Laos has the stigma of being the most bombed country, per capita, in the world. I was expecting to learn about the impact of the Vietnam War later in our trip - in Vietnam actually - but it was not until arriving in Vientiane that I discovered the scale of the problem that still haunts this small country. My limited knowledge of the 1964 to 1973 period of war, which saw the Americans undertake 580,000 bombing missions on Laos alone, is shockingly bad and somethin...

I know very few people that have been to Laos and having spent a few days in the second city, Luang Prabang, I am thinking that I should make it my mission to promote this place as a great, slightly off the beaten track, safe, good value and relaxed city to visit. It is well geared up for the tourist and travellers alike. With a rather relaxed French ambience, a plethora of very good restaurants and views over the mighty Mekong River this is a good place to spe...