Introduction
Laos is an enigmatic backwater slowly waking up to the world. The petite capital of Vientiane is a place of historic temples, while Luang Prabang is a slice of Lao history with temples, shrines and palaces lining its slow-paced streets. Elsewhere in Laos is the puzzling Plain of Jars and the sleepy Mekong islands of Si Phan Don, ensuring an enchanting time. A visit to Laos is a visit to another world, an older Asia and will enlighten your senses every step of the way.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Laos
As for the best time to visit, it depends. If you want the best weather, visit Laos during the dry season, especially from November to February which is the coolest part of this season. However, as the dry season is the best time to visit, these are also more travelers, it may be crowded and the prices may rise. It is advisable to plan ahead and make reservations in advance.
If you'd like to visit Laos at a quieter time, the wet season is considerable. Thought it rains heavily, it usually lasts for an hour or two a day. Then you'll find everything is greener after the sun comes out.
International Flights
There are now two international gateways to Laos. Wattay Inter-national Airport serves the capital of Vientiane and Luang Prabang International Airport acts as a newly popular gateway to the north. Airlines currently servicing Laos include flag carrier Lao Aviation, as well as Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, Siem Reap Airways, Yunnan Airlines, Vietnam Airlines and Silk Air. Direct flights to Vientiane are available from Bangkok, Chang Mai, Hanoi, Saigon, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Kunming and Singapore. Luang Prabang is connected to Chiang Mai and Danang, but more routes are expected soon.
By Road
Entry to Laos is possible from neighboring countries. Between Thailand and Laos the border can be crossed at Houeixay in Bokeo province, at the Mittaphab Friendship Bridge near Vientiane and at Dan Savannakhet Province, and Thai – Laos Friendship Bridge in Nong Khai Province Thailand connect to Vientian, Laos. A border crossing between Laos and Vietnam has been set up at Laksao.
Business Hours & Local Time
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. Local time is Greenwich Mean time (GMT) plus seven hours.
Clothing
Comfortable lightweight clothing in natural fabrics such as cotton is most suitable for travelling in Indochina, 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. Visitors to Buddhist countries should not wear shorts, short skirts or other skimpy clothing when visiting religious buildings and shoes should be removed before entering a private home. Bodily hygiene and cleanliness are of the highest standard in and a visitor's failure to meet these standard is nit well received. Wash yourself and your clothes daily or prepare to the laughed at and avoided!
Electricity
220V, 50Hz
Food
Lao cuisine has a wide range of food, ranging from European to Asian cuisine. But whenever you visit please do not forget to try 'khao neo' (sticky rice). Khao neo is a symbol of and it is taken together with all sort of food (like Europeans eat bread). Khao neo can also be used to make desert. So don't forget to try Lao khao neo. Laap (meat salad), tam maak houng (papaya salad) and ping kai (bbq chicken) are typical Lao food and eaten with khao neo.
Please bear in mind that some of Lao food are quite hot and spicy, so it is a good idea to ask people to make it less spicy if you cannot take hot food. There are a lot of restaurants scattered over the town. You can find Japanese, French, Italian, Chinese, Indian and other kinds of food in those restaurants with their own unique environment. If you like something quick and simple, fer (noodle soup) is the best choice, especially for those who are always up and running.
Health Precautions
No vaccinations are required except for yellow fever if you are coming from an area where the disease is present. However visitors should be inoculated against typhoid, cholera, hepatitis A & B, tetanus and polio. Malaria is present in most of the region and it is advisable to take precautions especially if travelling off the beaten track. It is essential to purchase your own travel insurance covering air evacuation before traveling. Please kindly visit Travel Insurance for being instructed.
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. French is still spoken by many government officials and educated members of the older generation but Thai and English are popular with younger people.
Money
The local currency in Laos is the Lao Kip (LAK); and USD 1 is equivalent to 8,482.85 kip (as of 30 August 2018). LAK is used for most transactions, but US dollars and Thai Baht are also acceptable in popular tourist cities and towns, such as Luang Prabang and Vientiane.
Generally LAK is expected for smaller purchases, and dollars or baht for more expensive purchases.
It's easy to exchange US Dollars or Thai Baht in Laos. So we recommend exchanging the amount you need when you are in Laos.
Credit cards are also acceptable in airports, major hotels and shopping malls, etc.
Population And People
The population of Laos is about 5 million and growing fast. Lao make up 50 percent of the population, while a huge number of other ethnic groups make up the rest. They include a diversity of groups known as Lao Thai, related to the Thai minorities, Lao Theung, mainly Mon-Khmer peoples thought to have inhabited the area before the other groups, and the Lao Sung, who live at elevations above 1000m and only migrated here in the last century. There are also sizeable Vietnamese, Chinese, Thai and Khmer communities.
Public Holidays
- January 1: New Year's Day
-
April 13–15: Boun Pimai (Lao New Year)
-
May 1: Labour Day
-
December 2: Independence Day
Post And Telecommunication
Vientiane’s General Post Office is located beside the Morning Market. Normal mail service is inexpensive and generally reliable, however for urgent or valuable mail (either to or from Laos) EMS or courier service is recommended.
The GPO offers public telephones for local, national and international calls. Phone card (available at appointed shops) booths are available for domestic and overseas calls. Most large hotels have IDD lines, but calls are expensive.
Country code: 856.
Outgoing international code: 00.
Religion
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.
About 60% of the population of Laos follow Theravada Buddhism. It was introduced to Laos in the late 13th century. It is enhanced by traditional animist beliefs and spirit worship that were popular before Buddhism and remain the pre-dominant faith among minority groups in Laos.
Safety
Laos is largely a safe country with thousands of tourists enjoying trouble-free holidays there every year. While there are some off-limits areas, which contain unexploded bombs left over from warfare. Respecting these boundaries is crucial to protect you from the potential bombs.
In any destinations in the world, tourists are usually looked on as easy targets for theft, bag snatching and other petty crimes. And in Laos, it is no different. So it is wise to take usual precautions to protect your belongings and personal safety.
Take a camera strap and a money belt (or small bag) to carry your money, passport and valuables with you, and don't leave any valuables in your hotel room.
Remain vigilant around your belongings, especially in crowded areas.
Always choose well-lit paths and streets, especially when you travel alone or at night.
Shopping
Recommended souvenirs to buy in Laos are:
-
Phaa sin – a traditional wraparound skirt available in many regional patterns in most markets and small shops around the country. You can find it is worn by many Lao women from school students to government officials.
-
Silk products and textiles – woven by bare hands using wild silk and intricately dyed. They feature creative models and high-quality craftsmanship and are available in various types like clothes, bed sheets, blankets and table-cover.
-
Coffee – Laos is known as the best place in Southeast Asia to plant coffee because of the favorable weather and ideal terrain, such as the Bolevan Plateau. You can buy both Robusta and sweeter Arabica beans in most shops with affordable price.
-
Silver or gold jewelry – such as necklaces, earrings, bracelets and belt. They are made by hand with traditional tools and ancient methods.
-
Bamboo wares – like bowls, vases, chairs, baskets and other household wares.
-
Paintings – made by local artists.
-
Carvings – made in wood, stone and bone with various styles and shades.
Wi-Fi In Laos
Free Wi-Fi is available in many hotels and cafes in the main tourist destinations in Laos.
Tipping
Tipping for good service is not expected but is always appreciated in these developing nations. 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.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included in all of our tours/service. We highly recommend you purchase your own one including air evacuation in your country before traveling.
Visas
If you are a citizen of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Japan, South Korea, Russia and Switzerland, you can travel to Laos visa-free. Other nationalities are required to obtain a tourist visa.
Currently, tourist visa on arrival is available to citizens of most countries, including the US, the UK, the EU, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It can be obtained at all international airports and most international border crossings in Laos, and generally permit a stay of 30 days. To obtain it, you need a passport with at least six months validity remaining from the date of entry and at least two blank visa pages, one passport-sized photo, the name of a hotel, and the visa fee of USD 30 to USD 42 in cash depending on your nationality.
Note: Visa requirements may change from time to time, so it is advisable to consult the Lao Embassy for the up-to-date information.
Water
It is not advisable to drink tap water in Laos but bottled mineral water is safe and available everywhere. Ice in drinks is generally fine in good standard hotels and restaurants but it is best to avoid it on street stalls or in country areas.
Weather
Laos is belonging to tropical and subtropical monsoon climate, specifically, it is tropical in the plains, and subtropical in the mountains and the far north. It's also governed by the monsoons: the winter monsoon from November to April when the weather is good and cool; and the summer monsoon from May to October when the weather is rainy. So Laos has two distinct weather seasons: a dry season (or cool season, from November to April) and a wet season (or hot season, from May to late October). During the dry season, the temperatures are usually no higher than 30 °C, and cool enough in the evenings when you may need long sleeves or a light jacket. It doesn't rain much at this time. During the wet season, the weather is hot with temperatures reaching 35 °C and above, and has thunderstorm in the afternoon or at dusk. The hottest weather is typically in May and June, and the heaviest rainfall is generally in August and September, especially in the southern part of Laos.
