I arrived in Laos with David and Pedro who I’d met on the bus from Chiang Mai with the intention of visiting the Nam Ha national park. We decided that the remote village of Vieng Phoukha would be a good base to explore the national park after a tip we found in the Lonely Planet. We then came to Luang Prabang via the back route through Udomxai and Nong Khiaw, taking the beautiful river trip down the Nam Ou. David and I then followed the Mekong through Sainyabouli and Pak Lai to Vientiane. From Vientiane I ventured back alone to Chiang Mai via the famous party town Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang again before taking the Mekong river trip back to Huay Xai.