[1] In 1641, Wuysthoff undertook an exploration trip from the then capital of Cambodia, Longvek, to Vientiane in northern Laos on behalf of the Cambodian trading post of the East India Company.
The journey began during the rainy monsoon season on 20 July 1641, with a collection of goods and gifts to the King of Lan Xang, Sourigna Vongsa, who resided in Vientiane.
Wuysthoff's trip was determined by two reasons: first the Dutch East India Company wanted to find out how profitable the trade with Lan Xang could be and second, they wanted to find out to what extent the Mekong was suitable as a trade route into the inland of Southeast Asia.
Wuysthoff was surprised by the Laotian monk's sexual indulgence, and their refusal to beg alms which set them apart from the orthodox sanghas, suggesting a still very limited Buddhist textuality among the Lao aristocrats, not to mention the commoners.
[2] The exploration had contact with Laotian merchants in Ayutthaya and Cambodia, but the company wanted to eliminate competition from Arabia and India by trading directly with Lan Xang.