This is the boat we took from Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw along the Nam Ou River. It snugly fit about 12 people their backpacks. We were all sitting on remarkably tiny kindergarten style chairs - amusing for the first couple of hours, then the leg cramps set in... That said, the trip was terrific and worth every bit of discomfort. The scenery, including the landscape and people-scape, was impressive. Oh yeah, no bathrooms on board (obviously due to a severe shortage of space). When the boat finally made a pit stop (4 hours after launch), the urgency and pending relief was palpable. We haven't seen people move like that since the Black Friday release of the Cabbage Patch Kids. Read more about this boat ride from Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw.
My Son is a Hindu temple complex between Hoi An and Danang. We came out at sunrise to see the temples in good light and more importantly to avoid the busloads of tourists who arrive mid-morning. As the gates of My Son opened, we were one of two couples; it was great to have the temples to ourselves. There are several temples open to the public; others are still being excavated. It is the main surviving architectural complex of the Champa dynasty; its oldest structures are believed to date back to the 4th century. Read more about a personal story at My Son.
Read more about the three levels of hill tribes we encountered on this trek.
