Have been around a fair bit of the north, and the rumours about bad roads and long trips are accurate, but it is worth it. Luang Prabang is simply gorgeous - especially if flying in to there. Phonsavan (Plain of Jars) is an interesting trip, but it is a long and winding road from either Luang Prabang or Vientiane (6 hours by bus either way). Roads get much better from Vang Vieng to Vientiane, and both places have plenty of charm to recommend them. Vang Vieng is stunning visually - the river and limestone karsts, but an get a little overwhelmed by backpacker numbers. Vientiane has a lovely French charm to it and is the most laid back capital city I've ever been to.

I was taking slow boat from Thailand to Luang Prabang! Would definitely recommend: it is great to spend 2 days looking around, including night in small village near Mekong…. (take some food on boat, no cafeteria on it) As well Luang Prabang is one of the most beautiful cities I’ve visited: Buddhism, communism, some French flavor and Asian nature creates really special mode in this city. Just take some cash. It is only one ATM (2 years ago) in Luang Prabang …

I think it all depends on what your idea of ideal travel is. What one person's idea of fantastic is may be your idea of hell. Laos doesn't have McDonalds, Starbucks, big malls (just the one 'shopping mall' which is really just an a/c market), no fancy department stores - and these are all the reasons I love it. Travel is different and more inventive than in neighboring Thailand, less predictable, and slower-paced - again, benefits, in my opinion. If you're going looking for glitz, you'll be disappointed. If you're going looking for beauty and culture, you've hit the jack pot (til that damn McDonalds comes in!)

Beware the slow boat is SLOW. Two days, very packed, very small wooden benches. That said it is an experience. I wouldnt' do it a second time but I'm kind of glad I've done it once. Take food and a cushion (which you can buy in Huay Xai really cheaply). Luang Prabang is wonderful, as others have said. Go and visit the 'Big Brother Mouse' project there and buy some books to take onwards into your journey in Laos. The waterfalls just outside of LP are worth a visit. Get up early to watch the monks collecting alms around the streets. If you want to splash out treat yourself to a massage at the Spa Garden and a meal at L'Elephant. Tiger Trails have an Elephant camp just outside LP where they take 'retired' logging Elephants and give them a nice retirement. The Gibbon Experience in Bokeo Nature reserve (zip wiring through the forest and staying in tree houses) in North West Laos is also a great experience but can be difficult to book on in advance - often best to ask when you pitch up in Huay Xai but be aware you might have to hang around for a few days to secure a place. The road from LP to Vientienne via Vang Vieng is well trodden, and you'll get a bus no problem. It is windy though and the roads not great. Vang Vieng itself is beautiful but an example of how being in the Lonely Planet can ruin the charms of a place (all Pizza, TV bars playing 'Friends' on a loop and lots of drunken backpackers walking in the streets still in their bikinis from the famous 'tubing' down the river). Vientienne is interesting but not a patch on the beauty of LP. I flew out of Vientienne on Laos Airlines, which don't have the best safety record, but lived to tell the tale!

There is a good, newish highway (by Laotian standards) running north from Vietianne to Viang Vieng and then Luang Prabang. Easy to travel, but very windy roads (if you have motion sickness use tablets). Boat travel on Mekong is fantastic, but for the sake of the environment and locals take the slow boat. Fast boats will capzise local fishermen. Haven't been to the south, but there is a major road going south to Pakse, you can also do boat travel to the islands (famous irrawaddy river dolphins). If you can check it out before they damn the river - also river travel difficult at end of dry season (after Jan) as it's too low. If you're going to LamNamTha, be prepared to sit in the back of a truck for 8 hours which I did and was worth every minute of it. Plain of Jars, which I didn't go to, is a difficult haul by bus and based on feedback from other travelers it didn't seem worth the effort. Laos is my favourite country ever. Go and fall in love with it!!!!

I only spent a couple of days in Vientiane, but enjoyed that, and everybody we met who had been there had enjoyed it, so go there! Have heard that travel is a bit difficult though, with delays and breakdowns...

Travelling in Laos takes time, especially in the north we're there's lots of mountains and the roads are worse than in the south. Ifrastructure is clearly improving which makes travelling over land doable and if you travel during daylight, the view is really worth it.

very exciting and in any case unforgettably....!

As far as delays and breaksdowns go i guess we were lucky when we travelled northern Laos. Our bus was ok but it gets a bit cramped when more people and their stuff get on along the way. But it is worth it because what you get is the real Laos both nature and people. If you want to learn about what happened during the vietnamwar outside vietnam you should definately visit Phonsavanh...and ask the hostelowner to watch the video 'Bombies'. We were so grabbed by it we made a donation to UXO Lao when we got home! Luang Prabang is great, laid back and lots to see. Vientiane is a special capital, and the Buddha Park some kms from the city is definately worth spending a relaxed morning or afternoon. The ride there is bumpy, very bumpy.