The CIA nicknamed the area bordering China, Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos as the ‘ Golden Triangle’. It was once one of the largest opium producers in the world. These days, Laos is a second-tier Southeast Asia tourist destination. It’s less developed and less traveled than Bali or Thailand. But it has nice scenery, rich culture, and friendly people. Is that enough to justify a visit? Based on our findings, it depends on if you’re a tourist or vlogger.
A common way to extend a video’s length is with extra chatter. That’s great for passing the time, but frustrating for those seeking information.
For this reason, we’ve boiled down relevant bits from vloggers recently in Laos. They cover Laos tipsy tubing, food, sightseeing, nightlife, and dangers:
Laos Travel Realities 2023
Is Laos worth visiting in 2023? That question is relevant to both tourists and vlogger content creators. To answer it, we summarized conditions on the ground through YouTuber vlog clips about the country.
Laos Tipsy Tubing Is Dangerous
Tipsy tubing involves chugging beers while floating on an inner tube down a Laos river. The reality is not as awesome as in marketing brochures. The water is rocky and doesn’t seem super clean. There are no safety protocols in place.
Locals will chuck you an inner tube, sell you beers, and count their earnings. YouTuber DumbBritAbroad gave it a try. He ended up tearing his meniscus after smashing his knees on river rocks. This 1-minute clip explains:
Bottom line: tipsy tubing is not worth it for vloggers — drunken budget travelers pissing in a river isn’t compelling content. It’s not worth it for tourists either — smashing your knees on rocks will not spice up your holiday.
Laos Food Is Basic
Wikipedia(1) says that the staples of Laos cuisine are sticky rice, green papaya salad, and larb. Larb is a spicy mix of marinated meat or raw fish with herbs, greens, and spices.
Notably, Northeastern Thai-style (Isaan) food is derived from Lao cuisine(2). If you like one, you’ll like the other. Even so, Youtuber Brennybrez found that most tourists will mainly have access to ‘tourist food’ (banana pancakes, fruit shakes, sandwiches):
Bottom line: tipsy tubing is not worth it for vloggers — drunken budget travelers pissing in a river isn’t compelling content. It’s not worth it for tourists either — smashing your knees on rocks will not spice up your holiday.
Laos Danger: Drug Shakedowns
Drug stings for police shakedowns are a thing in Laos. Marijuana and opium are illegal. But they’re also sold openly (with menus) at many bars that cater to foreign tourists.
Undercover cops also frequent these places. They’ll chat you up to assure you that smoking weed is ‘allowed’ and ‘safe’. After they verify your consumption, they’ll send some cops to your hotel room for a shakedown.
According to this clip filmed by YouTuber @cristravelss, a typical shakedown will cost you around £250 (USD $315):
Bottom line: don’t smoke weed in Laos. It’s not very good and can get you arrested. Save those urges for Thailand. There, the marijuana is legal and excellent.
Laos Sightseeing: Temples And Waterfalls
Luang Prabang is a cluster of 33 villages that form the UNESCO Town Of Luang Prabang World Heritage Site(3). UNESCO awarded it in 1995 for its rich architectural, religious and cultural heritage.
Youtuber Paddy Doyle raves about this place as ‘magical’. However, his depiction in this 45-second clip makes it seem appealing only for a certain type:
Holiday travelers on a once-in-a-lifetime vacation may find this town’s charms enthralling. On the flip side, experienced travelers who are burned out on temples may find Paddy’s description super-dreary:
There are just a handful of noteworthy nightlife spots in Luang Prabang(4). In comparison, a Google maps search shows dozens of vegan cake cafes.
Bottom line: If you prefer lattes over beer, this is your place. A must-visit for package tourists and honeymooners. In contrast, travel vloggers won’t find many stories worth telling from here.
Verdict: Worth It For Sightseeing Tourists
Is Laos Worth Visiting For Tourists Or Vloggers In 2023? Here’s a summary of our findings:
- Tipsy tubing is dangerous: you can smash your knees on rocks and end up in hospital needing surgery.
- Laos Cuisine Is Basic: expect a less dynamic version of Thai food and lots of sandwiches.
- Drug shakedowns are common: bars openly sell drugs in bars that are teeming with undercover cops.
- Sightseeing is predictable: breathtaking for newbs. Experienced travelers uninterested in temples may get bored here.
Out of the above categories, only sightseeing stands out as something special. On that front, experienced Asia travelers are most likely burned out on temples (if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all).
In contrast, first-time visitors to Asia will find the novelty of everything superb. The sights, food, people, and ambiance will all captivate — for at least a few weeks.
Unfortunately, tubing, temples, and waterfalls don’t make for compelling content. Youtubers building up a travel vlog will not find much to propel them here. Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, and other destinations hold much greater appeal.
Most Popular SE Asia Tourist Destinations 2022
Footnotes
- Wikipedia. ‘Lao cuisine’, updated 13 June 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lao_cuisine, (accessed 28 June, 2023).
- Mark Andrews. ‘Is that Thai food, or Lao? 5 typical dishes from Laos that will help you see the difference’, January 16, 2020. https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3046167/thai-food-or-lao-5-typical-dishes-laos-will-help-you-see, (accessed 28 June, 2023).
- Wikipedia. ‘Luang Prabang’, updated 16 June 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luang_Prabang, (accessed 28 June, 2023).
- MadMonkey. ‘Luang Prabang Nightlife Guide for Backpackers in 2023’, May 8, 2023. https://madmonkeyhostels.com/h2o_blog/luang-prabang-nightlife/, (accessed 28 June, 2023).
