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"I used to think that Laos had nothing attractive for tourism. But when I came here, I found it completely different from what I imagined. Laos is truly beautiful. And if you want to experience the most, you should choose to travel independently," Mai shared with Travellive.
Pham Hong Hue (24 years old, from Hai Phong) - commonly known as Mai. After arriving in Laos, she decided to share her explorations and cultural experiences in the country on various social media platforms, and that's when the name Mai Di Lao was born.
Mai's trip to Laos began after she got married. She and her husband started a business selling dried beef, mainly to tourists in the capital Vientiane. Since then, she has been connected to Laos until now. Eight months of experiencing the culture and exploring the tourist attractions has made this girl from Hai Phong love the country even more. Mai and her husband plan to return to Vietnam by the end of this year, but she says she will miss Laos and the memorable experiences she had there.
Spending eight months living at a slower pace in Laos like a true local, Mai Di Lao (left) discovered many interesting things and experienced the culture and daily life of the people in the Land of a Million Elephants.
Slow living in Laos
"Imagine you're a tourist on a tour. When you arrive in Vientiane, you get to visit Patuxay, That Luang stupa, the Buddha Park... after a few hours of tiring travel, you're bombarded with these destinations along with the tour guide's introductions. It's sunny, and you're holding a bottle of water to quench your thirst. You won't have the energy to listen, understand, or feel anything anymore."
Conversely, when I decided to stay here and live at a slower pace with the locals, I had the time to broaden my horizons with all sorts of new things. I saw monks going on their morning alms rounds barefoot, then sharing the food with children, who were then picked up by their mothers and taken back to their tiny, dilapidated houses behind the town. Or I got to visit a different market every day. The markets in the city center were small and charming, with stalls arranged in a grid pattern. Meanwhile, the markets in the villages were covered in red dust from the road, with a few small, flimsy shacks selling fish and shrimp just caught from the stream… There are so many things to tell, but being a true Laotian local isn't easy,” Mai excitedly shared.
The photo, taken from the top of Phou Si mountain, offers a panoramic view of the peaceful town.
When visiting the Old Quarter, tourists should walk around to enjoy the warmth emanating from the rows of houses and streets. Occasionally, you might encounter monks in orange robes, carrying umbrellas and chatting on the sidewalks.
Buddha Park in the capital city of Vientiane.
During her eight months in Laos, Mai has visited three provinces: Vientiane, Vang Vieng, and Luang Prabang. She plans to visit Xieng Khouang province soon.
Vang Vieng is considered a miniature jungle of adventure sports, attracting many foreign visitors. Here, people can experience swimming in the turquoise Blue Lagoon, ziplining through the jungle, riding a Jungle Car, climbing Nam Xay mountain to admire the endless mountain and forest views of Vang Vieng, or going hot air ballooning and tubing on the Nam Song River…
Experience the Water Festival in Laos.
"What I like most about Vang Vieng is that there are so many relaxing spots along both sides of the river, like lying under the trees, dipping your feet in the water, and even wading into the stream. It feels as relaxing as when I was a child," Mai said.
As for Luang Prabang, the peaceful and clean former capital of Laos, it's hard to describe in words. It's often described as a land that heals the soul.
Mai emphasized: "Like Hue in Vietnam, anyone who comes to Luang Prabang will feel the pace of life slow down, becoming more peaceful and gentle. Indochinese architecture blends with ancient Lao architecture, gradually unfolding before your eyes. Low-lying, wide-roofed wooden houses with spacious courtyards shaded by trees – every view is captivating."
This is the main street in the old town. Walking along the street, you can stop at any shop selling colorful handcrafted jewelry, decorations, clothing, and more.
Dress in traditional Lao attire at Heuan Chan – a 19th-century wooden house located in the heart of the former capital, Luang Prabang. This is a true pre-colonial aristocratic residence, still preserving household items, room furnishings, and even clothing.
What makes Lao cuisine special?
Ready-made food stalls can be found on every main street and alley, selling a wide variety of food. They mainly sell grilled and fried dishes, and soups (in Laos, charcoal is sold everywhere, and so are plastic bags). Of all the Laotian dishes, Mai was most impressed by sticky rice served with grilled chicken and Tam Mak Houng (Laotian papaya salad). Laotian food, though simple, is still very delicious.
Laotians eat few vegetables, consume a lot of grilled food, and don't pay much attention to what they eat. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner for working people all consist of sticky rice, grilled food, and dipping sauce – enough to fill them up, warm their stomachs, and it's inexpensive. Laotians eat little rice; their main staple food is sticky rice, which they can eat with many things like vegetables, grilled meat, sausages, bamboo shoot soup, papaya salad, pork sausage, roast duck, etc.
"Say ua" and "say cooc" are both names for sausages. In Laos, there are many types of sausages with different flavors and shapes, all grilled and eaten with sticky rice. Tourists visiting Laos can buy dried beef, dried buffalo meat, and sausages as souvenirs.
Like other Southeast Asian countries, Laotians also enjoy dishes made from insects such as ant eggs, bamboo worms, and water beetles.
Laotians love drinking beer, and beer gardens and barbecue restaurants are scattered all along the streets.
Mai added: “The beer-drinking culture is what impressed me most about Laos. Lao beer was voted the best beer in Asia by Magazines. Therefore, Lao people drink beer every day, and pubs are everywhere. From 4:30 PM onwards, the pubs start getting crowded until evening. On weekends, families and groups of friends gather around tables set up in front of their houses, eating, drinking, and dancing with loud music – it's such a joyful experience.”
Besides that, Laos offers many unique and interesting experiences. For example, in Vientiane, when riding a motorbike: you either wear a full-face helmet or not wear one, and the traffic police are very friendly; they will stop you to remind you first instead of issuing a fine immediately. Additionally, riding in the back of a pickup truck and admiring Vientiane at night is an experience you should definitely try.
Upon arriving in Laos, Mai met many new friends, including Vietnamese, Thai, and Laotian people… because of some language barriers, communication in English was common.
From above, the rows of houses, blending ancient Lao and Indochinese architecture, create a peaceful and ancient atmosphere in the former capital of Luang Prabang.
The Laotian royal palace, a testament to ancient wealth, has now been transformed into a museum.
One of Mai's most memorable experiences was hanging out with a group of young Laotian friends. Mai recounted: “We sat together eating snacks and drinking beer from 9 PM. They had a unique herbal syrup drink. It was New Year's Eve, and everyone brought a few cans of beer and bags of ice. We stayed until 1 AM, and I asked to leave early. The next morning, I heard they were still listening to music and talking until 6 AM. Only then did I realize that in Laos, it's normal; young people and even parents gather like that for special occasions. In Vietnam, if you're not home by midnight, you'll be in big trouble with your mom.”
Within the grounds of Wat Xieng Thong
