Showing posts with label Laos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Laos. Show all posts

LUANG PRABANG, LAOS: VILLA DEUX RIVIERES HOTEL: Highly Recommended Budget Hotel in Luang Prabang Old Quarter

February 21, 2020

LUANG PRABANG,LAOS:
VILLA DEUX RIVIERES HOTEL: 
Highly Recommended Budget Hotel in Luang Prabang Old Quarter

The best place to stay in Luang Prabang is at the Old Quarter. Villa Deux Rivieres Hotel  is located in the Old Quarter. Although it does not sit right across the Mekong River, it has the view of the Nam Khan river so the rates are so much lower than hotels located along the Mekong River. As you can see below, it's very near the Mekong River hotels but without the premium rates of Mekong River hotels.





WHY I LOVE THIS HOTEL


LOCATION

1. It's very near all the places you want to visit.

Must see places and must do activities that are just 3 min. walk from the hotel are Wat Xieng Thong, Xieng Thong Noodle House, Sakkaline Road where the alms giving is centered upon and Silver Naga Spa, where they give a fantastic Lao massage. Everything else is at most a kilometer walking distance, like Mount Phousi entrance, the Night Market, the Royal Palace, the Sasa Sunset Cruise along the Mekong River and Xieng Thong Phonsavanh restaurant, where you can taste authentic and inexpensive Lao cuisine.


CHECK OUT MY POST:


10 Must Try Luang Prabang Food near 3 Must See Places: Location, Menu and Prices
Xieng Thong Phonsavanh Restaurant: Home of Authentic Lao Cuisine (with Prices)
XIENG THONG NOODLE SOUP: The Restaurant near Wat Xieng Thong serving the Traditional Lao Noodle Soup

2. It's very quiet compared to hotels situated along the Mekong River.

The hotel is located across the Nam Kahn river The area along the Mekong River is the center of tourist activity so you can expect the noise lever to be higher in that area.


ROOMS AND AMENITIES

1. Rooms and bathrooms are very spacious as you can see in the photos below. 


The have rooms that will accommodate 2 persons, 3 persons and 4 persons in one room. So if you visit as a group and wish to stay in the same room, Villa Deux Rivieres Hotel has rooms with a maximum capacity of 4 persons.

2. Water pressure is very strong.

3. Air conditioning is very strong.

4. Toilet and bathroom is very spacious, with tub, walk-in shower, bidet and plenty of towels.





View of the Nam Khan river from the balcony of our room









The facade of the hotel in the evening
Our room is on the 2nd floor


FREE BREAKFAST




Coffee with a view


Muesli with milk
French baguette with butter


Tomato and onion omelette
With ham


Khao Piak Khao (Lao Rice Soup)



I BOOKED VILLA DEUX RIVIERES HOTEL HERE FOR BEST RATES

Disclosure: I paid for my accommodations and wrote this article with my own biases, opinions and insights.

LAOS: Luang Prabang Airport Guide: Everything you need to know upon arrival that is hard to find elsewhere

February 14, 2020


LAOS: Luang Prabang Airport Guide: 
Everything you need to know upon arrival that is hard to find elsewhere


UPON ARRIVAL

These are usually the things you'll need upon arrival:

1. Mobile data

I purchased a sim card which I picked up at Bangkok airport. Bangkok is one of the places where you can take flights going to Luang Prabang. So from the Philippines, we took a flight to Bangkok, stayed a few days then took a flight to Luang Prabang. We had the option to pick up the sim card at Bangkok airport or at Siam Center. We picked up the sim card at Siam Center since our flight arrives in Bangkok when the sim stall is closed.

My review of the Laos sim card: Data speed is fast and never lost signal all over Luang Prabang, even on top of Mount Phousi. The sim allows tethering of data to my other companions, so my phone was effectively turned into a hotspot.  The signal and speed did not slow down.  Data is unlimited and good for at least 10 days. Price is 485 php or 9.60 usd.



I saw a counter selling sim cards and renting pocket wifi in the baggage claim area. But I opted to buy in advance and prior to arriving in Luang Prabang so I won't have a problem finding currency to pay for it.


2. Currency exchange

After exiting the baggage claim area, we immediately saw the currency exchange counter, right beside the airport taxi. Luang Prabang airport is a small airport. Immigration, baggage claim, currency exchange counters and the airport taxi is all on the same level. You just follow the direction of the people who are all walking in the same direction towards the exit.

Below is where we changed currency.

MY TIP: I changed only 100 usd and it was sufficient for 4 days and 3 nights in Luang Prabang to cover food, the sunset cruise, massage and some souvenirs. Our accommodations was paid prior to our arrival. This is just to give you an idea how much you need to change upon arrival. The Lao kip cannot be changed or is not accepted elsewhere in the world so you need to spend in Laos all the currency you converted to kip. So it's best to change the right amount. 

This is the location of both the K money exchange and the taxi service as you exit baggage claim. You won't miss it.
This photo was taken from https://trevallog.com/luang-prabang-airport-guide/
Thank you trevallog.


They buy the ff currency:
USD, EUR, THB, GBP, CNY, AUD, JPY, CHF, 
VND, CAD, SGD, KRW, MYR, NZD, HKD,
IDR
They sell the ff currency:

USD, EUR, THB, GBP, GBP, CNY, AUD, JPY, VND, CAD
Rate is as posted. There is no commission.
The smallest bank note of Laos is 500 kip.

Rate of exchange




OTHER MONEY CHANGERS AT THE LEFT SIDE OF K MONEY CHANGER:









3. Airport taxi

Initially we booked the hotel shuttle until I discovered that the airport taxi is much cheaper. The rate of the taxi is fixed at 50,000 kip. Going downtown, where our hotel,  Villa Deux Rivières Hotel , is located, the one-way airport taxi rate is 50,000 kip per group of 3 persons, approximately 5 usd. The hotel charges 10 usd one-way for a van for 4 people. We instead booked the hotel shuttle for the trip back to the airport.

This is the location of both the K money exchange and the airport taxi as you exit baggage claim. 
You won't miss it.
This photo was taken from https://trevallog.com/luang-prabang-airport-guide/
Thank you trevallog.



Taxi service rates.
To downtown, it's 50,000 kip per group of 3 persons per car
To suburban, it's 80,000 kip per group of 3 persons per car


Although it seems to give the impression that you're getting a private car for a group of 3 persons, 
the ride is actually shared ride.
What they actually mean is that the rate of 50,000 is good for up to 3 persons.




AT DEPARTURE


FIRST LEVEL
Public area



Souvenir shop


Luggage delivery and storage


Souvenir shops


Wrapping Service:
50,000 kip for a regular luggage
Varying rates for carton box
Cafe


Check in counter


Prohibited items on check-in baggage



IMMIGRATION



FIRST LEVEL
Gate area



Waiting at the gate


Souvenir shops and Cafe


Cafe








SECOND LEVEL 
Gate area



Souvenir shops


Food Court


















Massage
1 hour massage is 120,000 kip


Lao Airlines Lounge
Thai Smile, China Eastern and Hainan Airlines can also use this lounge.


Bangkok Airways Lounge


Second floor waiting area near the gate








LUANG PRABANG, LAOS: 10 Must Try Luang Prabang Food near 3 Must See Places: Location, Menu and Prices

January 25, 2020



LUANG PRABANG, LAOS:
10 Must Try Luang Prabang Food near 3 Must See Places: 
Location, Menu and Prices

Visit only 3 places in Luang Prabang  that are near must see places and you can taste at least 10 traditional and authentic Luang Prabang food already. I chose Xieng Thong Phonsavanh restaurant because you can taste at least 4 there. Go to Xieng Thong Noodle Soup restaurant near Wat Xiengthong and you can taste one. Then go to the Night Market and you get to taste 4, as well as 4 kinds of beer: the  Beer Lao classic or original, the dark lager, the limited edition IPA, and the white lager. Yum!!!


Xieng Thong Phonsavanh Restaurant

The food is truly delicious and the price is not expensive.

WHEN TO DINE
If your accommodations are at Mekong Riverview Hotel or somewhere in the vicinity of the Hotel Villa Deux Rivieres, where we stayed, the best time to try this restaurant is at dinnertime since it's an easy walk back to the hotel after dinner. We dined at this place after doing the Sasa sunset cruise along the Mekong River. 
  
LOCATION



MENU 



THESE ARE WHAT WE ORDERED



LARB
(Minced fish cooked with herbs)
The "unofficial" national dish of Laos

Spicy minced fish cooked with herbs (larb)...
(50,000 kip or 290 php or 6 usd)
My tip: Be careful getting the meat submerged in sauce. It's VERY SPICY!!!
...to be wrapped with lettuce, dill and mint.

Larb is a minced meat salad
that may be made of fish, chicken, pork, etc

This restaurant serves fish larb.


KAIPEN
(Mekong weed)
Crunchy Mekong river weed
(20,000 kip or 115 php or 2.25 usd)
It is usually eaten with Jaew.
The river weed is dried green algae with sesame seeds and garlic, fried before serving.
Check out this post: How Kaipen is Made 

JAEW
(Fish penny sauce)
Spicy fish penny sauce (jaew) or fish eggs sauce,
used as viand when paired with rice
or as dip when paired with Mekong weed.
(20,000 kip or 115 php or 2.25 usd)

STICKY RICE
Sticky rice
(5000 kip or 30 php or .60 usd)

DEEP FRIED SHRIMP IN GARLIC
Deep fried shrimp in garlic
(60,000 kip or 345 php or 7 usd)


MY TIP: The restaurant has 2 seating areas: one inside the main restaurant along the road, and the other across the main restaurant with view of the river. The view of the restaurant is the area where the Nam Khan river joins the Mekong river. It's nicer to seat in the area with river view.




XIENG THONG NOODLE SOUP


WHEN TO DINE
Since this place is just 200-300 meters walk from Wat Xiengthong, the best time to dine at this place is before or after you visit Wat Xiengthong in the morning. The restaurant opens from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM daily so it's best to time the visit to Wat Xiengthong in the morning to also be able to dine at this place.

This is the lunch time crowd
We were there at 12:30 PM on a Friday.
  
LOCATION






MENU



THIS IS WHAT WE ORDERED

KAO PIAK SEN
(Noodle Soup)

Noodle Soup, Pork, Egg
(14000 kip or 80php or 1.6 usd)

Seasoning

Spices you can add to the soup



BEER LAO
Beer Lao in Can
(7000 kip or 40 php or .8 usd)





LUANG PRABANG NIGHT MARKET



The first time we attempted to dine at the night market we found it difficult to find. We went through endless rows of stalls in makeshift tents selling goods like clothes, housewares and souvenirs before finding the night market food area. At some point, we got lost. So I felt there's a need to make this guide.

The night market stalls are in makeshift tents. They are not visible during the day. Tents are only set up late afternoon of every day to prepare for the night market. When we explored the Royal Palace the next day, we didn't realize that the road across it, Sisavangvong Road, was actually the location of the night market that we visited the night before. Not until we visited the night market again next day did we realize that the night market actually disappears during the day. The night market doesn't just close during the day. The tents actually disappear during the day.

The night market is along Sisavangvong Road, from Haw Pha Bang, across the Royal Palace, until Kitsalat Road. It's about half a kilometer of stalls set up in the late afternoon of every day.  So where can we find the night market street food?

LOCATION OF NIGHT MARKET STREET FOOD

The night market street food area is on the road perpendicular to Sisavangvong Road. It's actually more of an alley than a road. It's the road between Indigo House and the Tourist Information Center. You can actually use Indigo House as point of reference in google maps.



When you walk through that alley, this is what you will see:



HOW TO ORDER

There are waitresses in charge of each food stall. You tell them what your order is and then they will find you a seat. Due to the limitation on the number of seats available, seats are usually shared with other diners. Turnover of diners is fast so you don't wait long. We were there on a weekday and on a weekend and we were seated immediately.


For grilled food, you get a plate and get the food that you want and then they grill it again to heat it. The stall below is where we ordered our food.




WHAT WE ORDERED


STICKY RICE

The only rice available is sticky rice.
But it's the perfect rice to balance the spiciness of the dish


PAPAYA SALAD
They ask how spicy you want the papaya salad to be.


LAO SAUSAGE
MUST NOT MISS!!!
The Lao sausage is so delicious that we returned to the night market on our last night to eat it again.
There's so much depth in the flavor of this sausage because of the variety of herbs and spices used.
I wasn't able to ask the locals what's in it but online research showed that it has
mint, basil, lemongrass, 
cilantro, galangal, shallot, garlic, fish sauce, lime leaf and chili. 


One serving of Lao sausage
They grill it again and then cut it.
The Lao sausage is so delicious because of the pork without extenders and the multitude of herbs mixed with it.

Grilled fish, chicken and Lao sausage

This is what we ordered on the first night.
This meal costs 136,000 kip (780 php or 15 usd)
It consists of:
3 orders of sticky rice
1 grilled fish
1 skewer of grilled chicken
1 Lao sausage
1 order of papaya salad
3 orders of Beer Lao



This is what we ordered on our second night.
The red dipping sauce is for the sausage.
The Lao sausage with dipping sauce is so spicy and so delicious!!!
This meal costs 67,000 kip (385 php or 8 usd)
It consists of:
2 orders sticky rice
2 orders Lao sausage 

(our 2nd serving of sausage is not in the photo)
1 order of papaya salad
1 Beer Lao


BEER LAO

Of course we had to try the Beer Lao. We tried the Dark Lager, the Limited Edition IPA (India Pale Ale) and the White Lager. It's the first time I tried the IPA and among all three, I liked the IPA the most.

So what is IPA?

"India pale ale (IPA) is a beefed-up version of pale ale, made using more hops and with a higher alcohol content. Created in England, the name is a result of its popularity with British troops stationed in India in the 19th century, when the subcontinent was still a British colony. However, there is some dispute about exactly how and why it was invented.

The most popular theory is that IPA was created to survive the tough, months-long trip from Britain to India through tropical weather with no refrigeration. “They upped the hops and [alcohol by volume in pale ale], and the beer not only made the voyage, but the troops loved it,” says Julia Herz, the craft beer program director at the Brewers Association in Boulder, Colorado."(source: https://www.chowhound.com/food-news/55095/what-does-india-have-to-do-with-india-pale-ale/)




Us enjoying our beer!




COCONUT PANCAKE

For dessert you can try the delicious coconut pancake. Many stores are selling these at the entrance of the night market street food area/road/alley. 

5,000 kip (28 php or .6 usd)
for 5 pieces of coconut pancake

Delicious coconut pancake