I HAD TO LEAVE LAOS 🇱🇦 😭 Luang Prabang Morning Market Vlog

Learn from my mistakes! Laos is a beautiful country but I had to leave after a week because I visited during the wrong time.
Burning season in Thailand is well documented but as Laos is smaller, has less agriculture I didn't think it would be as bad I was wrong.
I shot this video March 7. When we entered Laos we didn't notice any issues in Vientiane but Vang Vieng was much worse, and then Nong Khiaw and Luang Pabang were so hot and the air burned my throat.
Eventually we had to give up and fly to Cambodia where we knew it would likely be as hot but burning season wouldn't be a problem.

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00:00 Luang Prabang
01:33 Mekong River
02:15 Lao Building Dams
05:17 Luang Prabang Morning Market
08:47 Price of Tuk Tuks and Loca App
09:59 Royal Palace Museum in Luang Prabang
11:05 Burning Season in Laos
12:33 It's too Hot in Laos

#laos #Luangprabang #laofood

[SteveBNFASIA]

Pak Lay hydro project is way south (downstream) of LP. There is a hydro project being built just upstream of LP which is a run of river dam. This allows the same cubic litreage to flow as it was studied previous to the construction. There are also 'fish ladders' designed within the construction to allow fish movement up and downstream. For river transportation there is also a navigation lock allowing boats to pass through the dam. Not ALL dams on the river have this design, but LPHPP and Xayaburi dam do.

[goldwingerppg]

Luang Prabang was my favorite location in Laos, but you missed a wide angle shots and the historic foot bridge?

[nahvilavong]

Hi Angelina ! Laung Prabang city was birthplace my parents grandparents. I love that town enjoy your trip

[sinnakhonesyhalath]

If you have a chance, come back and visit Laos again ..
Have a nice trip to Cambodia and all the best to you
Greetings from Germany .🇩🇪

[anferneec]

Fantastic video Ayngelina! Seeing the sights, the streets, the market and the river, you've brought back amazing memories and feelings of my time there. I have family in Luang Prabang and I love being there. It's truly a special place.

As one friend, an American yoga teacher who lived and taught in Luang Prabang for a while once said to me "you don't go to Luang Prabang to do, you go to Luang Prabang to be." I thought that was such an apt way to describe the vibe there.

Khoi soy in Luang Prabang for breakfast is the best!

It saddens me to hear abut the Chinese dam project. I agree, it will negatively impact life on the river and displace many of the people there. The air pollution problem also worries me.

Glad to hear that you'll be returning soon. Enjoy Cambodia!

[LK-embv]

I remember travelling Laos and other parts of SEA 10 years ago. I returned this year and it’s more “bourgeoisie” in places like Luang Prabang. It’s really upsetting how much gentrification has changed the tourism landscape.

First explorers and travellers venture to a place making it “cool” and proves to those more rich, that it is safe to visit. Thus prices go up, local food places get pushed out and French bakeries and cafes (as an example) open up to cater to this new type of tourists.

Honestly, the difference is night and day. Much more difficult to have a “local”, Lao-experience nowadays.

You said you don’t look down on people that take package tours, but you’re still part of the more “bougie” tourists. Package tours don’t change this.

[travelswithminky]

I think you should avoid the whole South East Asia during the burning season for your health.

[G-wong]

Hello, I'm Thai. I'm glad to get to know and visit different areas of ASEAN countries. Thank you for presenting the good things of each area. I hope you enjoy your travels. Please maintain your health and safety. From Thai people.👌🙏

[alecwhitehouse]

We were in Luang Prabang March of 2023. The pollution problem actually started in Chiang Mai, Thailand. I thought for certain it was COVID 19, but all tests I took were negative. Several of us on the tour with a constant cough and burning lungs/throat. Wonderful places to see, but not during burning season. Where else can you get fantastic meals for jus a few bucks?

[nicolearmanno]

To understand more about the impacts of dams in Laos please watch Australian Laotian movie called Rocket. It shows the displacement caused. A lot of these hydroelectric schemes were done with Australian money in the 90s. I believe now the new projects are Chinese firms.

[ExpatGringo]

We came for the heat and stayed for the smoke! NOT!😢 You're a trooper, but it was a wise decision to leave and come back when the air quality improves. I actually enjoyed the different "vibe" of this video! Hey, it isnt always rainbows and unicorns. See you in Cambodia!❤

[WisdomTree]

Great insight info, TYSM for sharing and hope to see more, such a great info all around 💚

[wp]

i have not been to LP in a few years. went there in 1999 first time and fell in love with the place. there was hardly a car and very little motorbikes back then and you were lucky to see any men, seemingly they were all stil in prison for helping the us in the SWinL kids and old women done the work in the market. i was offered a job over xmas dinner to help build a 5* hotel in LP, if only i had been in better situation at the time

[robertjackson]

I heard when the dams are built you will no longer be able do the 2 day long boat trip. Do you know when the estimated date is when they will no longer be able to run the boats?

[James-lurh]

Love your videos. Ayngelina, I heard there are no currency exchange in Luang Prabang. Is this correct.

[pamelajohnson]

Omg you making hungry every time im watching your video 😂. I love the exploration .

[nLaos]

here is one of the best VDO, thanks so much

[lizcarlyle]

Selemat Pagi, A & A, beautiful drone shot of architecture in Lao! Lari lari secapat anda bisa...run as fast as u can out of the country & start covering your face! Consider cooling gaiters supposedly keeping u "chilled out" for hours. Feel 4 u & all the Lao people. Looking forward 2 days & nights in Cambodia but be prepared 4 more heat! Take care. 💜

[cc永]

get to cambodia and get to the first mountain lodge you can find. you need fresh cool mountain humid air to ease those lungs! or back to Indonesia and recuperate on the highland shores of lake toba!

[bennejat]

Thanks a lot...warm regards from Turkey