Laos gets 4.6 million visitors a year to Thailand’s 33 million. These 5 places show why that’s backwards
Thailand welcomed about 33 million international visitors in 2025. Laos, its next-door neighbor, drew about 4.6 million tourists. That gap is enormous, and in my opinion it’s backwards.
Laos is no secret anymore, and its visitor numbers rose about 11% last year. But next to Thailand and Vietnam, which pulled in roughly 21 million visitors, it still feels like the quiet one. Here are five places that make the case.
1. Luang Prabang, the town that earned its UNESCO status
Luang Prabang is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it sits right where the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers meet. Gilded temples, colonial villas, and morning almsgiving ceremonies are the headline acts.
Climb Mount Phousi for the view, then spend your afternoon at Wat Xieng Thong. Wondering if a UNESCO town can still feel calm? This one does.
2. Kuang Si Falls, where the water really is that color
Kuang Si sits just outside Luang Prabang, and it’s a multi-tiered waterfall dropping into turquoise pools ringed by jungle. Yes, really, that blue is not a filter.
You can swim in the lower pools or hike to the top. There’s also a bear rescue centre nearby, which makes it a half-day well spent.
3. Vang Vieng, the party town that grew up
Vang Vieng used to be known for backpacker excess. Now it’s an outdoor playground wrapped in limestone karsts, with kayaking, caving, cycling, and hot-air ballooning on the menu.
My hot take: the sunset over the Nam Song River beats anything on the old party strip. If you want the full rundown, here are 13 of the best things to do in Vang Vieng.
4. The Plain of Jars, Southeast Asia’s strangest field
Near the town of Phonsavan, a plateau is scattered with thousands of stone jars believed to be over 2,000 years old. No, seriously, they’re just sitting out there in the grass.
It’s the kind of stop most Southeast Asia itineraries skip, which is exactly why it’s worth the detour. Who doesn’t want a bucket-list stop with no tour-bus line?
5. Si Phan Don, where the Mekong spreads out and slows down
Si Phan Don, the 4,000 Islands, is a stretch of the Mekong where the river fans out into countless islands before it reaches Cambodia. Don Det and Don Khon are the popular ones, with bike rides, waterfalls, and a chance to spot rare Irrawaddy dolphins.
I’ll say it plainly: if you can’t relax here, vacations aren’t for you. Planning a longer loop? This 3-week Laos itinerary strings these stops together.
So is Laos really that underrated?
By the numbers, yes. Laos still draws a fraction of the visitors its neighbors do, and Indie Traveller named it one of the most economical destinations for 2026, with budget travelers getting by on about US$25 a day.
Which of these five would you book first? Tell me in the comments.
If Laos has you curious, my Laos guides have more.
