It used to be that everyone wanted to go far and wide in Laos. That was because travel passes - for Lao and foreigners alike--were required for nearly 20 years. And it’s always more adventurous, isn’t it, going places that are hard to reach.

But travel passes were abolished early last year. Now go to Luang Nam Tha on the border with China, Lao Bao on the border with Vietnam, and Savannakhet on the border with Thailand and expect to get out of the way of the incoming Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai traders and tourists.

Idea. Many Philadelphians have never seen the Liberty Bell. Many Parisians have never climbed the Eiffel Tower. Many Cairenes have never toured the Pyramids. But many Vientiane natives have gone hither and yon in search of an escape from the routine and ordinariness of their everyday work-a-day worlds.

I didn’t see it until the list of five day-trip places was complete -- all sites involve water, some a bit more than others. Laos being tropical, of course natives and outsiders alike like water. Therefore, all places permit -- even encourage -- bathing.

Pictures being worth a thousand words, I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves. Or find a Vientiane native and let him or her rattle on about each place, because each of these sites is well known. The pleasure is that where there are Lao and water, there is bound to be good food and lots of fun -- including just relaxing quietly.

Shop at Pimphone. Pack a lunch. Drive your own car, hire a car, book a date with a Vientiane travel agent, but go. You’ll be glad you did because just about every place is absent from travel guidebooks yet, and thus "undiscovered" in the modern sense.

For the sake of planning, here are some travel times. Under half an hour, rejuvenating Khou Khan Na (off Route 13 North). Under an hour, historic Pha Baat Phonsan (on Route 13 South). All the rest are just under two hours: ethereal Phou Khao Khouai and tranquil Lake Nam Ngum (both off Route 15 North), reverberating Tad Leuk Waterfall off (Route 13 South at Thabok).