Luxury Travel Testimonial - Part 8:
Laos.
 After a full day of rest at our “home away from home” in Hanoi , the Melia Hanoi, we were ready once again to move on. Next stop – a Vietnam Airlines flight from Hanoi to Vientiane , capital of Laos . Once again we went from one country to another, but right from the beginning, Luxury Travel lived up to its publicity as an agency that covers all three former Indo-Chinese countries. After meeting us at the airport here we are with the guide and driver in front of the temple which serves as the symbol of Vientiane . (Picture 38)
We stayed at a boutique hotel, the Settha Palace, a former French Governer`s residence. It was completely renovated and brand new with a pool, garden and French colonial style bed rooms with the most modern bathrooms . (Picture 39). 
Our guide fulfilled fully the itinerary and a bit more, taking us to see some of the temples and an evening cultural performance featuring traditional Lao music and dance . (Picture 40). The latter was perhaps the most unpretentious and simple semi-amateur show we had see during our trips to Asia, but definitely one of the best. During our short stay in the capital, aside from a city tour, we visited all the main sights as well as the sunset over the Mekong River which separates Laos from Thailand . So with this sunset, we saw the sunsets in four countries during our trips on the Mekong alone, that is Vietnam , Cambodia , Laos and Thailand . The visit to the main national museum of history (ancient and modern history), was very impressive even though the museum was not as the professional as others in Vietnam or Cambodia . But the content was great, a real serious introduction to the country. The only problem is that it is illegal to film or take photos in the museum and there is no book or DVD/CD available on the content. So if you are really interested in retaining the history of this fascinating but relatively unknown country, you would have to spend several hours there and take notes as our guide explains during the tour.
Vientiane is completely different, it is hard to believe that it is a capital of a country, it is so laid back, quiet and easy going. However, if you do not have time, we would suggest that you skip the capital and take a return flight from Hanoi to Luang Prabang. We flew from Vientiane to Luang Prabang with Lao Airlines and it went very well.
Luxury travel has an excellent partner in Laos and this really showed up during our stay in Luang Prabang as we met the guide at the airport . The guide, driver as well as the driver with the very spacious and luxurious van we had during our stay in the UNESCO World heritage Sight.
And the hotel, what a pleasant surprise and great suggestion by Luxury Travel and their Lao partners: the boutique Three Nagas Hotel. A former Lao home completely rebuilt by the current French architect owner, respecting the Lao traditional architecture. It perhaps was our favourite hotel during our entire trip. The garden where we had our daily breakfast is situated right on the main street of the small old town, while the bedroom and private Veranda Lao style was unique looking over the village and the street. What a place to wind down after a long two month trip! (Picture 41). But the number one factor was also location: right on the path where the monks pass every morning for the daily alms giving ceremony, famous the world over . (Picture 42)
Our guide proved to be a real expert on his town in the much the same way the guide in Cambodia`s Angkor Vat more than lived up to expectations when one is to visit such historic spots. He brought us through the temples and monasteries where we were able to have a small conversation with the monks on their activities. Once again we visited a school courtyard during recess and after classes, an eye opener for a relatively poor country such as Laos in comparison to Vietnam .
We were already impressed with our guide based on the first day. The second day we had planned a boat excursion along the Mekong and then a visit to the nearby waterfalls.
Even though by this time we had already been on many boat trips and excursions on the Mekong in Vietnam Cambodia, this one was one of the most interesting and unique. Once again we had our private  boat with the pilot and his family at the helm.
(Picture 43).
There were several planned stops going ashore, but one that really stands out is an unscheduled visit ashore to one village. It seems that it is only the Luxury Travel guide who seems to know this village because we do not think any tourists ever visited it. The people were open and frank to let us know about their life. Seeing as that we had fallen in love with Lao architecture, we were more than satisfied when we viewed and photographed these houses in this small river side village .
This the restaurant in which we ate lunch and a walking tour of another village .
After spending the better part of the day together, we had to pose for a photo with the river boat pilot, his family and the boat.
However, the day was not compete. The driver and van showed up at the end of our boat excursion to take us to the Kuang Si waterfalls. The pictures speak for themselves as we are with our guide and some friends of the guide whom he happened to meet there while they were pick-nicking. (Picture 44). We would suggest that you take at least a half a day if not a full day to relax and swim in the many natural pools as the waterfalls meanders down the mountain, depending of course on the time you have available
On the way back to Luang Prabang and our hotel, before stopping for another view of the sun setting on the Mekong , the guide and driver of course satisfied our request to see buffaloes bathing in the river.
We had planned a free day, a day to visit this wonderful and peaceful town of Luang Prabang on our own. That was the right decision. In fact we would suggest a couple of days of this if you have the time. There are many restaurants and shopping opportunities, including the night market. Food was another wonderful surprise in Laos , as good as Vietnamese, but completely different. All of this within a short walk of the hotel. If the hotel we stayed at, the Three Nagas happens to be booked by the time you reserve (there are only a few rooms), then Luxury Travel can suggest another boutique hotel on the same street, just one block away, with the quality being just as good.
We felt quite nostalgic about leaving Luang Prabang and the friendly and hospitable Lao people and its most interesting attractions making it justly so a UNESCO World Heritage sight. We highly recommend that you make time to visit at least this town in Laos .
We flew back to Hanoi with another Vietnam Airlines flight, and once again it went without a hitch.
We took a total of nine flight in Indo-China, eight with Vietnam Airlines, and we never had any problem with delays, baggage, or service. For short hauls they use the French/Italian ATR72, and for longer hauls the Airbus 320. Vietnam Airlines is now a member of IATA and because of its reputation this state airline company is increasingly partnering with other airlines and thus becoming an important player in South East Asia .
Arnold August
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