1. Overview
Laos is developing quickly but still has much of the tradition that has sadly disappeared elsewhere in the region. Village life is refreshingly simple and even in Vientiane it’s hard to believe this sort of languid riverfront life exists in a national capital. Then, of course, there is the historic royal city of Luang Prabang, where watching as hundreds of saffron-robed monks move silently among centuries-old monasteries is as romantic a scene as you’ll experience anywhere in Asia.
Away from the cities, there is so much more to see; the Plain of Jars in Xieng Khuang Province, the forested mountains of Northern Laos, the gothic limestone karsts around the backpacker-haven Vang Vieng and in the deep south, past the market town Pakse, is Si Phan Don (Four Thousand Islands), where the mighty Mekong spreads out and all the hammocks are taken.
2. Visas
Approval is no longer required for visas to Laos. Foreign tourists are generally admitted into Laos for 30 days with a visa on arrival (obtained at most border check points) without prior authorization or for 30 days with a visa issued at a Laotian embassy. This costs 30-42 USD (depending on nationality) and requires the filling in of an application form and two passport photos. An additional 1 USD/person can be charged if you arrive on a weekend or public holiday. Two passport-size photos are required and your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your expected departure date. Please contact your local Lao embassy for the most accurate information.
3. Weather
Laos has a monsoon climate featuring a dry and a wet season. The dry season lasts from November to May with the cooler period in December and January. At its coldest temperatures fall to as low as 15ºC. It is coldest at night, in the early mornings and at higher altitudes. During the hot period of the dry season, between March and May, temperatures can reach the high 30’s ºC. Rainfall in the wet season varies according to altitude, with the highlands of Vientiane, Bolikhamsai, Khammuan and eastern Champasak Provinces receiving the most. Generally speaking, the monsoon season produces severe rain that lasts for short periods of time. The wet months vary according to location. In Vientiane, they are from May to September; in Luang Prabang, August is far wetter than any other month.
Laos is sunny year-round and we highly recommend bringing sun protection from your home country. Wearing sun screen and a hat are the best ways to avoid heatstroke and sunburn.
The best time for visiting most of Laos is between November and February, when it rains the least and is not too hot. It’s also Laos’s main season for both national and regional bun (festivals).
If you plan to focus on the mountainous northern provinces, the hot season (from March to May) and early rainy season (around June) is not bad either, as temperatures are moderate at higher elevations. Southern Laos, on the other hand, is best avoided from March to May, when day-time temperatures break into the 40s and nights aren’t much cooler.
Customs
Imports:
Tobacco:500 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 500 grammes of tobacco
Alcohol:2 bottles of wine, 1 bottle of spirits
Jewelry:500gr
Exports:
Prohibited:
firearms and weapon
pharmaceuticals and medicines
agricultural defensives
chemicals and fertilizers
live animals
foodstuff
vaccines
Immigration
A Tourist Visa for the Lao PDR is available from a Lao Embassy or on arrival
For most passports, a Lao Visa on arrival for 30 days is available at road and river border crossings and ports of entry, except overland from Cambodia.
Visas for Laos are needed for all except Japanese visitors. According to agreements made since 2005, ASEAN country citizens should be given free entry for 15 days. However, this is not always the case and some ASEAN citizens (e.g. Indonesian) have reported being charged for entry into Laos. This may also apply at other ASEAN country border control where the free entry agreement has not been implemented or is being ignored.
While most foreign visitors are eligible for a Lao Visa On Arrival, from October 2009, passport holders of 27 countries require a visa from a Lao Embassy or Consulate.
African countries that need a Lao visa from an embassy include: Algeria, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Lesotho, Liberia, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Other countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Syria, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Nauru, Tonga, Surinam.
5. Clothing
Comfortable lightweight clothing in natural fabrics such as cotton is most suitable for traveling in Laos. The dress code is fairly casual as in most parts of the tropics but it is advisable to cover arms and legs in the evenings against biting insects. A lightweight raincoat is a good idea in the rainy season. Warm clothing is needed for visiting the northern Laos during the winter months from November to February. Visitors to Laos should not wear shorts, short skirts or other skimpy clothing when visiting religious buildings and shoes should be removed before entering a private home.
6. Border Gate
Cambodia
The border with Cambodia at Voen Kham is open and while it’s possible to get a Cambodian visa on arrival, for now you need to get your Laos visa in advance. There are two border points, one for road crossings and the other for boats to Stung Treng.
China
You can cross between Yunnan Province in China and Luang Nam Tha Province in Laos at Boten.
Myanmar
Foreigners are not allowed to cross between Laos and Myanmar. However, with a valid visa you could try to cross at Xieng Kok, on the Mekong north of Huay Xai, though success is far from guaranteed.
Thailand
There are seven crossings to Thailand open to foreigners. Several involve taking a boat across the Mekong, or crossing the river on one of the Friendship bridges. Borders here are listed from north to south.
Huay Xai & Chiang Khong
Crossing to or from northern Thailand at Huay Xai on the Laos side of the Mekong and Chiang Khong on the Thai side is popular with travellers coming from northern Thailand. This is the starting point for two-day boat trips to Luang Prabang.
The Friendship Bridge at Nong Khai (for Vientiane)
The Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge is 22km east of Vientiane. There are direct buses between downtown Vientiane and Nong Khai, and regular runs between Nong Khai and Bangkok.
Paksan & Beung Kan
This river crossing between Beung Kan in Thailand and Paksan in Laos, about 120km from Vientiane, is rarely used by travellers.
Tha Khaek & Nakhon Phanom
Another river crossing takes you from Nakhon Phanom in Thailand to Tha Khaek in Laos. Travellers who use this border are often crossing directly between Thailand and Vietnam.
Savannakhet & Mukdahan
This is the southernmost river crossing between Thailand and Laos.
Vang Tao & Chong Mek
This border 44km west of Pakse is a popular and easy entry into southern Laos.
Vietnam
At the time of writing foreigners could cross between Laos and Vietnam at six different border posts. Laos issues 30-day tourist visas at most of these, but you’ll need to get your Vietnamese visa in advance. The border at Sop Hun in Phongsali Province, just across from Tay Trang (32km west of Dien Bien Phu), has been going to open for years but is still firmly shut.
Na Maew & Nam Xoi
For now, the northernmost crossing is on Rte 6A between Na Maew in Hua Phan Province, Laos, and Nam Xoi in Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam.
Nam Can & Nam Khan
This border east of Phonsavan in Xieng Khuang Province sounds better than it actually is. Even though you’re a long way north of the Kaew Neua Pass crossing, the road on the Vietnam side runs so far south (almost to Vinh) before joining north–south Hwy 1 that this border is totally inconvenient.
Nam Phao & Cau Treo
The spectacular crossing through the Kaew Neua Pass, via the low-key border posts of Nam Phao on the Lao side, and Cau Treo in Vietnam, leads to Vinh and all points north, including Hanoi. Direct buses between Vientiane and Hanoi take this route, but it’s a long, torturously slow and uncomfortable trip.
Na Phao & Cha Lo
Even though this remote border has a nice new highway on the Laos side, we’ve still never met anyone who’s actually crossed here. Transport runs all the way across this border from Tha Khaek to Dong Hoi in Vietnam, and back. However, no visas are available here yet.
Dansavanh & Lao Bao
Good roads and plentiful transport make the border at Dansavanh (Laos) and Lao Bao, 255km east of Savannakhet, probably the easiest of all crossings to/from Vietnam. If you’re heading to/from Hué, Hoi An or anywhere in central Vietnam, it’s recommended.
Attapeu & Quy Nhon
The newest crossing to Vietnam’s central highlands is at Bo Y between remote Attapeu Province and Quy Nhon, though it doesn’t really fit any existing travelling routes. Visas on arrival are not guaranteed.
7. Foods
Lao cuisine has many similarities to Thai with lots of aromatic herbs and spices such as lemon grass, chilies, ginger and tamarind used to flavor dishes. Sticky rice, or kao niao, is the main ingredient in Lao cuisine, usually served with fermented fish and a fish sauce similar to that used in Vietnamese cuisine called nam pa. Chicken and pork dishes are also popular but beef is expensive in comparison. Soups served with noodles, bamboo shoots and fresh vegetables can be found everywhere.
8. Water
Keep in mind to always clean your fruits and vegetable with purified water or to peel them. Bottled water is safe for Westerner and easy to find in most of places. Wash your hand before eating.
9. Language
The national language of Laos is Lao, which is closely related to Thai and is spoken in many different dialects. Lao, like Thai, is a tonal language. In Luang Prabang and Vientiane, English is widely spoken and French is still spoken by many government officials and educated members of the older generation.
10. Money
The official national currency in Laos is the Lao kip (LAK). Kip notes come in denominations of 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10, 000, 20, 000 and the recently printed 50, 000 kip. Although only kip is legally negotiable in everyday transactions, in reality three currencies are used for commerce: kip, Thai baht (B) and US dollars (US$). In larger cities and towns, baht and US dollars are readily acceptable at most businesses, including hotels, restaurants and shops. In smaller towns and villages, kip is usually preferred.
The Lao kip is not convertible to any currency outside of the Lao PDR. Because of this, the only reliable sources of foreign exchange information are those inside the country.
11. Business hour
Offices are usually open from Monday to Friday from 08:00 until 16:00 and often close for lunch between 12:00 and 14:00. Shops open from Monday to Saturday between 09:00 and 17:00 and some also open on Sunday.
12. Public Holidays
January 1 New Year’s Day
March 8 International Women’s Day
April 13-15 Boun Pimai, Lao New Year
May 1 Labour Day
September 8 Boat Racing Festival in Luang Prabang
October 24 Boat Racing Festival in Vientiane
December 2 National Day
13. Religions
As in the neighboring countries of Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia Theravada Buddhism is the dominant religion and saffron-robed monks are a common sight in Laos. There are also a small number of Catholics and Protestants.
14. Laos time
Laos is GMT plus 7 hours and does not operate daylight-saving system.
15. Electricity
Lao uses 220V. Power outlets usually feature two-prong round or flat sockets however, there is no set standard. It is recommended to bring a universal plug adaptor.
Most hotels have IDD phones and fax machines, however these services are expensive in Laos. Internet cafes offer cheaper dialing rates although the quality is not always great and away from the major cities it may not always be possible to make international calls. If you have worldwide coverage, you can bring your mobile phone and use it to make domestic or international calls which again can be expensive. The Lao mobile network is cheap and affordable. Local SIM cards can easily be purchased in the main cities and international rates are around 2000 kip per minute.
17. Health matters
The only vaccine required by international regulations is yellow fever. Proof of vaccination will only be required if you have visited a country in the yellow-fever zone within the six days prior to entering Southeast Asia. However visitors should be inoculated against typhoid, cholera, hepatitis A & B, tetanus and polio. Malaria is present in parts of Southeast Asia and it is advisable to take precautions especially if traveling off the beaten track. Medical facilities are rather limited in Laos but you can easily find good medical facilities in the main Thai towns and along the Thai-Lao borders. It is essential to take out a good medical insurance policy before traveling in case evacuation is needed (usually to Bangkok or Singapore). If you are on any medications, please bring an adequate supply of pills with you as it can be difficult to find within the country.
18. Transportations
Boat: More than 4600km of navigable rivers are the highways and byways of traditional Laos, the main thoroughfares being the Mekong, Nam Ou, Nam Khan, Nam Tha, Nam Ngum and Se Kong. The Mekong is the longest and most important route and is, in theory if no longer in practice, navigable year-round between Luang Prabang in the north and Savannakhet in the south (about 70% of its length in Laos)
River taxi: For shorter river trips, such as Luang Prabang to the Pak Ou Caves, it’s usually best to hire a river taxi. The héua hang nyáo (longtail boats) are the most typical, though for a really short trip (eg crossing a river) a héua phái (rowboat) or one of the small improvised ferries can be hired.
Tuk tuk: For in-town transportation, 3-4 seater tuk tuks (motocycle-pulled carts) are the most popular options with larger sangthaews (also called jumbos) available to carry up to 12 people. Laos towns are small enough to be toured by bicycle and most hotels and guestshouse have them for rent at reasonable rates.
19. Safety
Laos is generally a safe country. Nevertheless and as a global rule, never leave your belongings unattended and always maintain eye contact or a firm grip on cameras and shoulder bags. In some tourist sites you may encounter some insistent souvenir sellers. A polite but firm “No, thank you” usually will suffice.
20. Shopping
The best buys in Laos are ethnic minority handicrafts and textiles. The Lao sarong or pha sin made from silk or cotton is popular souvenir. Other souvenirs to look out for include silverware, in particular from Luang Prabang, and wood carvings.
21. Entertainment
There is not much in the way of western style entertainment in Laos but Vientiane and Luang Prabang have good restaurants and quite a few bars and nightclubs. In the rest of the country, entertainment is mainly confined to the hotels and mainly tourist-orientated restaurants.
22. Tipping
Tipping for good service is not expected but is always appreciated in Laos. It is customary, though not compulsory, to tip tour guides and drivers at the end of a tour. Hotel and station porters should also be tipped a small amount for their troubles.
