Laos Travel Guide: Self-Guided City Walks

Laos is a country shaped by the Mekong basin, the legacy of the Lan Xang kingdom, Theravada Buddhism, French rule, war and independence. The best cities to visit in Laos include Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and Huay Xai, each offering a different way to discover the country’s history and culture. Neywo has free audio guides for four cities in Laos, with 23 narrated places in total, available in 11 languages.

Things to do in Laos

Discover the story of Lan Xang

Laos has a long history reaching back to the 14th century, when Prince Fa Ngum founded the kingdom of Lan Xang. The name means “a million elephants”. Built around the Mekong River basin, the kingdom became a centre for overland trade and established Theravada Buddhism as the state religion.

Lan Xang later divided into the kingdoms of Luang Prabang, Vientiane and Champasak. In the late 19th century, these lands were brought together under French rule as part of French Indochina, and Vientiane once again became the capital. Laos gained full independence in 1953 as the Kingdom of Laos.

The following years were marked by civil war between the Royal Lao Armed Forces and the communist Pathet Lao. In 1975, the conflict ended with the establishment of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic by the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party. This journey from Lan Xang to the modern republic continues to shape the country’s identity.

Explore Vientiane, the capital

For travellers looking for Vientiane, Laos, the capital brings together some of the country’s most important political, religious and historical landmarks. Neywo’s guide to Vientiane includes 12 narrated places.

Pha That Luang is among the key places to discover in the city. Patuxai offers another important point in Vientiane’s built heritage, while Haw Phra Kaew and the Lao National Museum add religious and historical perspectives to a visit.

Together, these sites reveal the different layers of the capital: Buddhist tradition, national identity and the history of modern Laos.

Visit Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang is one of the main places to include in a Laos travel guide, with eight narrated places available through Neywo. The city’s highlights include Wat Xieng Thong and Wat Sen, two temples that introduce visitors to the country’s Buddhist heritage.

Kuang Si Falls offers a different setting beyond the city itself. The combination of temples, local history and the surrounding landscape makes Luang Prabang one of the essential stops for anyone exploring Laos.

See Vang Vieng

Vang Vieng has one narrated place on Neywo. It is another city to consider when planning a route through Laos, alongside the larger collections of narrated places in Vientiane and Luang Prabang.

Explore Huay Xai and Bokeo Province

On the Mekong in northern Laos, Huay Xai provides an introduction to Bokeo Province. Neywo includes two narrated places here, with Bokeo Province and Ban Houayxay among the highlighted locations.

Taste the meaning of rice in Lao culture

Rice is more than a daily food in Laos. It is connected to family memory, rituals and traditions. Sticky rice, or khao niao, is a staple of Lao cuisine, while rice planting can carry meanings that reach beyond the harvest.

Among Khammu farmers in Luang Prabang, a variety called khao kam may be planted near the house in memory of deceased parents. It may also be planted at the edge of a field to show that parents are still alive. These practices show how rice can connect the household, the land and generations of a family.

Try larb and other traditional dishes

Larb, also spelled laap or laab, is the national dish of Laos. It combines chopped meat with toasted rice, herbs, fish sauce and lime.

Other traditional dishes include Tam Mak Hoong, a green papaya salad; Khao Poon, a rice noodle soup; and Sai Oua sausage. Exploring Lao food offers more than a list of dishes: it reveals how ingredients such as rice carry both everyday and cultural meaning.

Explore Laos with a free audio guide

Neywo offers free audio guides for four cities in Laos, with 23 narrated places in total and three walking tours. Narration is available in 11 languages. The app tells the story of each place as you reach it, at your own pace, with no group and no schedule.

Download Neywo and explore Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and Huay Xai while the app guides you from one narrated place to the next.