YOU’VE scaled the Great Wall, wandered the temples of Angkor Wat and partied on the beaches of Goa. What’s next?

That decision is being faced by a lot of travelers these days, particularly those who see themselves as cultural trendsetters, the kind of people who will cut ****tail party chatter short by casually asking a new acquaintance, “Oh, but you haven’t been to Laos yet?”

Laos

Waves of travelers are being lured to Laos by the promise of extreme luxury and the Southeast Asian government’s embrace of eco-tourism. The picturesque town of Luang Prabang, named a Unesco World Heritage Site for its unique blend of Laotian and European architecture, is going upscale. Villa Maly opens Oct. 1 with 33 rooms and a central building that was once the residence of a Laotian prince and princess. And Amanresorts, the luxury hotelier, is opening a new resort by early next year.

Elsewhere in the country, eco-tourism is gaining ground. The Laotian government is developing eco-tourism projects in Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang, Khammouane and Champassak provinces, according to Ecotourismlaos.com, an official site of the Lao National Tourism Administration.

Journeys Within, a tour company based in Truckee, Calif., that specializes in Southeast Asia, recently began offering tours of the Plain of Jars, an area in northern Laos known for its ancient stone urns. “For people that are excited by archaeology and unsolved mysteries it’s a perfect match,” said Andrea Ross, director of tours. “There are also many hill tribes in the area that allow for more cultural exploration.”

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/21/travel/21prachotspot.html?ref=travel