Having once gained notoriety for its mushrooms and tubing excess, Vang Vieng has long since reinvented itself as a must-visit adventure spot for visitors to Laos.

A little exploration also unveils the area’s serene side, as sepia-tinged vistas provide an insight into Southeast Asia’s most charming country. Whilst Thailand may have the visitors and Cambodia and Vietnam give the impression of frazzled synpases on account of their chaotic pace, it is Laos that exudes the quiet air of self-contained mystery that seems not to extend to other places in the region.