Cambodia vs Laos: Which Should You Visit?

Questioning whether or not to go to Cambodia or Laos? After I backpacked round Southeast Asia, I’d executed no analysis on both of those nations, but they turned out to be two of my favourite locations within the area.    

In the case of evaluating Cambodia vs Laos, each provide completely different in their very own distinctive methods. On this detailed information I’ll look at how the 2 nations examine by way of seashores, nightlife, meals, points of interest, pure magnificence, individuals and transportation. Hopefully this can assist you make up your thoughts! 

Cambodia vs Laos: Common Comparability

The obvious distinction between Cambodia and Laos is that Cambodia has seashores and islands, whereas Laos is landlocked. Nevertheless, Laos has a shocking, mountainous panorama, with spectacular limestone cliffs and the attractive Mekong River flowing all the best way down by way of the size of the nation.

Cambodia vs Laos: Seashores

The simple winner right here is Cambodia, since Laos doesn’t have any seashores. 

Laos is bordered by Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, China and Myanmar, and is totally landlocked. It does, nevertheless, have the Mekong River, in addition to some actually stunning waterfalls, equivalent to Kuang Si Waterfall and Tat Sae Waterfalls. So if you happen to fancy swimming, there are positively some alternatives to do this – you simply gained’t be capable of swim within the ocean. 

Cambodia is house to a number of the most stunning seashores I’ve ever seen. I used to be really actually stunned, and would charge them among the many finest on this planet. 

Many backpackers and vacationers go to the seashore city of Sihanoukville, which is situated halfway up the coast within the southwestern a part of Cambodia. From right here you may take a ship to the paradise islands of Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem, that are house to powdery white sands and turquoise waters which might be excellent for snorkeling. 

Cambodia vs Laos: Panorama

Cambodia’s panorama is relatively flat, so in addition to the seashores and islands (that are beautiful!), there’s not a lot to put in writing house about. A part of the Mekong does run by way of the central japanese a part of Cambodia, and the Tonle Sap lake sits between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. 

Laos, however, is house to forest-covered mountains and spectacular karst landscapes with caverns and limestone pinnacles. Many of the western border of Laos is demarcated by the Mekong River, and lots of the main cities and cities sit alongside it. The river has a really stress-free, tranquil vibe, and it’s nice for taking boat cruises. 

Laos positively has the extra fascinating panorama out of the 2.

Cambodia vs Laos: Meals

Whereas Vietnamese and Thai meals are fairly well-known throughout Europe and North America, Cambodian and Lao delicacies are inclined to fly below the radar. 

Cambodia’s meals incorporates parts of Indian, Chinese language and French delicacies, and consists of lots of salads, soups, curries and stir frys. Fish and seafood function closely in Cambodian dishes, because of the county’s abundance of water sources. Rice is a typical staple right here too, and is often served as an accompaniment to each meal.

Common Cambodian dishes embody:

• Amok – a coconut fish curry steamed in banana leaves. 
• Kuy teav – noodle soup made with rice vermicelli and beef or pork bones. 
• Nom banh chok – fermented noodles saturated with a lemongrass gravy and topped with greens. 
• Lok lak – stir fried beef served with salad. 
• Lap khmer – salad made with thinly sliced beef marinated in lime juice. 

Laos delicacies can also be pretty just like Cambodian delicacies, though it’s barely spicier and has its personal distinctive dishes. Sticky rice is integral to Lao delicacies and has turn out to be an vital a part of the nation’s tradition. Laos is understood for having the very best sticky rice consumption per-capita on this planet and Lao individuals generally discuss with themselves as luk khao niaow, which interprets as ‘kids or descendants of sticky rice’.

Well-known Lao dishes embody:

• Larb – a must-try salad of minced meat flavored with mint, contemporary lime juice, scallions and cilantro. That is the nationwide dish of Laos. 
• Tam Mak Hoong – inexperienced papaya salad with garlic, tomatoes, chilli, palm sugar, lime juice and fish sauce. 
• Lao sausage – a well-liked appetizer generally served with sticky rice and greens. 
• Khao jee – baguette sandwich just like banh mi. 

The meals could be very related in each Laos and Cambodia, so it’s laborious to choose a transparent winner right here. 

Cambodia vs Laos: Landmarks

You’ll be able to’t actually beat Cambodia for landmarks. The nation is house to Angkor Wat – a sprawling temple complicated that holds the title of being the biggest non secular construction on this planet. It was initially constructed as a Hindu temple devoted to the gods Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma, however was later remodeled right into a Buddhist temple on the finish of the twelfth century. 

Angkor Wat is gorgeous at each dawn and sundown, and is effectively price visiting if you end up in Siem Reap. Cambodia can also be house to quite a few different temples and palaces, together with Bayon Temple, Ta Prohm, Angkor Thom and the Royal Palace. 

On a extra somber observe, the nation additionally has a number of darkish tourism websites, such because the Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, the place guests can study concerning the brutal Khmer regime. 

Laos additionally has numerous temples and pagodas, though none examine to the sheer dimension of Angkor Wat. Probably the most notable landmark in Vientiane is Pha That Luang Vientiane – a historic gold stupa that stands over 44 meters excessive. Vientiane can also be house to the Patuxay Monument, a well-known arch and struggle memorial that appears a bit just like the southeast Asian model of the Arc de Triomphe. 

A big focus of temples will be discovered within the metropolis of Luang Prabang, which was the royal capital of Laos till 1975. The town is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Website, and is understood for its French colonial structure and laid-back vibe.  

Cambodia vs Laos: Nightlife

In the case of nightlife, Cambodia has far more happening than Laos does. The massive cities like Phnom Penh and Siem Reap are fairly quick paced and have numerous bars and eating places to maintain you entertained. 

Sihanoukville is understood for being a little bit of a celebration city, and is house to quite a few hostels together with The Large Straightforward and Monkey Republic. You’ll discover a respectable array of bars and eating places right here, and lots of of them have Joyful Hours. If you wish to spend a time out on the water, there are a variety of celebration boats and booze cruises geared in direction of vacationers who need to let free. 

Nightlife in Laos is far more low-key. Sure you’ll nonetheless discover bars in cities like Vientiane and Luang Prabang, however the scene is far more mellow. Luang Prabang really has a curfew of 11.30pm, when bars and companies should shut down. At this level, the one place left to celebration is the Luang Prabang bowling alley, which I’ve written about right here. 

In the case of nightlife, Cambodia positively wins this one. 

Cambodia vs Laos: Getting There

Most worldwide flights to Cambodia fly into Phnom Penh, whereas flights to Laos fly into Vientiane. Flights to Vientiane are usually costlier than Phnom Penh, and there are fewer flights per day. 

If you happen to’re flying to both of those nations from the U.S. or Europe, you’ll often have a stopover in Singapore, Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur. 

Operating a fast seek for flights from London in Could, a flight to Vientiane prices roughly $1200 (£1000) round-trip, with as much as two stopovers. A flight from London to Phnom Penh on the identical dates prices roughly $1000 (£830) round-trip, with one stopover. 

Flying to Vientiane is costlier, with extra stopovers and an extended flight length. So Cambodia is the best nation to get to. 

Cambodia vs Laos: Visas

Laos Visas 

Laos gives an eVisa for residents of many nations, together with the UK and the U.S. Costs fluctuate from nation to nation, however for United States residents, the payment is $50. All you must do is fill out the applying on-line, add any vital documentation, and pay the payment. Approval takes as much as 3 working days, and you then simply have to print out your approval letter and take it with you. Don’t get ripped off by costly visa corporations – you may merely apply by way of the official visa web site right here. 

Visas on arrival are additionally accessible at sure ports of entry, together with Luang Prabang Airport, Pakse Airport and Wattay Airport in Vientiane. You too can get visas on arrival on the border crossings from Thailand, Vietnam and China. Solely US {dollars} are accepted as cost and a passport-sized photograph is required. The visa means that you can keep in Laos for as much as 30 days. 

As you may see, each nations have eVisas and are very straightforward to go to. The Cambodia eVisa is simply barely cheaper for Individuals, however each have the identical software course of and turnaround time. 

Cambodia Visas

Cambodia additionally gives an eVisa, which you’ll be able to pay for utilizing the official authorities visa web site. The method is fairly related – simply fill out the web kind, pay the cost utilizing your bank card, then obtain the eVisa certificates. The processing time can also be 3 enterprise days, but it surely’s barely cheaper, costing $30 + $6 processing cost. Just like the Laos visa, the Cambodia visa is legitimate for a keep of as much as 30 days. 

Vacationers from most nations may get a visa on arrival at airports and border crossings. If you happen to arrive by air, they’ll often provide the kind to finish on the airplane. The payment is $30, and should be paid in USD.

Cambodia vs Laos: Transportation

Transportation in Cambodia 

I discovered getting round Cambodia to be very easy. Cambodia has a well-trodden vacationer route and there are vacationer buses that go between the principle locations like Siem Reap, Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville. The buses are low cost and comfy, though the journey time is clearly longer than if you happen to journey by airplane. Common corporations embody Large Ibis and Mekong Specific. 

If you happen to’re touring between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, the quickest technique to journey is by air, with a journey time of only one hour. Angkor Air, Bassaka Air, and Cambodia Bayon Airways all provide direct flights between these two cities. Count on to pay round $130-$140) one-way. You’ll be able to verify costs utilizing Google Flights. 

If you happen to’re touring in a bunch of three individuals or extra, then it would make extra sense to rent a personal driver by way of a web site like GetYourGuide or Viator. The drivers often converse good English and can even cease off at numerous points of interest alongside the best way.

There are additionally boats that go between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, and Siem Reap and Battambang. It’s not essentially the most comfy technique to journey, and the boat is gradual shifting, but it surely’s an effective way to see native life on Tonle Sap Lake. 

When you’re within the huge cities, the easiest way to get round is by tuk-tuk. 

Transportation in Laos

There are two home carriers in Laos – Lao Airways (nationwide service) and Lao Skyway (finances). If you wish to fly between Vientiane and Luang Prabang, the flight takes round 40 minutes and prices wherever from $21 to $152. That is clearly the quickest and best technique to get between the 2 cities.

In the case of utilizing floor transportation inside Laos, journey will be gradual. Be ready to spend a full day getting from A to B, or you may take the VIP evening bus and lower your expenses on one evening’s lodging. Some routes even have shared minivans that may take you from A to B. 

For a novel expertise, you can even take a ship alongside the Mekong River, which runs during Laos. Nevertheless remember, boat journey on the Mekong could be very gradual, and the boats aren’t often air-conditioned. 

Inside cities, the easiest way to get round is by renting a bicycle or hopping in a tuk tuk. The UNESCO World Heritage metropolis of Luang Prabang could be very walkable, and you may see many of the temples and points of interest on-foot. 

If you wish to go to Luang Prabang’s waterfalls, there are many excursions you may e-book by way of GetYourGuide. Reserving a tour means all of your transportation is taken care of, and also you’ll be capable of discover areas which might be unreachable by public transportation. 

In the case of transportation in Laos vs Cambodia, I’d say Cambodia wins on this one. The nation is usually extra well-liked with vacationers, so there’s a bit extra of a vacationer infrastructure. 

Closing Verdict

So which has the sting? Laos or Cambodia?

If you happen to love seashores, nightlife and fast-paced cities, then go together with Cambodia. The islands are completely beautiful and the nation has numerous points of interest to maintain you occupied. I discovered Cambodia very straightforward to journey round and the individuals have been very pleasant, so I’d positively return in a heartbeat.

If you happen to’re searching for tranquility, and plush, mountain surroundings, then e-book a visit to Laos. Luang Prabang is turning into more and more well-liked with luxurious vacationers, and is house to quite a few eco-lodges and 5-star lodges, that are primarily concentrated in Luang Prabang.