Traditional tuk tuks passing in front of the Patuxai war monument in the centre of Vientiane. (Photo: AFP)

Laos is the only Southeast Asian country to enter the list, which also includes several Asian nations such as Japan and Sri Lanka.

The Telegraph highlighted the country’s year-old swanky high-speed train and the breath-taking views and convenience that it offers. It slices through the northern mountains from capital Vientiane, curving along the north bank of the Mekong River to Vang Vieng, where the sugarloaf mountains tower over the ragtag settlement on the banks of the Song River, said the article.

A journey that takes four to five hours by road on bum-numbing buses now reaches the fabled UNESCO-protected temple town of Luang Prabang in 55 minutes, it said.

According to local media, Laos was earlier hailed by CNN as one of the 23 best places to visit in 2023.

The National Geographic also listed Laos as one of the 25 leading destinations for 2023.