The warm sun glistening on the Mekong and Nam Kan rivers, fishermen in their sampans, birds chirping, a freshly made croissant with a mug of fresh-brewed coffee, and the smell of Laotian coffee beans ...

In Money today: the UK economy unexpectedly contracted by 0.1% in January; Morrisons is trialling a new way to pay; Asda has announced a "serious" cut in fuel prices; a look at why cookbooks are ...