After highlighting Pakse as one of Asia’s most underrated places in December, CNN has yet again shed a spotlight on Laos as one of the best places one should visit in 2023.
As international travel is slowly but steadily coming up to speed after over two years of Covid-19 disruptions, CNN has recommended a list of 23 countries that deserve a visit in the new year. And Laos, a country that has always been a favorite of travelers reveling in the joys of slow travel, is one of them.
The article says, “thanks to the 2021 opening of a semi-high-speed railway, it’s easier than ever to get around the country at a quicker pace, shaving hours off journeys that previously took full days to travel.”
It also points out that tourists might have to make some tough choices as from the north to the south of the country, there is plenty to see in Laos.
“Towering karst peaks await visitors to adventure-haven Vang Vieng, while UNESCO-listed Luang Prabang is filled with French-colonial heritage, Buddhist ritual, and natural beauty. (Luxury seekers will want to check into the Rosewood Luang Prabang, with its stylish hilltop tents)
“The mysterious Plain of Jars, a megalithic archaeological site, can be found in the Xieng Khouang Plateau. For a once-in-a-lifetime experience that makes a difference, head for Bokeo Province and join one of the Gibbon Experience’s overnight treks. Guests of this tourism-based conservation project spend the night in the world’s tallest treehouses — only accessible by zipline — among wild, black-crested gibbons,” it adds.
Prominent global media outlets like Wanderlust and Fodor’s, have also echoed the sentiment that Laos should feature in every traveler’s bucket list in 2023.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/ຫລວງພະບາງ.ຕາກວາງຊີ2.jpeg1024768Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2023-01-03 13:44:492023-01-03 13:44:54Laos is One of CNN’s Best Destinations to Visit in 2023
Buddha Park, also known as Wat Xieng Khuan has been selected as the first local national heritage listing in Hatsaifong District, Vientiane Capital.
KPL reports that the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism deemed the park as a local National Heritage site after a survey of proposed sites.
Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism, Mr. Vansy Kuamua, and Mayor of Hatsaifong District, Mr. Bounpheng Sinavongphone, along with other government officials, attended the ceremony to announce the news and unveil the new gate to the sculpture park that was constructed during the Covid-19 outbreak.
The ministry plans to list more places of cultural or historical significance as national heritage sites between 2021 and 2025, including the Tinsoy Stupa in Pakngum District, and a sacred well in Phonexay Temple in Saysettha District.
Also a major tourist attraction, the Buddha park has over 200 statues and is located about 25 kilometers from the city center in a meadow beside the Mekong river.
Laos continues to restore ancient and sacred sites to ensure accessibility and improve facilities for domestic and international tourists during the peak travel season. The renovation of Nam Phou Square in Vientiane Capital is now complete as well, with the iconic fountain and surrounding park officially handed over to the public.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Buddha-Park-in-Vientiane-Capital.jpg6271200Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2022-12-29 14:22:592023-01-03 13:42:31Buddha Park in Vientiane Capital Listed as National Heritage Site
In an article published on its website on Wednesday, CNN mentioned Champasack’s Pakse district as one of the top underrated places in Asia.
While acknowledging the obvious charms of the “elegant Luang Prabang and adventure-loving Vang Vieng” CNN says in the article, “Pakse is diverse, pulsing and modern. It has buildings left over from the days of French colonialism, but these days Vietnamese and Chinese communities bring their foods, traditions, and references alongside the existing Lao presence.
While in town, head up to the giant gold Buddha at Wat Pho Salao, stroll along the Mekong at sunset, and then go off to the Bolaven Plateau to get deeper into the jungle.”
Jason Rolan, an American traveler and tourism professional in Laos, also echoed CNN’s sentiment in giving more recognition to the place.
He said, “Pakse is often overlooked as merely a stopover for trips in Southern Laos, but it’s finally time it gets the attention it deserves.”
“From delicious food to interesting neighborhoods downtown, as well as some of the country’s best coffee, there is a lot to love. It’s well worth the climb to the top of Phou Salao to pay respects to the huge Buddha that presides over the city, as well as admiring the view over the area.”
Last month, Laos made it to the top five travel spots for slow travel in 2023 by National Geographic for its “community-led conservation efforts; groundbreaking work in ecotourism, sustainability, and inclusive travel; and meaningful ways for travelers to give back”.
Earlier this month, celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay also hailed Laos as the top food destination in the world saying that “food was just off the charts”.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Pakse-temple.jpg6271200Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2022-12-28 14:17:462022-12-26 14:19:41CNN Lists Pakse as One of Asia’s Most Underrated Places
Laos is One of CNN’s Best Destinations to Visit in 2023
After highlighting Pakse as one of Asia’s most underrated places in December, CNN has yet again shed a spotlight on Laos as one of the best places one should visit in 2023.
As international travel is slowly but steadily coming up to speed after over two years of Covid-19 disruptions, CNN has recommended a list of 23 countries that deserve a visit in the new year. And Laos, a country that has always been a favorite of travelers reveling in the joys of slow travel, is one of them.
The article says, “thanks to the 2021 opening of a semi-high-speed railway, it’s easier than ever to get around the country at a quicker pace, shaving hours off journeys that previously took full days to travel.”
It also points out that tourists might have to make some tough choices as from the north to the south of the country, there is plenty to see in Laos.
“Towering karst peaks await visitors to adventure-haven Vang Vieng, while UNESCO-listed Luang Prabang is filled with French-colonial heritage, Buddhist ritual, and natural beauty. (Luxury seekers will want to check into the Rosewood Luang Prabang, with its stylish hilltop tents)
“The mysterious Plain of Jars, a megalithic archaeological site, can be found in the Xieng Khouang Plateau. For a once-in-a-lifetime experience that makes a difference, head for Bokeo Province and join one of the Gibbon Experience’s overnight treks. Guests of this tourism-based conservation project spend the night in the world’s tallest treehouses — only accessible by zipline — among wild, black-crested gibbons,” it adds.
Prominent global media outlets like Wanderlust and Fodor’s, have also echoed the sentiment that Laos should feature in every traveler’s bucket list in 2023.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2023/01/03/laos-is-one-of-cnns-best-destinations-to-visit-in-2023/
Buddha Park in Vientiane Capital Listed as National Heritage Site
Buddha Park, also known as Wat Xieng Khuan has been selected as the first local national heritage listing in Hatsaifong District, Vientiane Capital.
KPL reports that the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism deemed the park as a local National Heritage site after a survey of proposed sites.
Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism, Mr. Vansy Kuamua, and Mayor of Hatsaifong District, Mr. Bounpheng Sinavongphone, along with other government officials, attended the ceremony to announce the news and unveil the new gate to the sculpture park that was constructed during the Covid-19 outbreak.
The ministry plans to list more places of cultural or historical significance as national heritage sites between 2021 and 2025, including the Tinsoy Stupa in Pakngum District, and a sacred well in Phonexay Temple in Saysettha District.
Also a major tourist attraction, the Buddha park has over 200 statues and is located about 25 kilometers from the city center in a meadow beside the Mekong river.
Laos continues to restore ancient and sacred sites to ensure accessibility and improve facilities for domestic and international tourists during the peak travel season. The renovation of Nam Phou Square in Vientiane Capital is now complete as well, with the iconic fountain and surrounding park officially handed over to the public.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2022/12/23/buddha-park-in-vientiane-capital-listed-as-national-heritage-site/
CNN Lists Pakse as One of Asia’s Most Underrated Places
In an article published on its website on Wednesday, CNN mentioned Champasack’s Pakse district as one of the top underrated places in Asia.
While acknowledging the obvious charms of the “elegant Luang Prabang and adventure-loving Vang Vieng” CNN says in the article, “Pakse is diverse, pulsing and modern. It has buildings left over from the days of French colonialism, but these days Vietnamese and Chinese communities bring their foods, traditions, and references alongside the existing Lao presence.
While in town, head up to the giant gold Buddha at Wat Pho Salao, stroll along the Mekong at sunset, and then go off to the Bolaven Plateau to get deeper into the jungle.”
Jason Rolan, an American traveler and tourism professional in Laos, also echoed CNN’s sentiment in giving more recognition to the place.
He said, “Pakse is often overlooked as merely a stopover for trips in Southern Laos, but it’s finally time it gets the attention it deserves.”
“From delicious food to interesting neighborhoods downtown, as well as some of the country’s best coffee, there is a lot to love. It’s well worth the climb to the top of Phou Salao to pay respects to the huge Buddha that presides over the city, as well as admiring the view over the area.”
Last month, Laos made it to the top five travel spots for slow travel in 2023 by National Geographic for its “community-led conservation efforts; groundbreaking work in ecotourism, sustainability, and inclusive travel; and meaningful ways for travelers to give back”.
Earlier this month, celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay also hailed Laos as the top food destination in the world saying that “food was just off the charts”.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2022/12/21/cnn-lists-pakse-as-one-of-asias-most-underrated-places/