I want to thank you for sharing your field trip to Laos. The places you visited are t places that I didn’t get a chance to go visit while I was living in Laos because of lack of roads and transportation. I’m talking about 40 years ago. Things were still not as modern or improved as today. Laos has come a long way. Thank you Mr. Compass. I appreciated your videos. Mr. Tong Yang, Minnesota USA.
Love the videos mark thanks for posting. rained constantly for the last 48 hours in danang. Had some positive news yesterday NO CASES in danang. Stay safe mate.
Always love your travelogues and this one is no exception. Not only is Vang Vieng one of my favorite places on earth, but I have done some memorable cycling trips to and from Vang Vieng as well. I started going there in the early 2000s and so happy I experienced it so often when I did. While the crazy farang tubers have been slowed down, we now have the hordes of Chinese tourists on insanely loud 4-wheelers shattering the peace on the other side of the river. Cannot imagine the changes that will take place now that train is coming online. I am happy for my friends there as it will bring some prosperity but it will hasten the demise of what makes Vang Vieng so special. Have had to postpone my travels there in 2020, and now 2021. Our plan is to return in 2022 and I have a new cycling route planned in the area that should partially avoid the congestion. Progress?!? And I know what you mean about sometimes feeling out of place as the old-timer backpacker...but keep fighting the good fight! See you on the dusty trails!
Thanks Michael. The tour group scene was just getting started when I was last there. Shame to hear it's grown so much. As you say, everything in Laos is in peril now - the assymetry between this tiny country and its neighbours makes it so fragile. Looking through Luang Prabang footage right now. Hard to be optimistic about how things will unfold once the train pulls in...
Some of the walks, like the one around 14:00ish, seem rather dangerous to do solo, especially when the terrain is wet…you’d be in big trouble if you sprained an ankle, or worse…
Nice to see you enjoying some calm tubing there Mark - I did something similarly sedate about six years ago, in a river near Phong Nha. I seem to remember there was a little restaurant there, where the patrons could catch and kill their own chicken. The tubing was there to entertain us while the staff then cooked it. Perhaps a little morbid, but I am wondering how tubing is responsible for so many injuries and deaths, when the thing doesn't ever exceed 1mph.
Great content and story telling. Heading there next week
Thanks. You can now get there by fast train. Travel well.
I want to thank you for sharing your field trip to Laos. The places you visited are t places that I didn’t get a chance to go visit while I was living in Laos because of lack of roads and transportation.
I’m talking about 40 years ago. Things were still not as modern or improved as today. Laos has come a long way.
Thank you Mr. Compass. I appreciated your videos.
Mr. Tong Yang, Minnesota USA.
Laos people seem so warm and friendly. The sceneries of the mountains are just beautiful ❤
Another great video from the archives!
Thanks for posting, I love this.
Glad you enjoy it!
Thanks Mark
Love the videos mark thanks for posting. rained constantly for the last 48 hours in danang. Had some positive news yesterday NO CASES in danang. Stay safe mate.
Hi, really enjoyed your video. Great history of the location.
Always love your travelogues and this one is no exception. Not only is Vang Vieng one of my favorite places on earth, but I have done some memorable cycling trips to and from Vang Vieng as well. I started going there in the early 2000s and so happy I experienced it so often when I did. While the crazy farang tubers have been slowed down, we now have the hordes of Chinese tourists on insanely loud 4-wheelers shattering the peace on the other side of the river. Cannot imagine the changes that will take place now that train is coming online. I am happy for my friends there as it will bring some prosperity but it will hasten the demise of what makes Vang Vieng so special. Have had to postpone my travels there in 2020, and now 2021. Our plan is to return in 2022 and I have a new cycling route planned in the area that should partially avoid the congestion. Progress?!? And I know what you mean about sometimes feeling out of place as the old-timer backpacker...but keep fighting the good fight! See you on the dusty trails!
Thanks Michael. The tour group scene was just getting started when I was last there. Shame to hear it's grown so much. As you say, everything in Laos is in peril now - the assymetry between this tiny country and its neighbours makes it so fragile. Looking through Luang Prabang footage right now. Hard to be optimistic about how things will unfold once the train pulls in...
Another great video 🙏🙏🙏
Thanks again! Appreciate the feedback ❤️
Thank you.
This was ace, thanks!
Warm, friendly people. That's what I like most about SE Asia.
Some of the walks, like the one around 14:00ish, seem rather dangerous to do solo, especially when the terrain is wet…you’d be in big trouble if you sprained an ankle, or worse…
So glad I visited V.V. before it became a total madhouse. Won't go back, despite the beautiful nature.
Yeah - there's now a rail connection from China. But I suspect it'll be mellow and perfect for at least another 6 - 12 months.
Nice to see you enjoying some calm tubing there Mark - I did something similarly sedate about six years ago, in a river near Phong Nha. I seem to remember there was a little restaurant there, where the patrons could catch and kill their own chicken. The tubing was there to entertain us while the staff then cooked it. Perhaps a little morbid, but I am wondering how tubing is responsible for so many injuries and deaths, when the thing doesn't ever exceed 1mph.
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