Useful Information for Laos

PASSPORTS:

Please ensure that your passport is valid for six months after your return date.

VISAS:

Visas are required by all nationalities. Visas can be obtained from the Lao Embassy in London or upon arrival at Wattai Airport Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Pakse airports, Houei Xay (border by Chiang Khong, Thailand), Friendship Bridge in Vientiane (border by Nong Khai, Thailand) as well as other immigration checkpoints. The visa fee is US $30-$40 per person; 2 passport photos are required for each visa application. Visa upon arrival allow a stay of maximum 30 days in Laos.

Important note: Guests arriving from Cambodia overland at Don Kalor or at Veunkham immigration checkpoint must have their Lao visa arranged and stamped in their passport prior to arrival at the Laotian border.

CURRENCY AND EXCHANGE:

The local currency is the Lao KIP. Notes come in denominations of 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000 20,000 and 50,000 Kip.

The rate of exchange as per the time of printing is approximately 8,646 Kip to one US Dollar and 13,390 Kip to one Euro. In Vientiane, notes of most international currencies can be exchanged either at banks or at licensed money changers. Outside Vientiane, most provincial banks and licensed money changers accept only US Dollars, Thai Baht and sometimes Euros. Only major banks accept traveler’s cheques. It is best to carry U.S Dollar bills in small denominations. Credit cards are accepted only at major hotels and up-market shops and restaurants in Vientiane and Luang Prabang. For credit card payments a surcharge of usually 3 – 5% applies.

CUSTOMS AND FORMALITIES:

Arrivals at Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Pakse International airport are generally rather casual events. Carry-on bags are usually not inspected if that is all you have brought. For checked-in baggage, when claimed at the counter, passengers are sometimes required to declare if they have brought antiques and silver items with them. Simple formalities should be observed also when entering the country overland. Passengers have to complete immigration and customs declaration forms during the arrival flight or upon arrival and must submit these documents on arrival.

AIRPORT TAX & BUGGAGE:

International departure airport tax US$10 per outgoing international passenger at Vientiane Wattay International airport, at Luang Prabang and Pakse airports. Some air carriers include the airport taxes in the airfares. Domestic airport departure tax for outgoing domestic passenger at all domestic airports are included in the airfares.

Baggage allowance on international flights and between Vientiane and Luang Prabang is limited to 20 kg per person and 15 kg on other routes. Baggage can be stored at hotels until you return.

Domestic flights in Laos are prone to last minute schedule changes and cancellation without ANY advance notice, especially during the peak travel season of October through March. It is not uncommon for flights to be delayed or even cancelled once passengers have checked-in at the airport.

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY:

The electric current is 220 volts (50Hz).

LOCAL TIME:

Laos runs at GMT + 7 hours and lies in the same time zone as its neighbours Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia.

Working hours Government offices are generally open Monday to Friday from 08.00 AM – 12.00 PM, and from 01.00 – 04.00 PM. Shops and private business offices open and close a bit later and usually stay open during lunch time.

TIPS:

Tipping is at your discretion and is not obligatory. All of your guides have been fully pre-paid and you are under no obligation to tip them. However, tipping is very common and if you feel that they have been particularly helpful and informative any tip you may wish to give is most appreciated.

CLIMATE:

Laos can be visited throughout the year. However those planning to travel extensively by road in the Northern part of the country and/or in the south, around the Boloven Plateau, should avoid the last two months of the rainy season when some countryside roads may be impassable.

Laos enjoys a tropical climate with three distinct seasons. The dry or cool season begins end of October and lasts until end of February (average 20-25° C). Take along a pullover or jacket during the cool season, as nights can be cold, especially in the mountainous areas such as Luang Prabang, the Plain of Jars, Saravane and Houei Xai (0-5° C). The hot season lasts from March to June, light cotton clothes and hats are recommended (average 35° C). From June to early October is the rainy season (average 25-30° C). Most precipitations come in the afternoon and in the evening. Rainfall varies considerably from area to area with the highlands in the Phou Louang range along the Lao / Vietnam border receiving the most precipitation (300+ mms per year). Vientiane averages 150/200mms per year and Luang Prabang 100/150mms per year.

Visitors traveling between the end of March and the beginning of April should be aware that in the mountainous areas, slash and burn cultivation causes smoke that alters the weather. Domestic flights may also be delayed or cancelled.

FOOD:

Laos has abundant food supplies and the cuisine is simple and fresh. Sticky rice is the staple of the Lao diet and food is enhanced by such spices as lemongrass, hot chilly, peanuts, coconut milk and ginger. In addition to Lao cuisine, the larger hotels also serve a wide variety of Continental, Vietnamese and Chinese cuisine. In the smaller cities, when the hotels only have one restaurant, ordering a-la-carte may involve a slight wait, consequently it is advised that you take advantage of the large and diverse buffets available at these hotels to minimize any delay. Never drink (or brush your teeth with) water from the hotel tap, no matter what category of hotel you are staying in. Bottled mineral water is available at all hotels throughout Laos. Do not have any ice in your drinks as this is often made from water that has not been purified. The most popular beverage in Laos is the domestically produced Beer Lao. Lao coffee, grown in the fertile south of the country, is some of the best in the world.

GENERAL ADVICE ON TRAVELLING IN LAOS:

Use an insect repellant against mosquitoes, especially when traveling up-country and in forested areas.

Since Laos has a hot and humid tropical climate, casual and light clothing is best all year round, preferably made from natural fibers. A sweater or jacket may be useful in hill areas, particularly during winter months, when evenings can be quite cold. A windproof jacket is essential when touring along the Mekong River during November to February. An umbrella or raincoat is recommended if visiting the country during the monsoon months (June-September). A hat and a high-factor sun block cream are advisable as protection against the hot tropical sun when sightseeing outdoors. Shoes are generally removed at the entrance to temples and private homes.

Colour standard films (such as Kodak, Konica or Fuji) are available in the main cities and in principal tourist sites. But slide films, B/W films, video films, digital camera memory cards and camera batteries as well as any specialised photo or video equipment should be brought with you. Photography and video near any military installations and at some government offices are forbidden and discretion should be observed when photographing people especially monks and hill tribes. Useful too, is a torch for exploring caves or details of temple’s interiors, which are often not properly illuminated.

LANGUAGES:

The official language of Lao PDR is Lao. It is spoken throughout the country as well as Vientiane’s own dialect. In spite of the colonial past, French remains the second language and English is in common use among business sectors and the younger generation, even though they are not widely spoken except in the capital, in major tourist sites such as Luang Prabang and the cities of Savannakhet and Pakse

NBCAS:

The National Biodiversity Conservation Area (NBCA) system was established in Lao PDR in 1993. NBCAs are multi-purpose areas and not national parks in the conventional sense. This means people live inside the NBCA and harvest some animals and plants as rural livelihoods. There are presently 20 NBCAs in the whole country. Currently the NBCAs have very different levels of access to foreigners.

There are many unique animals still found in Laos, but they are hard to see, because they are still hunted. Several animal species are on the verge of extinction. To slow these declines, do not buy or eat wildlife in the restaurants and be very careful with fire especially during the dry season.

People living in the NBCAs often belong to minority ethnic groups. When traveling in these areas, please dress modestly and respect local traditions. Do not touch anything that may be of religious significance and always ask before taking close-up portraits. Also do not give anything to the children including medicines, except to a doctor or a nurse.

POST AND COMMUNICATION:

The General Post Office (GPO) is located next to the Morning Market in Vientiane. Its branches are available in the main cities and in almost all the districts throughout the country. It offers postal services and public telephone for local, national and international calls. Phone cards can be purchased at the shops nearby or at Lao Telecom Company. Most hotels in the main cities have IDD lines and calls to overseas are not as expensive as before. Mobile phones are also largely used in the main cities and roaming works with major countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, China, Japan, Malaysia and Hong Kong; coverage does not extend to the whole country yet. The normal mail service is inexpensive and generally reliable. For urgent or valuable mail (either to or from Laos) it is advisable to use EMS, DHL or other courier services.

SHOPPING:

Many handicrafts can be found at the common markets. The Morning Market (Talaat Sao Shopping Mall) in Vientiane is known for its superior silk weaving, metal work and woodcarving. The Central Market in Luang Prabang also offers a great variety of souvenirs, from silk weaving, Sa paper handicrafts, silver items, and basketwork to hill tribes’ costumes and jewelry. In Luang Prabang, traditional Hmong embroideries are to be found at the ethnic market as well as at the night market. Upmarket handicraft stores are available in Vientiane and Luang Prabang.

Visitors should avoid purchasing antiques and other cultural pieces, such as bronze drums or gongs and Buddha images. Since the export of antiques is subject to the approval of the Ministry of Culture, souvenirs may thus be seized when leaving the country. If you travel in from a neighboring country and have bought any antiques or silver pieces, when arriving in Laos, you are recommended to declare these items to customs.

Bargaining is essential for all souvenir shopping, because most shops do not place selling prices on the items. Reductions may vary from 10-20%.

Silk and cotton are woven in different styles according to the techniques of each province. The best place to buy is in the villages themselves, where you can watch the weaving process and get wholesale prices.

The artisans produce well-crafted carvings in wood, bone and stone. Subjects can be everything from Hindu and Buddhist mythology to themes from every day life. Pipes seem to be plentiful in Laos and sometimes have intricately carved bone or bamboo shafts, along with engraved ceramic bowls. To shop for carvings, look in antique or handicraft stores.

Please be aware that what may be described as authentic or valuable items, such as gems, high value antiques or carpets are often fakes and/or highly overpriced. Several stores will offer you certificates of authenticity. Shopping is always at the discretion of the visitor.

The Northern hill tribes and Luang Prabang people do some of the best silverwork in Laos. Gems such as sapphires and rubies are also sometimes available. However, jewellry is generally not up to international standards and buyers should use caution when purchasing gems.

Clients are NOT OBLIGED to visit any shops at the urging of the local guide or drivers. We make every effort to remind guides that clients are not to be pressured in any way regarding shopping.

SOME FACTS ON LAOS:

Laos, officially known as the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, covers an area of 236,800 square kilometers. It is an entirely land-linked country located in the center of Indochina. It shares borders with Cambodia, China, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Latitude 14-23 degrees North. Longitude 100-108 degrees East. The population of Laos is estimated at 5,679,000 and is comprised of some 49 ethnic groups divided into 4 main linguistic families Lao-Thai, Mon-Khmer, Tibeto-Burmese and Hmong-Loumien. Each group has its own distinct customs, culture, clothing and dialect.

The official language is Lao. Vientiane is the capital and the largest city in the country. The major religion is Theravada Buddhism. Geographically, Laos is divided into three main regions the north, the Center and the South. While mountains and forests cover most of this land, the majority of the population is settled along the fertile Mekong River valley.

The main rivers are the Mekong (flowing 1,898 kms through Lao territory), the Nam Ou (448 kms), the Nam Ngum (354 kms), the Nam Xebanghiang (338 kms), the Nam Tha (325 kms) and the Sekong (320 kms).

TRANSPORTATION:

Depending on the road conditions of each province, visitors are provided with bus, minibus or car, most of the time with air-conditioning, for the excursions. In the remote areas as well as in the Northern part of Laos where the road conditions are still poor, the transportation will be either by pick-up or 4x4 wheel drive and mostly non-air conditioned vehicles.