Southeast Asia Travel Notes

A small and beautiful town surrounded by mountains and rivers, Vangvieng is a place of delight and wonder for visitors from around the world. The city is about 150 km north of Vientiane, situated between the capital city and the World Heritage town of Luang Prabang. The main attractions are the clean and clear water of the Nam Xong river, karst outcroppings, caves and mountain scenery. The town has more than 30 natural caves, and most places of interest are accessible to visitors all year round.   Kayaking in Vangvieng, Laos Laos is steeped in Buddhist traditions, has a colourful culture and is famed ... Read Full Story

Japan from Friday hosts the leaders of Southeast Asia's five Mekong River nations as the world's number two economy looks to deepen ties with the resource-rich region amid growing influence from China. Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, who has pushed the concept of an EU-style Asian Community since taking office in September, will meet his counterparts from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam for the two-day meeting. Aside from broad regional issues, the Japanese side also highlighted the significance of Myanmar Prime Minister Thein Sein visiting, saying it would be a good opportunity for dialogue between the two countries. Much of the region along the ... Read Full Story

The headline Yee Peng Loy Krathong Festival Chiang Mai 2009 should better be called: Chiang Mai under fire, because what was going on in Chiang Mai was more like a warzone than a festival... Read Full Story

A small and beautiful town surrounded by mountains and rivers, Vangvieng is a place of delight and wonder for visitors from around the world. The city is about 150 km north of Vientiane, situated between the capital city and the World Heritage town of Luang Prabang. The main attractions are the clean and clear water of the Nam Xong river, karst outcroppings, caves and mountain scenery. The town has more than 30 natural caves, and most places of interest are accessible to visitors all year round.   Kayaking in Vangvieng, Laos Read Full Story

After hearing about a boating the Mekong River , there was absolutely no way I could leave the country of Laos without embarking on the water journey. I happen to be getting a Thai visa in Vientiane and had some spare time to explore the country a little further North. After a number of ultra lazy days in the charming town of Luang Prabang and setting up the transportation logistics, I boarded a slow boat en route to the Thai border. For 250,000 Kip (equal to about $30) we would receive 3 days of transportation all the way from Luang Prabang , Laos, to ... Read Full Story