Laos was a brief but incredibly rich experience. I spent a couple of weeks in this country arriving from the Mekong, the majestic river nearly 5000 km long that flows through six nations. My journey started in Thailand, aboard a typical long and narrow wooden boat, slow but fascinating: a perfect way to immerse myself in river life, even though it took two whole days to reach Luang Prabang. I can honestly say that Laos is one of the countries that surprised me the most. It may not be a common holiday destination, but it has nothing to envy compared to the more famous countries of Southeast Asia!

Laos still carries deep scars from the Vietnam War. It is estimated that around 80 million unexploded bombs remain scattered across the country, hidden in forests, fields, and rarely-trodden paths. In Vientiane, the capital, there is a museum dedicated to this tragic chapter of history, which tells the story with great sensitivity — both what happened then and what continues to happen today. I left with tears in my eyes. It’s heartbreaking to realise that the Lao people are still suffering the consequences of war because of the many unexploded bombs left behind. At first, I was also a bit scared to walk along forest trails, imagining that I might accidentally step on one and set it off like in the movies. But I later learned that, unlike landmines, these bombs don’t explode simply by stepping on them, they usually detonate after repeated impacts. That is how so many people lost their lives while digging foundations for their homes or, tragically, how children were harmed after mistaking them for stones to play with.

💡Did you know? In many craft markets, you’ll find spoons, forks, and ornaments made from bomb metal. While it might seem like a meaningful way to support local communities, buying these items is actually discouraged. It incentivizes untrained individuals to actively search for unexploded ordnance, putting their lives at serious risk. Only the government and specialized teams have the proper equipment to safely clear and dismantle contaminated areas.

Of course, Laos isn’t only about its cities — it’s also home to vast natural areas filled with forests, waterfalls, and crystal-clear lagoons. One thing that makes me smile today, but definitely startled me at the time, was my close encounter with a leech in Vang Vieng. Now I know them well and I’m always cautious, whether in Thailand, India, or elsewhere, complete with special socks to stop them from climbing up my legs. But in Laos, it was the very first time I had even heard of land leeches.

I was walking across a slightly damp meadow when one of them crawled up from my shoe all the way to just below my knee. Luckily, I felt it in time and yanked it off like a band-aid. If it had stayed attached a few seconds longer, its saliva would have started to lightly corrode the skin and slow my blood’s clotting, allowing it to feed.

Since it was my first encounter, I panicked a bit and decided to stop by a local clinic to make sure everything was fine. Vang Vieng is a town of about 25,000 people and, apparently, a tourist visiting the clinic was quite an event! As soon as I walked in and began explaining what had happened (with some difficulty, given the language barrier) a small audience formed: four or five people in lab coats, all listening curiously to the story of my first run-in with a leech.

The doctor showed me photos of giant leeches compared to mine and shared a few interesting facts, including the detail that even American soldiers during the war were terrified of them, despite the fact that they’re usually harmless or cause only mild symptoms.

After a few laughs and casual chat about where I was from, they told me the visit was on the house! I think I entertained them far too much with my dramatic reaction… but in the end, it turned into one of the funniest memories of the whole trip!