Only the most intrepid travellers followed, as Laos, South-east Asia’s only landlocked country, operated few – and no long-haul – flights, and potholed and shoddy roads were the norm.

The Young Envoys went to Saravane province in the south, where they visited small, remote villages and learned about projects Unicef Laos has been working on. The first visit was to Dongka Neua ...