and very simple to make, Lao cuisine is characterized by sour and raw.
The most traditional Lao dishes are grilled fish, chicken, shrimp, stir-fried minced meat with coriander, shredded papaya... Most are bland and have no taste.
The belly of the grilled fish will be stuffed with seasonings, but the fish still has no taste.
In Laos, vegetables are mostly eaten raw. I can eat cucumber lettuce raw, but cowpea cabbage sprouts and the like are eaten raw, so I can't eat it a bit.
Interestingly, Laotian locals generally eat sticky rice without knives, forks and chopsticks, but instead use their hands to grasp rice. The glutinous rice is packed in a rattan basket, dug out by hand, and squeezed into a small rice ball.
By the way, it will be more convenient to go to Laos Bojiao in the future!
Bojiao International Airport is nearing completion. The airport is 5 kilometers away from the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone and about 7 kilometers away from Dongpeng County, and when the project is completed and fully put into operation, it will handle up to 2 million passengers per year.
Even in the Bojiao Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone, there are golf courses, it's hard to imagine! Subvert your concept of Laos.
For a long time, the Golden Triangle has been a place of drugs, war, and evil, and today, the darkness of the poppy era has long disappeared.
This trip to Laos, the overall feeling is that this is a beautiful, peaceful, primitive and modern Buddhist country.
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Jiangnan Little Woman One / Global Traveler / Arrival at the North and South Poles / Well-known travel self-media
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