Current and proposed railways of Southeast Asia – every line mapped In 2016 I compiled every current and proposed railway in Southeast Asia and created the Future Southeast Asia Railway Map, which depicted all current and proposed railways as a subway map. [Future Southeast Asia Railway Map – 2016 version (Click for larger image).] I’ve […]
Cafes in Vientiane, Laos
During my trip to Vientiane I did the rounds of the best cafes in the city. It had been nearly seven years since my last visit to Vientiane so I was curious to see how much has changed. There is now a good selection of cafes to work from here, so whether you are on […]
Vientiane Travel Guide
Travel Notes > Laos > Vientiane Travel Guide Vientiane is the capital of Laos and it’s often described as the sleepy capital, though such descriptions are relative. If you have just come from Bangkok then you will feel like you have arrived in a big country town. If you have just come back from a […]
How to get from Bangkok to Vientiane by train
I like to travel by train in Southeast Asia if it’s a reasonable alternative to flying. For the trip from Bangkok to Vientiane, getting the train is a comfortable and economic way to go. First off I will say that the train doesn’t actually go to Vientiane; it stops at a station about 16km away. […]
Flight Review: Lao Airlines – Vientiane to Ho Chi Minh City
Flight: Lao Airlines QV 515 From: Vientiane (VTE) To: Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) Via: Pakse (PKZ) I flew with Lao Airlines from Vientiane to Ho Chi Minh City. I compared flights with Skyscanner to find what my options were. At the time of my travel there was no non-stop flight between the two cities. […]
Hotel Review: iHouse-New Hotel, Vientiane – Laos
Hotel Name: iHouse-New Hotel Address: 72/6 Pangkham Road, Vientiane, Laos I stayed at the iHouse-New Hotel in Vientiane, Laos. I booked online at the rate of $13.50USD per night, and I selected it out for its location in the city. Laos is a small city so you can’t really go wrong with hotel location if […]
Hotel Review: Avalon Hotel, Vientiane – Laos
Hotel Name: Avalon Hotel Address: 70 Rue Phnom Pen, Vientiane, Laos I stayed at the Avalon Hotel in Vientiane. I booked online at the rate of $13.50USD per night, and I picked it out for its price and location. Vientiane is a compact city so I don’t think there is any particular advantageous location. As […]
Future Southeast Asia – A map of proposed railways in Southeast Asia
What would Southeast Asia look like if it had a fully functioning railway network? I have thought about this many times, usually while on a bus ride from hell (Huay Xai to Luang Prabang springs to mind). I envision it to be a cross between China’s high-speed rail network and Europe’s international InterCity services. With […]
Laos Travel Guide
Travel Notes > Laos Travel Guide Destination Guides Luang Prabang Savannakhet Vientiane Nomadic Notes Blog Posts Luang Prabang Notes on Luang Prabang: Soups, trains, bad bikes, and sad waterfalls The best cafes in Luang Prabang Vang Vieng Notes on Vang Vieng: The one with all the Friends Bars Vientiane Cafes in Vientiane, Laos Accommodation Laos […]
Savannakhet Travel Guide
Travel Notes > Laos > Savannakhet Travel Guide This town on the Mekong River was once a French trading port. Few colonial era buildings remain though the Talat Yen Plaza remains low-rise and uncluttered. Savannakhet is often described as “sleepy”, which is not a bad thing if you are looking for some respite from the […]
