Laos Information
Laos was later a part of french Indochina and in many places you can still admire beautiful colonial buildings. Delicious coffee and fresh baguettes are another legacy of the french.
Luang Prabang, a World Heritage Site, is set amid beautiful scenery on a bend of the Mekong River. This jewel of a city is the most perfectly preserved traditional capital in Southeast Asia. The many historical temples and old colonial buildings make Luang Prabang one of the most beautiful cities of Asia.
The Plain of Jars is covered with hundreds of big stone jars. The origin and meaning are still a mystery today.
Vientiane is one of the most tranquil capitals of Asia. The capital combines the best of both the Lao and French architectural traditions.
The Lao people are very friendly and hospitable and welcome visitors who want to discover their country. Now is the time to explore this fascinating country and its people.
Sabaai Dee! Welcome!
Highlights of Laos
- Luang Prabang
- The Mekong river
- Plain of Jars
- Nam Ha National Protected Area
- Morlum music
- 4,000 Islands
- Lao textiles
- Traditional and Folk Dances
- Wat Phu Champasak
- Hill tribe people in the north
- That Luang and Wat Sisaket
Practical Information about Laos
Visa and Documents
Visas are required for all western tourists. These are issued
on arrival at Vientiane International Airport and at all overland crossings
from Thailand. You have to obtain a visa in advance visa crossing overland
from Cambodia at Voen Kham. A single-entry tourist visa (30 US$, one passport
photograph required) is valid for 30 days. Your passport has to be valid
for at least 6 months beyond the end of your trip.
Health
Make sure you have medical insurance. Hospitals in Laos are very
basic. In case of serious sickness or emergency go to Thailand for medical
care. See our Health page for more general information about health.
Money and banks
The currency of Laos is called Kip. For the currency exchange rate click here. Thai Baht is accepted in some places.
Travelers' cheques from American Express of Thomas Cook can be cashed in
at banks. Buy travelers' cheques in US dollars, other currencies can not
be cashed in everywhere. Credit cards are only accepted at deluxe hotels
and restaurants. ATMs can be found in Vientiane.
Electricity
Electricity in Laos is 220V, 50 Hz. Power sockets are generally
of the round, two-pin variety. Adapters can be bought at markets and supermarkets.
Power cuts are frequent in the provinces.
Communications
Postcards sent from Laos to western countries take about 10
days to arrive
To telephone to Laos from home, dial your international access code followed
by 856, then the local area code (minus the initial zero), then the number.
To call home from Laos, dial 00 + your country code + area code without
the initial zero + the number.
In the capital and provincial cities there are internet cafes for checking
and sending email.
Books
- Travels in Siam, Cambodia and Laos by Henri Mouhot
- A Dragon Apparent by Norman Lewis
- One Foot in Laos by Dervla Murphy
Films
- Air America (1990) starring Mel Gibson and Robert Downey Jr.
, comedy about the infamous CIA airline
Time
Laos is 7 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) or Universal
Time Coordinated (UTC). When it is midday in Laos, it is 1 am in New York,
5 am in London, 6 am in Amsterdam and 3 pm in Sydney.
Opening Hours
Government Offices are open Monday to Saturday from 07.30-11.30
and from 14.00-17.30. but don't come too early or too late, as the officers
may not be there yet or have left already.
Banks are usually open from 08.30 till 15.30.
Crime and personal safety
Laos is a very safe country and not dangerous for tourists to
visit. Watch out for pickpockets at busy places. Keep all your valuables
at the hotel safe.
Upcountry stay on the roads and paths. There are still many landmines
buried in the countryside. Do not leave the roads in the countryside,
even when you have to go for a "toilet emergency"!
Climate
Laos is a tropical country and the weather is warm all year round.
Laos has 3 seasons. The cool season (November to February) is cool with
temperatures in the mid- to upper 20s Celsius. In the hot season (March
to May) the temperatures and humidity rise with peak daytime temperatures
of 35C. Do as the locals and avoid the midday heat. The rainy season (June
to October) brings rain on the whole of Laos. The rain falls mostly in
the afternoon and evening. The countryside turns lush and green again.
Discover the real Laos with the Monsoon Adventure Group Tours.
