S1 E77 | Exploring Vat Phou Temple and the Strangest Overnight Bus in Laos

Our day began with an hour-long bike ride from Pakse to reach Vat Phou, a thousand-year-old temple now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the way, our bike gave us a little trouble, but we somehow managed to make it. At the temple entrance, we were surprised at the steep ticket price — LAK 50,000 — but soon realized the scale and significance of the place justified it.

Vat Phou, originally built in the 11th century by the Khmer Empire, was dedicated to Lord Shiva. Its architecture resembled the style of Angkor Wat, though on a smaller scale. A couple of centuries later, it was transformed into a Buddhist temple, and even today, locals visit to offer prayers to the Buddha inside. What fascinated us most was the mountain backdrop, Phou Kao, considered symbolic of Mount Meru in Hindu mythology. The sacred spring flowing down its slopes added a spiritual depth to the site, which once overlooked entire cities that no longer exist.

As evening approached, we made our way back, running dangerously low on fuel before reaching Pakse. But the real adventure had just begun. To continue our journey north, we boarded what turned out to be the strangest overnight bus we’d ever seen. Imagine narrow double-decker sleeping berths where two passengers had to share a single space — that was the setup. The aisles were so tight it felt like climbing into a train sleeper, except with neon lights and karaoke videos playing in the background.

It was uncomfortable, chaotic, and at the same time, one of those travel stories that we knew we’d never forget. Laos had already surprised us with its temples, waterfalls, and landscapes — and now, even its buses had a story to tell.

This vlog captured both the ancient and the unexpected sides of Laos: history preserved in stone, and the quirky realities of budget travel in Southeast Asia.