Whilst Thailand (for its beaches), Vietnam (for its history) and Cambodia (for its temples) have long been on the radar for travellers Laos, their less visited neighbour, has been happy to develop at a much slower pace.  I mean, don’t get me wrong, it’s certainly not backward in coming forward and it’s definitely on the radar in terms of chic boutique hotels.  What’s different is that tourism hasn’t taken over; Laos’s cultural heritage has been allowed to shine and traditional life sits comfortably next to the new.  And for those who want to escape the developed world, there are plenty of opportunities to do just that and to get a unique glimpse of a country that’s hardly changed for over a century.