Location pins for this video (and a few extras that we didn't film but I'd highly recommend to anyone visiting Vientiane): -(EDIT) One note: as we've had a few people ask already, best way to get a copy of the cookbook is contacting hello@doikanoi.com via e-mail. I cannot recommend it strongly enough; it's an achievement and maybe my favorite cookbook I own. Now locations: -Phakhao Lao: maps.app.goo.gl/j5WAjYWAKghi8BXH7 -Doi Ka Noi: maps.app.goo.gl/XGWmT6RPCGem2yU96 -Manichan: maps.app.goo.gl/HxFbN662qnkkrcbq5 -PVO: maps.app.goo.gl/rupt4GAX2koMq2Rr9 -The street market we walk around: maps.app.goo.gl/rupt4GAX2koMq2Rr9 -And the biweekly farmer's market: maps.app.goo.gl/4ah3HuLW4y4gPvgPA (in the parking lot near the Starbucks) ...and a few other favorites from Vientiane that didn't make this video: -maps.app.goo.gl/XBCrQ5bo5urWiJtF6 (amazing Lao Khao Gee sandwiches and the strongest and biggest coffee anywhere) -maps.app.goo.gl/LAyqWqGJePFR9DAW7 (the best Lao Khao Soi. Pro tip: get it with Moo Krob) -maps.app.goo.gl/H9HkWQg2CSg15wTd6 (where we are literally every single second we're not filming, for absurdly cheap and out-of-this-world baguettes, cold cuts, and wine) -maps.app.goo.gl/KBt7KziU9YEJixs76 (...unless we're working, then we're here) -maps.app.goo.gl/52j7HeobuMbQrGw87 (chill place with Luang Prabang-style food) -maps.app.goo.gl/wArCyAWQnRR2Dgaj8 (better Luang Prabang-style food) -maps.app.goo.gl/iF4AiqzQSy1kUvQ37 (good Indochina-style breakfast and coffee) -maps.app.goo.gl/zSxPZBmDp8GLfN4o9 (our favorite of the many French bistros in town)
As a Thai person, I’m happy that you made a video about the beauty of Laos. Laos and Thailand are like relatives, sharing the same culture. Sometimes, we have small disagreements over politics, but our bond through blood ties remains.
Definitely my favorite RUclips channel. You're the only person whose content I cast to my TV and eat a meal while watching, like I'm putting on a movie or TV show. Incredible quality stuff! Hope you're doing well
As a Filipino, I adore how you cover SEAsian cuisine, every single video shows respect and admiration for not only the dishes, but the cultures shown. Love to Laos and our Laotian brothers and Sisters
I had no idea so many of these SE Asian dishes had Lao origins. Every one of your videos are incredibly educational and thought provoking. So glad I discovered this channel last year.
Finally a video of my favorite food. I experienced Laos food in Pakse, Savannaket, Vientiane and Luang Prabang when working there over fifty years ago and still love it. We have Laos food ( caveat Issan style) frequently here in Thailand. Thanks for showing the world about these simple but delicious dishes.
Having lived in south and north Laos, and now in the capital, I can definitely say the food is different. Like Noi from Doi Ka Noi, mentioned, though, that not every Laotian is eating sticky rice. My family in law is from Phongsaly and from the Phunoi tribe. They eat mostly steamed rice, less spicy, and less fish sauce. Drinking tea is also more popular in the northern provinces. Having said that I know plenty of Lao people who will only eat sticky rice, and only consume steamed rice if there's no other option. Personally I love the great noodle soups starting with the 3 k's (kao soi, kao poon, kao piak sen). Those are a very important part of Lao food culture.
I'm glad you addressed that, as it sounded from the start that someone saying that Lao food is similar throughout the nation sounded dubious. A Lao person & a Thai one I met online stated there are at least 2 kinds of regional Lao stuff with Upper & Lower Lao being the major likethings/examples, not including those of the native & national minorities
When I visited Luang Prabang, I had dinner at a nice restaurant popular with tourists serving Lao food and it was lovely. At a nearby table there were two Thai tourists who appeared unimpressed with the menu. They asked the waiter "Hey do you have live oysters?". Like sure land-locked Lao is famous for live seafood.
Thai people are spoiled with good seafood from their own country. Also, the food service industry had a lot more time to mature in Thailand. In that sense, Laos cannot really compare, as a landlocked country, with only a fraction of the population and tourists. However, most Thai tourists who visit Laos, come for the food, to savour special dishes, not found in Thailand. In Thai guides you often see restaurants recommended, overlooked by western tourists.
HELL YEAH!!!! Met an awesome friend that's from there! He and his family showed me and my brotherso many dishes! Cooked for us and with us often. I know one family doesn't represent an entire culture or people, but I will always have a soft place in my heart for Laos and its people!
You'd think Adam was a polyglot of epic proportions with the way he nods along to every language being spoken to him like he understands it lol Another banger video
Lao to Thai speaker is more or less like Irish or Scottish to an American. I'm partially Laos descended Thai grown up in the central Thailand and I speak almost no Lao and probably came out strange if I try. But I perfectly understand Lao. Some of my friends struggle to understand some words.
This was the series I was hoping some one would make and trust you to have left no stone unturned, explaining the history of the country and showcasing their original food. Brilliantly documented.
I have only been to Laos a few times so I wouldn't say I am familiar with the cuisine. One thing I can say is that I love that they like to eat their meals with sticky rice because as an Indonesian, I consider sticky rice either as a dessert or a special dish that you eat once in a while.
Another good video mate, hope you do one on Indonesia next. Though given how many islands there are, that could be a whole series onto itself (exploring Bali, Java, Sumatra, etc 🇮🇩 ).
Finally a great video about Laos out there! Most amazing country, great food, awesome locals 🇱🇦 People have to understand lao identity with its food, language & culture
I've always been curious about Laos, after seeing this peek into the culture and cuisine, it is now high on the to go to list, thanks for another stellar video!
OTR has become my favourite RUclips channel! I was so excited to see this one pop up today! I’m heading to Laos in a fortnight (3rd time so already a Laos fan!). I’m sooo looking forward to a bowl of Lao Khao Soi and a Khao jee pate. And beer Lao, my fave SEA beer! Such an underrated country but one of my faves!
And y'all are Vientiane pros already, but just in case it's somehow gone under your radar: Definitely give La Terrasse a visit! I visited Laos when I was living in East Asia, but my family was still based in France and La Terrasse was an incredible taste of France in Southeast Asia ❤
Oh man I was always ready for some history lesson before the food, Laos people are very kind and shy, yet lovely and peaceful. Their history might be not so good term with the Thais but as a Vietnamese we always have a special place for our Laos brothers and sisters.
I love that you do so many SE asian counties not just Thailand which would be so much easier and cheaper for you. Thank you for taking the extra time and money to explore for us!
I cannot stress enough just how fantastic your channel and content is; Loving how it is going deeper and deeper into the cultural, food anthropology as well as the historical. Bravos!
Before this video I didnt eve know lao existed. When I saw this video on my notifications I searched it up and now I know it exists lol. Thank you for this video!
You have inspired me to visit Laos! the furthest east I have been is Turkey, I love food, flavour, people, and travel probably in that order 😉. I would love it if you did a tour of UK, and explain to me via food where the hell I live ✊
This is quite a fascinating video. Being from Northeast India, it's like witnessing the point where the Asian (Mongoloid) race transitions to the Indian race. The food is quite similar, but as you move further west, it becomes diluted or influenced by traditional Indian cuisine. That being said, three elements remain fundamental: rice, fermented ingredients (such as fish or vegetables, mostly soybeans), and meat with herbs. Each region is shaped by its own culture, tribes, and traditions. If you're exploring Southeast Asian cuisine, visiting Northeast India is a must. It's like the frontier where East meets West, offering a chance to witness a gradual shift in food habits. Thank you for this lovely video!
Lao food is more unique because it's landlocked and more isolated than other countries in the region. The closest to Lao food is Isan food, which putting aside nationalism and politics, Isan food is basically Lao food but with some central Thai influences and fusion like Som Tum Thai. Chiang Mai food also has similarities to Lao food but with more Burmese and Chinese influences, perfectly encapsulated in a dish like Khao Soi.
Tbh, Khao soi is one of the cheat answer of "only one dish that you can eat for whole life". Even in Chiang Mai alone, there are tons of Khao soi variation that look, taste, or even classified as totally different thing.
Otr ... Always the best ... love every posting... I Thank You All Very Much For Your Outstanding Hard Work... Always waiting for the next video.... Laos brought back many memories of years past in my Asian travels.... thankyou ...thankyou
very meaningful n marvelous contents of real lao foods.. left laos in 1975 with my parents n reside in the U.S.A... loves to go back n couldn't cuz i am a Vang... not the right time to travel back to laos.. getting older n loves to see laos again b4 my time... thnx for the vid!!!! good job
I love sticky rice with all the jeow options. I also feel that just like the cuisines of my Eastern European roots, a signature flavor in many Lao dishes is dill. I wonder if that is why I love Lao food so much. Lao food is also the spiciest food I've ever eaten in terms of chili heat. They don't hold back on the hot fresh chilis. They say bo phet bo sap, if it's not spicy it's not good.
Yes, that is very true about the usage of dill in Lao and Eastern European food! I used to work in Kazakhstan, a former Soviet Union state. There was a lot of influence from Russia, Ukraine, and other Eastern European countries, and dill was in many dishes - salad, soup, and others.
I just discovered that the food can be VERY healthy. As long as you eat the greens first and the carbs last. The greens will portion the carbs so that your blood sugar don't skyrocket.
As a Thai and I love Lao and Laotian like my own country and people. I don't know Laotian would like this idea but I always think we are brother-sister country and I wish our countries would be united as one union and become democracy with freedom like countries in European Union The river border is false border. Both side actually are one culture. Isan and Lao are both the same people. We only separate by political government
Blame Siamese. It's never to late to unite but Lao people do not want to be ruled under a Thai king. This is why we had a rebel king name Anouvong who fought the rebellion war. Lao people do not need to bow down to a Thai king that don't even speak the same language. Isan is a made up word that only been around 200 years renaming the Lao people and language to forget their own history and roots. This is very disrespectful to the Lao people. If I come off as disrespectful and rude, I apologize.
@@KeyYai-x4u Understandable at that time but currently now communist party ruling Lao and enslave Lao to China didn't seem worse? Not that Thai government and rulership is much better but at least Laotian would have more choice here and fund could be flow there easier Even on the language we still are intelligible. I don't need subtitle in this video at all
@@ThainaYu To say and blame communism has always been Thai narrative. This include the Royal Lao supporters. But in reality even Royal Lao supporters rather be independent from Siam. The only reason why the communist even won was because they started to get support from the locals when the US including Thai pilots were dropping bombs on villages killing innocent people. And even in the Isan region, the red shirts specifically would rather be independent from central Thai. I seen comments, videos, and even read articles that some would choose to be independent from Central Thailand and create a new country or some wouldn't mind uniting with Laos but only if it became a democratic country. We can also talk about South Thailand as well, the Malay-Thai would rather unite with Malaysia. Lao slave to the Chinese? I find it ironic. It's call development and investment. So what do you call the 10 million Chinese living in central Thailand today? Literally all the politician/elites including the monarchy have Chinese bloodline. If anything the Chinese been ruling Thailand for centuries. And Thailand claims to be "anti-communist" but does military drill with China and all the Thai battle tank (VT4) are Chinese made. If Thailand was a true sibling to Laos, Thai people should have help Lao rebuild and remove bombs and invest more. But when Thai don't help and China steps in, Lao get demonize and scold by Thai and western media.
@@KeyYai-x4u I know Lao people support their own Royal not of Thai, and I also know Lao was keen to be independence. Everyone want autonomy and I was not royalist, quite opposite in fact I just feel that the cost of independence was to have communism and submissive to China seem too much to pay for. While today Isan region was not really as developed as central they still fight for their development as Thai and not for separation. And they got relatively developed Surely there always some people has independence nation ideology. I too wish Isan should be state and Thailand should be united states and give some autonomy to each region. But in this day and age we should make larger nation, not smaller. EU and USA is better model for us all ASEAN instead of doing each of my and your own things separately
@ThainaYu a lot of people are still bitter unfortunately and there is good and bad on both sides but yes Laos and Thai are sister countries. In the depths of it we compliment each other well. I find it funny as a young person from America. I do so much of my own research on the conflicts and how people hype each other up with social media for the bad sadly. No one can claim SHIT when it comes to Ramayana Thai/cambodia/laos cause it is derived from India. Everyone’s ego needs to calm down and for how we’re engulfed in Theravada Buddhism, we should move forward united and live the teachings of the Buddha , give each other AHOSIKAM 🙏🏽
In my personal observation , this is how I rank the spiciness level of SEA region cuisine Least Spicy : Phillipine Medium Spicy : Vietnam Bold Spicy : Thailand , Laos , Malaysia , Indonesia
I agree. When we were at a Thai restaurant in Maui and ordered papaya salad, we asked for the hot level. The server asked if we wanted the Thai hot level, and we said yes. Wow! I was sweating through the entire meal! 😀
Great video as always! I'm curious tho, did you guys asked Aoi to speak in Thai? cus I'm from Isan and I don't think she's speaking Lao, tho I heard a slip-up at 8:01 Ps. the sticky rice container at 10:08 made me so nostalgic around 12-13 yrs ago when I used to have sticky rice from those!
Yeah like a lot of people in Laos, she spent some time working in Isaan (Udon Thani) and speaks fluent Thai, so because we were asking questions in Thai, she replied in that language for our convenience.
Great video, have always loved Laos food since I went there 27 years ago. Interesting to note that the largest freshwater "fish" ever caught was a Mekong river stingray, 661 pounds. The largest ever caught Mekong river catfish was pretty close, weighing in at 646 pounds. The pla duc yai are not very common to see anymore. My favorite Thai/Lao dish is pla duc gaeng pet, maybe a close second would be laap ped, duck laap. Haven't had it in years... Thanks for the video, it brought back some nice memories.
Well, there is the myth of the Nak (giant serpent) in the Mekong River. That would be the biggest thing in the river. 🙂 There are many Nak statues or replicas in many Buddhist temples on both sides of the river.
There's a town on one of the main roads I always end up stopping at for a night when I'm travelling in Laos and there's a fantastic khao soi place hidden off the big road. Years ago there was a Japanese volunteer there who made a map of the town and the khao soi place was highlighted. I keep thinking of Oudomxay, but it's somewhere much smaller.
16:30 Since Isan used to be land of the Lanxang, Laotian people always live there. Vientiane Laotian from that time (When Siamese army burned down the city) are more likely to be relocated to Bangkok and other provinces in the central plain like Saraburi.
No, as mentioned in the video, the land was completely empty for almost 200 years (at least according to writing and archaeology) because the farmland dried out. It was part of the Champasak kingdom but only a very small group settled the land- what’s now Roi Et
@ Yes, it’s relatively empty compare to what it is today. There’re just only small settlements scattered all over the plateau. But many Isan’s towns also have their own feudal lords which related to the Lanxang dynasty. The population of Isan is more likely to be risen after the US army arrived during Cold War and used Udonthani and Ubon Ratchani as their base. At that time, Isan got lots of development projects like highways.
A lot of lao food that is currently in lao is not like the one that was eaten by lao people since 1975. A lot of the people have moved overseas due to civil war where a lot of the old style lao food no longer available but only at home cooking or lost forever.
Hello, thank you very much for this video. As usual your videos are fantasticn, well documented with tons of historical details showing your passion for the food and its stories behind. And thank you for your behaviour, your attitude when eating and tasting all kind of dishes. Not sure if you did like them all but at least you show (smile on your face.... if I may... reminds me of the famous Mark Wiens face) you are happy and enjoy the meal. Your question about Lao food. For me, Lao cuisine it's like "Daria" said, it's quite "simple" but not simple to prepare unfortunately. Usualy all dishes are made with not a lot of meat and fish due to the fact that the country used to be poor therefore to feed the whole family with not a lot of meat and other fhish, lao cuisine used to be either very salty, or spicy, or sour (for conservation as well), bitter and sometimes all mixed together like Tam Som for example. And in general, to eat with sticky rice, most of dishes will be rather "dry" to be to eaten directly with sticky rice with bare fingers without spoon, plus a soup to wash or help swallow between two bites. As example you have dishes like the Larb, Pone Pa douk (spicy catfish stew), all kind of Tam (papaya, long beans etc.), all kind of Jaew etc. Ingrediants are also simple like only salt, peppers, fish sauce "this can be done without"... and the most important one is the Pa Derk, the fermented fish sauce. To accompany the dish, there are always lots of vegetables. And all ingrediants are coming from the backyard; the rice field, the pond, the river. We just go and pick them up just before the meal is ready. Sorry for the long comment, lots to say to explain. Again thank you
This was such a great episode.💗💗 Wish I could get the cookbook, but it's out of my price range. 😢 Maybe someday, they'll make a digital copy, so more people can enjoy it. 🙏🏽🤞🏽🍀
It's definitely not cheap but oh man- I cannot possibly express how much I love this cookbook. It might be my favorite one I own. The best thing is that they don't even consider whether or not you can actually cook something- if the dish calls for an obscure ingredient, then that's what's in the recipe. The only priority is preserving Lao tradition.
@@OTRontheroad I love that bit of info, that it's so unapologetic. This is what we eat and this is how we make it. If anyone I know visits Laos, I'm gonna see I can get them to lug the cookbook back for me. 😂
I don't know where you live, but in Houston, we have a few Malaysian restaurants. Many Lao people started restaurants, but they call it Thai food just because it is more famous.
@@JC-life-is-good Good to know! I currently live in Bangkok but I used to live in Tokyo and UK (some where near Nottingham). The reason we were talking about this, is that, while in Tokyo, I made friend with Malaysian and Singaporean and had a couple of visit in Indonesia and thought that I like Malaysian food best. While there's some Singaporean chicken rice shop and Indonesian restaurant, I have not personally saw any Malaysian restaurant.
Thanks! I'd recommend sending an e-mail to hello@doikanoi.com to arrange a copy. Cannot recommend this highly enough, it might be my favorite cookbook I own.
30:00 Is there a podcast version with translations spoken as a voice over because I don't know what she says without the video. I usually play it on the second monitor without looking at it as I work on the primary monitor
Great info, and yes Lao food is great. Particularly enjoyed it up in Luang Prabang. And thank heavens a few minutes in the background music mostly stopped!
Location pins for this video (and a few extras that we didn't film but I'd highly recommend to anyone visiting Vientiane):
-(EDIT) One note: as we've had a few people ask already, best way to get a copy of the cookbook is contacting hello@doikanoi.com via e-mail. I cannot recommend it strongly enough; it's an achievement and maybe my favorite cookbook I own.
Now locations:
-Phakhao Lao: maps.app.goo.gl/j5WAjYWAKghi8BXH7
-Doi Ka Noi: maps.app.goo.gl/XGWmT6RPCGem2yU96
-Manichan: maps.app.goo.gl/HxFbN662qnkkrcbq5
-PVO: maps.app.goo.gl/rupt4GAX2koMq2Rr9
-The street market we walk around: maps.app.goo.gl/rupt4GAX2koMq2Rr9
-And the biweekly farmer's market: maps.app.goo.gl/4ah3HuLW4y4gPvgPA (in the parking lot near the Starbucks)
...and a few other favorites from Vientiane that didn't make this video:
-maps.app.goo.gl/XBCrQ5bo5urWiJtF6 (amazing Lao Khao Gee sandwiches and the strongest and biggest coffee anywhere)
-maps.app.goo.gl/LAyqWqGJePFR9DAW7 (the best Lao Khao Soi. Pro tip: get it with Moo Krob)
-maps.app.goo.gl/H9HkWQg2CSg15wTd6 (where we are literally every single second we're not filming, for absurdly cheap and out-of-this-world baguettes, cold cuts, and wine)
-maps.app.goo.gl/KBt7KziU9YEJixs76 (...unless we're working, then we're here)
-maps.app.goo.gl/52j7HeobuMbQrGw87 (chill place with Luang Prabang-style food)
-maps.app.goo.gl/wArCyAWQnRR2Dgaj8 (better Luang Prabang-style food)
-maps.app.goo.gl/iF4AiqzQSy1kUvQ37 (good Indochina-style breakfast and coffee)
-maps.app.goo.gl/zSxPZBmDp8GLfN4o9 (our favorite of the many French bistros in town)
I’m so excited to buy this cookbook!
As a Thai person, I’m happy that you made a video about the beauty of Laos. Laos and Thailand are like relatives, sharing the same culture. Sometimes, we have small disagreements over politics, but our bond through blood ties remains.
People don't typically capture and enslave their relatives
This has to be the best explanation of Lao food and how it ended or got associated to Thai food. The quick history of the nation is great too!
Definitely my favorite RUclips channel. You're the only person whose content I cast to my TV and eat a meal while watching, like I'm putting on a movie or TV show. Incredible quality stuff! Hope you're doing well
I subbed coz of u.
As a Filipino, I adore how you cover SEAsian cuisine, every single video shows respect and admiration for not only the dishes, but the cultures shown. Love to Laos and our Laotian brothers and Sisters
I had no idea so many of these SE Asian dishes had Lao origins. Every one of your videos are incredibly educational and thought provoking. So glad I discovered this channel last year.
As a Laotian myself, I appreciate your effort in creating this!
My wife ( 15 years Married ) is from Isaan Thailand, speaks Lao. We live in Australia, LAOS is always a place we dream of going to
Finally a video of my favorite food. I experienced Laos food in Pakse, Savannaket, Vientiane and Luang Prabang when working there over fifty years ago and still love it. We have Laos food ( caveat Issan style) frequently here in Thailand. Thanks for showing the world about these simple but delicious dishes.
Having lived in south and north Laos, and now in the capital, I can definitely say the food is different. Like Noi from Doi Ka Noi, mentioned, though, that not every Laotian is eating sticky rice. My family in law is from Phongsaly and from the Phunoi tribe. They eat mostly steamed rice, less spicy, and less fish sauce. Drinking tea is also more popular in the northern provinces. Having said that I know plenty of Lao people who will only eat sticky rice, and only consume steamed rice if there's no other option. Personally I love the great noodle soups starting with the 3 k's (kao soi, kao poon, kao piak sen). Those are a very important part of Lao food culture.
I'm glad you addressed that, as it sounded from the start that someone saying that Lao food is similar throughout the nation sounded dubious. A Lao person & a Thai one I met online stated there are at least 2 kinds of regional Lao stuff with Upper & Lower Lao being the major likethings/examples, not including those of the native & national minorities
How long have you lived in Laos? I plan to retire in Laos permanently when I hit retirement in 2042.
@LaoSoftware 17 years and counting. Plan to retire around the same time as you.
When I visited Luang Prabang, I had dinner at a nice restaurant popular with tourists serving Lao food and it was lovely. At a nearby table there were two Thai tourists who appeared unimpressed with the menu. They asked the waiter "Hey do you have live oysters?".
Like sure land-locked Lao is famous for live seafood.
Thai people are spoiled with good seafood from their own country. Also, the food service industry had a lot more time to mature in Thailand. In that sense, Laos cannot really compare, as a landlocked country, with only a fraction of the population and tourists. However, most Thai tourists who visit Laos, come for the food, to savour special dishes, not found in Thailand. In Thai guides you often see restaurants recommended, overlooked by western tourists.
HELL YEAH!!!! Met an awesome friend that's from there! He and his family showed me and my brotherso many dishes! Cooked for us and with us often. I know one family doesn't represent an entire culture or people, but I will always have a soft place in my heart for Laos and its people!
Lao people are very friendly and approachable
Lao Mok Pa is my favorite, the fresh herbs and aromatic smells flavor of Padaek steamed in wrapped banana leaves eat with sticky rice, yum!
I ❤ Lao foods. From Thailand with love. 🥰
Jeow Som + Oysters is pretty much the tastiest combo I know of.
Beautifully filmed and edited, as ever, and as ever, fascinating content. Thank you.
🙏
That’s is Laos 🇱🇦and foods ! Full of history! Lao & Esan 👍
Lao food is unique and flavorful..
I have waited a very long time for this particular video !!!
Thank you for the beautiful story of Laos.
Outstanding! Wishing everyone @ OTR a healthy & prosperous Lunar New Year. 🐍
You'd think Adam was a polyglot of epic proportions with the way he nods along to every language being spoken to him like he understands it lol
Another banger video
lol well in this case it’s easy as Lao is more-or-less mutually intelligible with Thai
Lao to Thai speaker is more or less like Irish or Scottish to an American. I'm partially Laos descended Thai grown up in the central Thailand and I speak almost no Lao and probably came out strange if I try. But I perfectly understand Lao. Some of my friends struggle to understand some words.
My husband is from Champasak. Married 20 years. Thank you for making this video.
Finally Laos!
Lao sausage has to be the best sausage on this planet.
I agree! The aromatics in the sausage are not like anything else.
That’s what my wife said😂
This was the series I was hoping some one would make and trust you to have left no stone unturned, explaining the history of the country and showcasing their original food. Brilliantly documented.
Thank you for showing and explaining about history, culture and food to would to know about people and culture and food.
I have only been to Laos a few times so I wouldn't say I am familiar with the cuisine. One thing I can say is that I love that they like to eat their meals with sticky rice because as an Indonesian, I consider sticky rice either as a dessert or a special dish that you eat once in a while.
Another good video mate, hope you do one on Indonesia next. Though given how many islands there are, that could be a whole series onto itself (exploring Bali, Java, Sumatra, etc 🇮🇩 ).
Thank you for opening a part of the world I didn't knew about and also a part of my heart to that part
Finally a great video about Laos out there! Most amazing country, great food, awesome locals 🇱🇦 People have to understand lao identity with its food, language & culture
I had the chance to visit Laos a few years ago. Incredible country with incredible views, food, and people. It’s crazy how under the radar it is.
Chef Noi was such a great addition to this documentary. Big shout out to your team. Excellent work as always.
100% said it when they said best beer food in the world.
What a good day with an OTR upload
I've always been curious about Laos, after seeing this peek into the culture and cuisine, it is now high on the to go to list, thanks for another stellar video!
My gosh you're actually the goat your food recs were top tier when I went to Bangkok. Thank you!
OTR has become my favourite RUclips channel! I was so excited to see this one pop up today! I’m heading to Laos in a fortnight (3rd time so already a Laos fan!). I’m sooo looking forward to a bowl of Lao Khao Soi and a Khao jee pate. And beer Lao, my fave SEA beer! Such an underrated country but one of my faves!
Been waiting for this one🙏🏻🙏🏻
Beer Lao is the best! I still look for it whenever I pass a more 'international' liquor shop in North America 🤣
And y'all are Vientiane pros already, but just in case it's somehow gone under your radar: Definitely give La Terrasse a visit! I visited Laos when I was living in East Asia, but my family was still based in France and La Terrasse was an incredible taste of France in Southeast Asia ❤
Oh man I was always ready for some history lesson before the food, Laos people are very kind and shy, yet lovely and peaceful. Their history might be not so good term with the Thais but as a Vietnamese we always have a special place for our Laos brothers and sisters.
I love that you do so many SE asian counties not just Thailand which would be so much easier and cheaper for you.
Thank you for taking the extra time and money to explore for us!
This is amazingly produced and informational! Love the history lesson :)
I cannot stress enough just how fantastic your channel and content is; Loving how it is going deeper and deeper into the cultural, food anthropology as well as the historical. Bravos!
Waking up with the smell of sticky rice gauw ni auw is the best there is, yummy
Before this video I didnt eve know lao existed. When I saw this video on my notifications I searched it up and now I know it exists lol. Thank you for this video!
There is a laos/Thai restaurant a few blocks from my house, and has been my favorite restaurant for years
Love this video! The restaurant host is so sweet and very knowledgeable!
You have inspired me to visit Laos! the furthest east I have been is Turkey, I love food, flavour, people, and travel probably in that order 😉.
I would love it if you did a tour of UK, and explain to me via food where the hell I live ✊
I subbed. Thanks for making Lao foods documentary. Love the video.
Finally the Lao food episode !
This is quite a fascinating video. Being from Northeast India, it's like witnessing the point where the Asian (Mongoloid) race transitions to the Indian race. The food is quite similar, but as you move further west, it becomes diluted or influenced by traditional Indian cuisine. That being said, three elements remain fundamental: rice, fermented ingredients (such as fish or vegetables, mostly soybeans), and meat with herbs. Each region is shaped by its own culture, tribes, and traditions. If you're exploring Southeast Asian cuisine, visiting Northeast India is a must. It's like the frontier where East meets West, offering a chance to witness a gradual shift in food habits. Thank you for this lovely video!
Lao food is more unique because it's landlocked and more isolated than other countries in the region. The closest to Lao food is Isan food, which putting aside nationalism and politics, Isan food is basically Lao food but with some central Thai influences and fusion like Som Tum Thai.
Chiang Mai food also has similarities to Lao food but with more Burmese and Chinese influences, perfectly encapsulated in a dish like Khao Soi.
Tbh, Khao soi is one of the cheat answer of "only one dish that you can eat for whole life". Even in Chiang Mai alone, there are tons of Khao soi variation that look, taste, or even classified as totally different thing.
Otr ... Always the best ... love every posting... I Thank You All Very Much For Your Outstanding Hard Work... Always waiting for the next video.... Laos brought back many memories of years past in my Asian travels.... thankyou ...thankyou
Elegant, informative, and fascinating. Thank you.
very meaningful n marvelous contents of real lao foods.. left laos in 1975 with my parents n reside in the U.S.A... loves to go back n couldn't cuz i am a Vang... not the right time to travel back to laos.. getting older n loves to see laos again b4 my time... thnx for the vid!!!! good job
I don't think the Lao government would seek retribution, especially if you are a US citizen now. Go back and enjoy your childhood-and the food!
thnx 4 the feedback n encouragement JC....
Absolutely wonderful. Great episode
I love sticky rice with all the jeow options. I also feel that just like the cuisines of my Eastern European roots, a signature flavor in many Lao dishes is dill. I wonder if that is why I love Lao food so much. Lao food is also the spiciest food I've ever eaten in terms of chili heat. They don't hold back on the hot fresh chilis. They say bo phet bo sap, if it's not spicy it's not good.
Lao cusine is so underrated..
Yes, that is very true about the usage of dill in Lao and Eastern European food! I used to work in Kazakhstan, a former Soviet Union state. There was a lot of influence from Russia, Ukraine, and other Eastern European countries, and dill was in many dishes - salad, soup, and others.
I love when you leave in the staging instructions from whoever is behind the camera that day 😂
That crispy algae looks delicious
❤🩹Job well done, love this episode!
Thank you for showing Lao food.
Can't wait to watch. On top of the to-do-list for this coming weekend.
Wow I love the storytelling, sooo good!!!
I just discovered that the food can be VERY healthy. As long as you eat the greens first and the carbs last.
The greens will portion the carbs so that your blood sugar don't skyrocket.
Well explained… concerning the origins of papaya salad and laab.
Welp, time to book a Laos flight
As a Thai and I love Lao and Laotian like my own country and people. I don't know Laotian would like this idea but I always think we are brother-sister country and I wish our countries would be united as one union and become democracy with freedom like countries in European Union
The river border is false border. Both side actually are one culture. Isan and Lao are both the same people. We only separate by political government
Blame Siamese. It's never to late to unite but Lao people do not want to be ruled under a Thai king. This is why we had a rebel king name Anouvong who fought the rebellion war. Lao people do not need to bow down to a Thai king that don't even speak the same language. Isan is a made up word that only been around 200 years renaming the Lao people and language to forget their own history and roots. This is very disrespectful to the Lao people. If I come off as disrespectful and rude, I apologize.
@@KeyYai-x4u Understandable at that time but currently now communist party ruling Lao and enslave Lao to China didn't seem worse?
Not that Thai government and rulership is much better but at least Laotian would have more choice here and fund could be flow there easier
Even on the language we still are intelligible. I don't need subtitle in this video at all
@@ThainaYu To say and blame communism has always been Thai narrative. This include the Royal Lao supporters. But in reality even Royal Lao supporters rather be independent from Siam. The only reason why the communist even won was because they started to get support from the locals when the US including Thai pilots were dropping bombs on villages killing innocent people. And even in the Isan region, the red shirts specifically would rather be independent from central Thai. I seen comments, videos, and even read articles that some would choose to be independent from Central Thailand and create a new country or some wouldn't mind uniting with Laos but only if it became a democratic country. We can also talk about South Thailand as well, the Malay-Thai would rather unite with Malaysia.
Lao slave to the Chinese? I find it ironic. It's call development and investment. So what do you call the 10 million Chinese living in central Thailand today? Literally all the politician/elites including the monarchy have Chinese bloodline. If anything the Chinese been ruling Thailand for centuries. And Thailand claims to be "anti-communist" but does military drill with China and all the Thai battle tank (VT4) are Chinese made. If Thailand was a true sibling to Laos, Thai people should have help Lao rebuild and remove bombs and invest more. But when Thai don't help and China steps in, Lao get demonize and scold by Thai and western media.
@@KeyYai-x4u I know Lao people support their own Royal not of Thai, and I also know Lao was keen to be independence. Everyone want autonomy and I was not royalist, quite opposite in fact
I just feel that the cost of independence was to have communism and submissive to China seem too much to pay for. While today Isan region was not really as developed as central they still fight for their development as Thai and not for separation. And they got relatively developed
Surely there always some people has independence nation ideology. I too wish Isan should be state and Thailand should be united states and give some autonomy to each region. But in this day and age we should make larger nation, not smaller. EU and USA is better model for us all ASEAN instead of doing each of my and your own things separately
@ThainaYu a lot of people are still bitter unfortunately and there is good and bad on both sides but yes Laos and Thai are sister countries. In the depths of it we compliment each other well.
I find it funny as a young person from America. I do so much of my own research on the conflicts and how people hype each other up with social media for the bad sadly. No one can claim SHIT when it comes to Ramayana Thai/cambodia/laos cause it is derived from India.
Everyone’s ego needs to calm down and for how we’re engulfed in Theravada Buddhism, we should move forward united and live the teachings of the Buddha , give each other AHOSIKAM 🙏🏽
Laos video finally dropped! :O
Kasoy Lao and khao piak sen 🥰
Also our kaopoon too and many more noodles dishes
OMG she's from the part of Laos I'm from. Southern Laos
Thank you
Would love to see you adventure around the far corners and mountains of Laos in another video one day, visiting the local markets.
Just seeing That Dam makes me feel homesick, even though I'm not Lao (-:
PLEASE GIVE DARIA MORE AIR TIME
In my personal observation , this is how I rank the spiciness level of SEA region cuisine
Least Spicy : Phillipine
Medium Spicy : Vietnam
Bold Spicy : Thailand , Laos , Malaysia , Indonesia
Hottest thing I've ever eaten was a Laab on the highway north out of Bangkok. Nothing I've eaten in Mexico or Sichuan has come close.
I agree. When we were at a Thai restaurant in Maui and ordered papaya salad, we asked for the hot level. The server asked if we wanted the Thai hot level, and we said yes. Wow! I was sweating through the entire meal! 😀
Thank you for the new video
Great video as always! I'm curious tho, did you guys asked Aoi to speak in Thai? cus I'm from Isan and I don't think she's speaking Lao, tho I heard a slip-up at 8:01
Ps. the sticky rice container at 10:08 made me so nostalgic around 12-13 yrs ago when I used to have sticky rice from those!
Yeah like a lot of people in Laos, she spent some time working in Isaan (Udon Thani) and speaks fluent Thai, so because we were asking questions in Thai, she replied in that language for our convenience.
@@OTRontheroad Ohhh I see!
Laos food is very similar to Issan food. Nice documentary as usual ❤👍🍀🙏
No politics here..history is that lao and esan are the same people.
I thoroughly enjoyed this video and wished I could have tagged along for the ride. I don't do marathons though...that's all you.
Visiting Laos rn
Great video, have always loved Laos food since I went there 27 years ago. Interesting to note that the largest freshwater "fish" ever caught was a Mekong river stingray, 661 pounds. The largest ever caught Mekong river catfish was pretty close, weighing in at 646 pounds. The pla duc yai are not very common to see anymore. My favorite Thai/Lao dish is pla duc gaeng pet, maybe a close second would be laap ped, duck laap. Haven't had it in years... Thanks for the video, it brought back some nice memories.
Well, there is the myth of the Nak (giant serpent) in the Mekong River. That would be the biggest thing in the river. 🙂 There are many Nak statues or replicas in many Buddhist temples on both sides of the river.
I am in Laos for 5 days and this video is uploaded today. Awesome!!! @OTRontheroad where can i get the clip at the 18:34 mark?
thank you 🙏🏼for telling a bout laos’s short history
There is an old saying: "one who rushes cannot walk with dignity"
Great video! Those folks struggle compared to the way we live
I was looking up Lao food 2 days ago haha
There's a town on one of the main roads I always end up stopping at for a night when I'm travelling in Laos and there's a fantastic khao soi place hidden off the big road. Years ago there was a Japanese volunteer there who made a map of the town and the khao soi place was highlighted. I keep thinking of Oudomxay, but it's somewhere much smaller.
I love Vientiane especially those chicken BBQs by the Mekong. I also love the Beef Basil and they put eggs like Thailand.
So interested in the fried algae
16:30 Since Isan used to be land of the Lanxang, Laotian people always live there. Vientiane Laotian from that time (When Siamese army burned down the city) are more likely to be relocated to Bangkok and other provinces in the central plain like Saraburi.
No, as mentioned in the video, the land was completely empty for almost 200 years (at least according to writing and archaeology) because the farmland dried out. It was part of the Champasak kingdom but only a very small group settled the land- what’s now Roi Et
@ Yes, it’s relatively empty compare to what it is today. There’re just only small settlements scattered all over the plateau. But many Isan’s towns also have their own feudal lords which related to the Lanxang dynasty.
The population of Isan is more likely to be risen after the US army arrived during Cold War and used Udonthani and Ubon Ratchani as their base. At that time, Isan got lots of development projects like highways.
A lot of lao food that is currently in lao is not like the one that was eaten by lao people since 1975. A lot of the people have moved overseas due to civil war where a lot of the old style lao food no longer available but only at home cooking or lost forever.
It still exist, it's just not in the tourist area. Many Lao food is fresh using natural herbs and spice still.
Hello, thank you very much for this video. As usual your videos are fantasticn, well documented with tons of historical details showing your passion for the food and its stories behind. And thank you for your behaviour, your attitude when eating and tasting all kind of dishes. Not sure if you did like them all but at least you show (smile on your face.... if I may... reminds me of the famous Mark Wiens face) you are happy and enjoy the meal. Your question about Lao food. For me, Lao cuisine it's like "Daria" said, it's quite "simple" but not simple to prepare unfortunately. Usualy all dishes are made with not a lot of meat and fish due to the fact that the country used to be poor therefore to feed the whole family with not a lot of meat and other fhish, lao cuisine used to be either very salty, or spicy, or sour (for conservation as well), bitter and sometimes all mixed together like Tam Som for example. And in general, to eat with sticky rice, most of dishes will be rather "dry" to be to eaten directly with sticky rice with bare fingers without spoon, plus a soup to wash or help swallow between two bites. As example you have dishes like the Larb, Pone Pa douk (spicy catfish stew), all kind of Tam (papaya, long beans etc.), all kind of Jaew etc. Ingrediants are also simple like only salt, peppers, fish sauce "this can be done without"... and the most important one is the Pa Derk, the fermented fish sauce. To accompany the dish, there are always lots of vegetables. And all ingrediants are coming from the backyard; the rice field, the pond, the river. We just go and pick them up just before the meal is ready. Sorry for the long comment, lots to say to explain. Again thank you
This was such a great episode.💗💗
Wish I could get the cookbook, but it's out of my price range. 😢
Maybe someday, they'll make a digital copy, so more people can enjoy it. 🙏🏽🤞🏽🍀
It's definitely not cheap but oh man- I cannot possibly express how much I love this cookbook. It might be my favorite one I own. The best thing is that they don't even consider whether or not you can actually cook something- if the dish calls for an obscure ingredient, then that's what's in the recipe. The only priority is preserving Lao tradition.
@@OTRontheroad I love that bit of info, that it's so unapologetic. This is what we eat and this is how we make it.
If anyone I know visits Laos, I'm gonna see I can get them to lug the cookbook back for me. 😂
The cashews look amazing
Talking about a number of Laos restaurant, I was talking to my friend the other day that, there's also hardly any Malaysian restaurant?
I don't know where you live, but in Houston, we have a few Malaysian restaurants. Many Lao people started restaurants, but they call it Thai food just because it is more famous.
@@JC-life-is-good Good to know! I currently live in Bangkok but I used to live in Tokyo and UK (some where near Nottingham). The reason we were talking about this, is that, while in Tokyo, I made friend with Malaysian and Singaporean and had a couple of visit in Indonesia and thought that I like Malaysian food best. While there's some Singaporean chicken rice shop and Indonesian restaurant, I have not personally saw any Malaysian restaurant.
Love your channel! After watching this one, I tried finding Nio's book without success. Can you help?
Thanks! I'd recommend sending an e-mail to hello@doikanoi.com to arrange a copy. Cannot recommend this highly enough, it might be my favorite cookbook I own.
30:00 Is there a podcast version with translations spoken as a voice over because I don't know what she says without the video.
I usually play it on the second monitor without looking at it as I work on the primary monitor
Thank you for leaving the s silent, I feel like a broken record at this point.
Great info, and yes Lao food is great. Particularly enjoyed it up in Luang Prabang. And thank heavens a few minutes in the background music mostly stopped!