The Journal
Long-form writing on Laos.
Train routes, slow boats, hill tribes, food, and the parts of Laos most platforms ignore. Written by Lao hosts, the Orchao team, and travellers who came back with stories worth telling.
Latest articles
Recently published.
TransportJun 2026
The Slow Boat from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang: Worth the Hype? (2026)
An honest 2026 guide to the Mekong slow boat from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang — real prices, what to expect in Pakbeng, and whether the 2-day journey is worth it.
By Khamla Vongphachanh
TransportJun 2026
Luang Prabang Airport (LPQ): Everything You Need to Know in 2026
A complete guide to Luang Prabang International Airport in 2026 — airlines, routes, transfers into town, and the smartest way to get to your hotel.
By Leuth Sengphachanh
TransportJun 2026
Is the Lao-China Railway Worth It? A Local's Take (2026)
An honest review of the Laos-China Railway from people who actually live in Laos. What it changed, what it didn't, and whether it's worth the booking hassle.
By Leuth Sengphachanh
TransportJun 2026
Vientiane to Luang Prabang: Train, Bus, Van, or Flight? (2026)
A no-nonsense comparison of every way to get from Vientiane to Luang Prabang in 2026 — train vs flight vs minivan vs bus. Real prices, real times, what we recommend.
By Leuth Sengphachanh
TransportJun 2026
How to Book Laos Train Tickets in 2026 (The Honest Guide)
Everything you actually need to know to book Laos-China Railway tickets in 2026 — the official app, third-party sites, the ticket office, and what to do when seats sell out.
By Leuth Sengphachanh
DestinationsMay 2026
Luang Prabang with kids: a five-day plan
Where the kids will love, where they'll be bored, and how to pace it so everyone makes it through the heat.
By Anong Khounvilay
DestinationsMay 2026
The Bolaven coffee loop in three days (or four if you can)
How to ride the southern coffee country properly. Where to stop, where to sleep, where to eat.
By Khamphan Vilaysane
DestinationsMay 2026
Where to stay in Luang Prabang (without the chains)
Family-run guesthouses, restored colonial houses, and one stilted homestay across the river. All Lao-owned.
By Anong Khounvilay
DestinationsMay 2026
River tubing in Vang Vieng: is it still good?
The reformed version of the once-infamous activity. What to expect now, and whether it's worth it.
By Vieng Sengaloun
Food & cultureMay 2026
A Lao Food Primer: Larb, Tam Mak Hoong, Mok Pa
The three dishes you should eat first in Laos — what they are, why they matter, where to find the good ones.
By Mae Lai Phommachit
PracticalMay 2026
Tipping in Laos: what locals actually do
Restaurants, guides, drivers, hotels — the real answer to a question every traveler asks.
By Leuth Sengphachanh
PracticalApr 2026
When to visit Laos: a month-by-month guide
The dry season vs the green season vs the burning season. What each is actually like.
By Leuth Sengphachanh
DestinationsApr 2026
Vientiane vs Luang Prabang: where should you go?
Both, ideally. But if you only have one, here's how to choose based on what you actually want.
By Souksavanh Phimsamai
PracticalApr 2026
Packing for Laos (the realistic version)
What you'll actually need across the wet season, the dry season, and the cool nights up north.
By Leuth Sengphachanh
Food & cultureMar 2026
What to eat in Luang Prabang, beyond the night market.
The buffet alley is famous. It is also the worst food in town. Here are the dishes you should actually try, and where to find them.
By Vanida Keomany
Local storiesFeb 2026
Trekking to Khmu villages: how to visit respectfully.
Highland village tourism done badly is exploitative. Done well, it directly funds the village. Here is how the good versions actually work.
By Bounmy Sengdara
DestinationsJan 2026
Two weeks in Laos: a north-to-south itinerary that actually works.
Most two-week Laos itineraries are too ambitious. This one isn't. Day-by-day from Luang Prabang to 4,000 Islands.
By Ken FJ Her
PracticalJan 2026
Laos visa in 2026: what changed, what didn't.
Visa-on-arrival, e-visa, land border rules, the new digital arrival card. A current breakdown by nationality, with prices in USD.
By Leuth Sengphachanh
DestinationsDec 2025
The Bolaven Plateau is where Lao coffee comes from.
Most travelers never make it to the southern coffee country. They should. The two-day motorbike loop is one of the great underrated road trips of Southeast Asia.
By Leuth Sengphachanh
TransportDec 2025
Private van or public bus? An honest breakdown.
Sometimes the bus is fine; sometimes it's a regret. Four routes where we recommend a private van, and three where the bus is genuinely better.
By Khamla Vongphachanh
Food & cultureNov 2025
Sticky rice is the soul of Lao food.
Laos eats more sticky rice per capita than anywhere on earth. Here is why, how to eat it properly with your hands, and the four dishes you would never order in a restaurant.
By Vanida Keomany
Our writers
Who writes the Journal.
Leuth Sengphachanh
guide · Vientiane
Photography-focused guide, runs sunrise/golden-hour tours.
9articles
Khamla Vongphachanh
guide · Nong Khiaw
Northern village trek guide, fluent in Khmu.
2articles
Anong Khounvilay
guide · Luang Prabang
Anong leads cultural and family tours through Luang Prabang.
2articles
Vanida Keomany
2articles
Phoxay Inthavong
guide · Plain of Jars
Xieng Khouang Plain-of-Jars licensed UXO-safe guide.
1article
Khamphan Vilaysane
guide · Pakse
Bolaven plateau coffee guide and homestay coordinator.
1article
Vieng Sengaloun
guide · Vang Vieng
Vang Vieng karst hiker — knows every back trail.
1article
Mae Lai Phommachit
guide · Luang Prabang
Cooking-class host. Family kitchen in central Luang Prabang.
1article
The newsletter
One Laos story a month.
A monthly email with one long piece from the Journal, plus a short list of what's worth knowing this month — festivals, new routes, seasonal travel windows. No spam, no daily noise. Unsubscribe in one click.
Joined by travelers planning real trips to Laos. One email per month.
Journal series
Long reads, grouped.
Themed collections from the Journal — start anywhere.
Ready to actually go?
Stop reading. Start planning.
When you're ready to turn the reading into a real trip, browse the tours or message us on WhatsApp. We answer in 15 minutes.