English
French
Spanish
Italian
Cambodia and Laos are two captivating countries in Southeast Asia. Cambodia stands out with its rich cultural heritage, including Angkor Wat, one of the world’s wonders, and traditional festivals that reflect its vibrant culture and impressive historical sites.
In addition to Cambodia, Laos attracts visitors with its natural beauty and relaxed pace of life. With five UNESCO World Heritage Sites and many unique activities for tourists, the Land of a Million Elephants is loved by travelers both domestic and international.
Cambodia and Laos are two captivating countries in Southeast Asia (Cre: internet)
Both countries have a strong Buddhist culture and distinctive cuisine, making them special destinations for visitors. Are you hesitating about your decision, wondering whether to travel to Laos or Cambodia, and which destination is better?
Laos is a peaceful country rich in culture and history. The Lao people are also very open and friendly, which is why tourists increasingly choose Laos as their desired destination. In the first three months of 2024 alone, Laos welcomed more than 1 million visitors to the Land of a Million Elephants. Among them, Thailand had the highest number of visitors to Laos with 337,689 visitors, followed by Vietnam with 263,165 visitors. They were followed by China, South Korea and the United States.
Laos is investing more in infrastructure and offering many attractive options to draw tourists to the country. With its rich heritage and unique cuisine, Laos promises to be a compelling destination for travelers.
Laos promises to be a compelling destination for travelers (Cre:baktrax tours)
Tourism is one of the spearhead economic sectors in Cambodia because there are many impressive relics, especially Angkor Wat - one of the world's famous heritage sites. In addition, with many attractive festivals, especially during the Khmer New Year (Cambodia's largest festival), it attracts a large number of foreign tourists.
With investment and a variety of activities for tourists, the Land of Temples is one of the most preferred countries for tourists when visiting Southeast Asia. In addition, with many beautiful beaches and islands, Cambodia's resort tourism is developing strongly.
Overview tourism in Cambodia (Cre: Skift)
Read more: Cambodia excursions
Many tourists are surprised by the very low cost of traveling to Laos. Kiplinger magazine has just reported the top 10 countries with the cheapest travel costs. Among them, Laos is ranked first with an average daily spending for tourists of $15, $6 for food, and $6 for accommodation.
Many tourists are surprised by the very low cost of traveling to Laos (Cre: Earth Trekkers)
Cambodia is a country with a long history and culture. You can admire many unique and impressive architectural relics such as Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, and the Royal Palace. However, the entrance fees to visit these historical sites are quite high, with an average daily ticket for Angkor Wat being $37, and increasing depending on the number of days you want to visit.
Almost all the sites have entrance fees, so you may spend more money on this. According to statistics, on average, tourists will spend about $60/day when traveling to Cambodia. Although the cost may vary between Cambodia and Laos at the present time, overall, both are countries with reasonable travel expenses in Southeast Asia.
Cambodia is a country with a long history and culture (Cre: Cambodia Tours)
With its flat terrain and beautiful coastline, this country focuses on developing beach and nature tourism thanks to owning the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, Tonle Sap, and the seas in Sihanoukville, Kampot, and Kep.
In addition, the country is increasingly investing in luxury tourism, developing islands into tourist paradises, and attracting tourists with high-end services such as spas, resorts, and culinary experiences. And Song Saa private islands are being built and developed like the Maldives in Southeast Asia.
Song Saa private islands (Cre: Greg Mo)
With three-quarters of its area being mountainous, Laos has a variety of experiences for tourists such as kayaking, trekking, and waterfall bathing. Many tourists are overwhelmed by the natural scenery in this country such as Kuang Si Falls, Tad Sae, Bolaven Plateau, and more. Although there is no sea, this country owns 4000 magnificent islands.
If tourists prefer outdoor activities, then Land of Million Elephants is a destination with a diverse range of choices for tourists. However, Cambodia also offers impressive and unique experiences.
Laos has a variety of experiences for tourists (Cre: manifatravel.com)
With their rich and diverse heritages, both Laos and Cambodia attract tourists with impressive historical sites. Angkor Wat, a symbol of Khmer civilization, is a proud Buddhist temple complex in this country. Most tourists choose to visit Cambodia because of the vast and historically significant Angkor complex. In addition to Angkor Wat, the country also has a genocide museum that depicts a tragic period in Cambodian history.
Cambodia attract tourists with impressive historical sites (Cre: Tripadvisor)
Laos also boasts five UNESCO World Heritage Sites, reflecting the rich history and culture of the Land of a Million Elephants. However, this country has many old museums where finding accurate information can be difficult, which can limit exploration and understanding of the country’s way of life.
Laos also boasts five UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Cre: Tourism Laos)
Culturally, both Laos and Cambodia offer tourists traditional dances and performances that showcase their cultural heritage.
Keep in mind that Cambodia is less safe than Laos, with more cases of fraud and theft. To minimize these dangers, vigilance is essential. But cities, tourist destinations, and popular locations often have a police presence and are ready to help if needed.
There are many other entertainment options in the Land of the Temples, including casinos near the border. Feel free to enjoy these attractions, but be careful and stay out of trouble.
Cambodia is known to have a lower safety profile than Laos (Cre: Travel Lifestyle)
The cuisine of both countries is similar, with dishes influenced by neighboring countries like Vietnam and Thailand. With a rich variety of ingredients and flavorful preparation methods, both nations offer delicious, attractive, and unique dishes for visitors.
Must-try specialties that are sure to leave an impression include Amok, Khmer curry and Nom Banh Chok from Cambodia, and Laap, Tam Mak Hung and Mok Pa from Laos.
Visitors who want to experience local cuisine, learn about its preparation and learn about its history are often attracted to cooking classes in both countries due to the strong growth of tourism.
The cuisine of both countries is similar (Cre: Tripadvisor)
Cambodia’s main cities are much more modernized, bustling, and tourist-centric. Commuting around was easier here & there was a higher English speaking level.
Laos has an underdeveloped transportation system and retains the peaceful scenery of the countryside. You may encounter some difficulties in traveling between places because the roads are not very good, especially in rural areas.
Laos has an underdeveloped transportation system (Cre: Wikimedia Commons)
When it comes to choosing between Laos and Cambodia for your trip, each country has its own special appeal. Depending on your interests, you can find unique experiences in both places. Cambodia is the perfect choice if you enjoy exploring ancient historical sites and participating in traditional festivals. On the other hand, Laos is the ideal choice if you enjoy a peaceful environment, rich cultural heritage, and learning more about local history and life.
After reading this article, do you have an answer to the question of whether Laos or Cambodia is more worth exploring?
Read more: Laos excursions
