From the caves we headed north to Vientiane. Probably the most European city we'd seen around here. Not just the French architecture but also very clean and modern, and footpaths you could walk on that weren't covered in bikes, stalls and all other types of things, we were quite used to just walking on the road.
We only spent one day there and that was just to visit The Cope Centre. An amazing place dedicated to helping those affected by UXO (unexploded ordinances) left over by the brutal bombing of Laos by the Americans. There is about 80 million unexploded bombs in Laos and hundreds are either killed or maimed by trying to salvage scrap metal or explosives from them.
The Cope Centre makes prosthetic limbs, wheelchairs, all terrain trikes and many other devices for people missing limbs as well as supporting affected people with occupational therapy. An amazing place that does amazing work.
From Vientiane we headed up to Luang Prabang (a relaxing 12hr night bus with short, skinny 2 person bunks), our favourite place in Laos. A very chilled out town on a couple of rivers in the middle of the country. From here we based many day trips such as trekking up waterfalls (and jumping off them), swimming with elephants in the Mekong, Kayaking to even more waterfalls and even managed to watch one of the footy finals!
It was sad to leave that chilled little town but our next adventure was a 26hr bus ride to a whole 'nother country, Vietnam!
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