Vientiane

I wasn't sure what to expect from Laos. All I knew was that Laos was the only landlocked country in SEA and sits below the poverty line with the most unexploded ordnance leftover from the Vietnam War. I was pleasantly surprised after arriving in the capital of Vientiane, which sits across the Mekong River from Thailand.

While Laos is known as 'The Land of a Million Elephants', I would rename it the Land of a Million Temples for the number of beautiful temples in one small city.

The city comes alive on the newly revamped waterfront where you can enjoy traditional lao cuisine while watching the sun set over the Mekong.

Due to French colonialism, Vientiane is home to some great French fare as well!

Time to head north to Vang Vieng.