Laos

The slowest, gentlest country in Southeast Asia, and one of the cheapest. The railway that opened in December 2021 has cut the trip between Vientiane and Luang Prabang to a couple of hours by fast train, by way of Vang Vieng, which makes the classic north far easier to reach without a long day on the road. Luang Prabang's temples and morning markets, river trips on the Mekong, and the caves and villages around Thakhek and the southern Four Thousand Islands give a month here a relaxed rhythm. Riverside guesthouses and noodle soup or sticky rice with grilled meat at night markets keep costs low, and the pace suits readers who want a break from busier neighbors.