Laos tourism
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 Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 10:16 am Post subject: TRAVEL IN LAOS INFORMATION & TIPS |
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LAOS TOURISM & TRAVEL TIPS
Contact Addresses
Location: South-East Asia.
Country dialling code: 856.
Lao National Tourism Authority (LNTA)
PO Box 3556, Lane Xang Avenue, Hadsady, Chanthaboury, Vientiane, Laos
Tel: (21) 222 971. Fax: (21) 212 251.
E-mail: info@visit-mekong.com
Website: www.visit-mekong.com/laos
Embassy of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic
74 avenue Raymond Poincaré, 75116 Paris, France
Tel: (1) 4553 0298. Fax: (1) 4727 5789.
E-mail: ambalaoparis@wanadoo.fr
Website: www.laoparis.com
Adventure World Ltd
Street Address: 179 Progress Drive, Bibra Lake, 6163 Western Australia, Australia
Postal Address: PO Box 1186, Bibra Lake, 6965 WA, Australia
Tel: ( 5417 9666. Fax: ( 9417 3132.
E-mail: fun@adventureworld.net.au
Website: www.adventureworld.net.au
British Embassy
PO Box 6626, Vientiane, Laos
Tel: (21) 413 606. Fax: (21) 413 607.
British Embassy staff are resident in Bangkok (see Thailand section). Trade Office staff are resident in Vientiane.
Embassy of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic
2222 S Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 332 6416. Fax: (202) 332 4923.
E-mail: laoemb@starpower.net
Website: www.laoembassy.com
Also deals with enquiries from Canada and Mexico.
Embassy of the United States of America
Street address: 19 rue Bartholonie, That Dam, Vientiane, Laos
Postal address: BP 114, Vientiane, Laos
Tel: (21) 212 581-9. Fax: (21) 212 584.
E-mail: khammanhpx@state.gov
Website: http://usembassy.state.gov/laos
Note: The Canadian Embassy in Bangkok deals with enquiries relating to Laos (see Thailand section).
Passport/Visa
Passport Required? Visa Required? Return Ticket Required?
British Yes Yes Yes
Australian Yes Yes Yes
Canadian Yes Yes Yes
USA Yes Yes Yes
OtherEU Yes Yes Yes
Japanese Yes Yes Yes
PASSPORTS: Passport with at least six months remaining validity required by all.
VISAS: Required by all.
Types of visa and cost: Tourist, Business: €50 (including service and document fees). Families may only be charged €50 per family if all living at the same address, and same surname is indicated on passports.
Validity: Validity starts from day of entry into Laos. Tourist/Business: 30 days (can be extended in Vientiane for 30 days for two times). Visas must be used within three months of being issued.
Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy) or an officially recognised tour operator. A visa valid for Laos can also be obtained from travel agencies in Bangkok (Thailand) or on arrival (see above). Visas are issued on arrival at 14 international checkpoints throughout Laos, including Luang Prabang Airport, Pakse Airport and (Wattay) Vientiane International Airport for stays of 15 days, and costs US$30. For futher details, contact the nearest Embassy.
Application requirements: (a) One passport-size photo. (b) One signed and completed application form. (c) Valid passport. (d) Fee payable by cash or cheque. (e) Postal applications should include an additional €5 (inside France) or €10 (international), to cover postage. Business: (a)-(e) and, (f) Letter from sponsor in Laos.
Working days required: Three.
Temporary residence: Enquire at nearest Embassy or Consulate. For extension of visa, consult the Immigration Office (tel: (21) 512 012); neglecting to do so will result in a fine of US$10 per day until leaving the country.
Money
Currency: Lao Kip (Kip) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of Kip5000, 2000, 1000, 500 and 100.
Currency exchange: Thai Baht and US Dollars are the easiest currencies to exchange. They are also widely accepted in shops, markets and hotels in Vientiane and Luang Prabang.
Credit & debit cards: Major credit cards are accepted in the more upmarket hotels and tourist-oriented restaurants. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.
Travellers cheques: Limited acceptance. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars or Thai Baht.
Currency restrictions: The import and export of local currency is prohibited. There are no restrictions on the import or export of foreign currency, but amounts greater than US$2000 must be declared.
Exchange rate indicators
The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Lao Kip against Sterling and the US Dollar:
Date May '04 Aug '04 Nov '04 Feb '05
£1.00= 14078.0 14447.7 14848.5 15542.2
$1.00= 7882.00 7842.00 7841.00 8230.0
Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1330-1730.
Duty Free
Duty-Free: The following goods may be imported into Laos, from countries not bordering Laos, without incurring customs duty:
500 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 500g of tobacco; 1 bottle of alcoholic beverage and2 bottles of wine; personal jewellery up to 500g.
Public Holidays
Jan 1 2005 New Year’s Day. Jan 6 Pathet Lao Day. Jan 20 Army Day. Feb 1 Chinese New Year. Mar 8 International Women’s Day. Mar 22 Day of the People’s Party. Apr 13-15* Lao New Year (Pi Mai). Apr 21 Birth of Buddha. May 1 Labour Day. Jun 1 Children’s Day. Jun 21 Khao Pansa (Buddhist Fast begins). Aug 13 Lao Issara (Day of the Free Laos). Sep 11 Bouk ok Pansa (Buddhist Fast ends). Oct 12 Day of Liberation. Dec 2 National Day. Jan 1 2006 New Year’s Day. Jan 6 Pathet Lao Day. Jan 20 Army Day. Jan 29 Chinese New Year. Mar 8 International Women’s Day. Mar 22 Day of the People’s Party. Apr 13-15* Lao New Year (Pi Mai). May 1 Labour Day. May 13 Birth of Buddha. Jun/Jul Khao Pansa (Buddhist Fast begins). Jun 1 Children’s Day. Aug 13 Lao Issara (Day of the Free Laos). Sep Bouk ok Pansa (Buddhist Fast ends). Oct 12 Day of Liberation. Dec 2 National Day.
Note: *Variations may occur.
Health
Special Precautions Certificate Required
Yellow Fever No 1
Cholera Yes 2
Typhoid and Polio 3 N/A
Malaria 4 N/A
1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers arriving from infected areas.
2: Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is not a condition of entry to Laos. However, cholera is a serious risk in this country and precautions are essential. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination, as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness; see the Health appendix.
3: Typhoid may occur. Poliovirus transmission has been interrupted, but complete eradication is not yet certain.
4: Malaria risk exists throughout the year in the whole country, except in Vientiane. The malignant falciparum form is prevalent and is reported to be highly resistant to chloroquine. The recommended prophylaxis is mefloquine.
Food & drink: All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised, but make sure that it is reconstituted with pure water. Avoid dairy products that are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.
Other risks: Hepatitis A and E occur; hepatitis B is highly endemic. Dengue fever, diphtheria, tuberculosis and Japanese encephalitis occur. Some vaccinations may be advised. Liver fluke (opisthorchiasis) is present; travellers should avoid eating raw or undercooked fish.
Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information, consult the Health appendix.
Health care: Any treatment must generally be paid for in cash. Health insurance is essential and should include cover for air evacuation.
Travel - International
Note: Penalties for illegal drug importation and use are severe and can include the death penalty. Over the past year there have been explosions in the capital Vientiane and attacks on buses, resulting in injury and death. There are also reports of banditry in rural areas and unexploded ordnance is an ongoing danger. It is illegal not to carry an ID document or a passport, and fines for not having one for presentation on demand can be high. The Lao Government prohibits sexual relationships, including sexual contact between foreign citizens and Lao nationals, except when the two parties have been married in accordance with Lao family law. Penalties for failing to register a relationship range from fines to imprisonment. Most visits to Laos are trouble-free.
AIR: The national airline of Laos is Lao Aviation (QV) which serves the international routes from Vientiane to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Bangkok and Chiang Mai (Thailand), Phnom Penh (Cambodia) and Kunming (China). Thai Airways International (website: www.thaiair.com) flies from Bangkok; Vietnam Airlines (website: www.vietnamairlines.com) flies from Hanoi.
International airports: Vientiane (VTE) (Wattay) is 3km (2 miles) from the city (travel time – 20 minutes). Taxis cost US$5, on average. Facilities include bank/bureaux de change, bars, post office, restaurants and car hire.
Departure tax: US$10; children under two years of age and transit passengers are exempt.
RAIL: There are no railways in Laos, but the Thai system stretches from Bangkok via Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai on the Laos/Thailand border. A ferry and a bridge links the Lao side of the Mekong, 19km (12 miles) east of Vientiane.
ROAD: It is possible to enter Laos from Thailand at Nong Khai over the Friendship Bridge. Other border crossings include Chiang Kong (Thailand)–Houei Xay (Laos) in the north; Mukdahan (Thailand)–Savannakhet (Laos); Chong Mek (between Pakse and Ubon Ratchathani); Nakorn Phanom (Thailand)–Tha Kek (Laos) and Jouay Kone (Thailand)–Xaingnabouri (Laos). It is possible to enter Laos by road from Vietnam either at Lao Bao or at the new border post of Lak Xao near Vinh. Laos can also be entered from China, from Mengla in Yunnan province to Luang Nam Tha. Overland travel to Cambodia and Myanmar is not feasible owing to security risks. Internally, the road link between Vientiane and Luang Prabang to the north has been upgraded.
Travel - Internal
AIR: Domestic air services run from Vientiane to Houayxai, Luang Nmatha, Luang Prabang, Oudomxai, Sam Neua and Sayabouti in the north and Pakse and Savanakhet in the south. Private charter flights are also available through Westcoast Helicopters.
RIVER: The Mekong and other rivers are a vital part of the country’s transport system. The choice is between irregular (and very basic) slow ferries and exciting but noisy and hazardous speedboats. Both services run from Vientiane to Luang Prabang and Luang Prabang to Huay Xai. Ferries often depart early in the mornings and can take several days, whilst speedboats run more regularly and take approximately eight hours for each leg of the journey. Times and prices alter according to demand. Private jet boats can be hired from Lao River Exploration Services. For further details, contact Lao National Tourism Authority (see Contact Addresses section).
ROAD: Traffic drives on the right. Many of the roads have been paved in recent years, including the main highway from the Thai border at Savannakhet to the Vietnamese border. However, few main roads are suitable for all-weather driving. In the north of the country, there is a road link between Vientiane and Luang Prabang, and from Vientiane to Nam Dong and Tran Ninh. Bus: Services link all major towns and cities. Buses can vary from the more traditional type to the converted pick-up truck. Car hire: It is not recommended to hire cars in Laos as driving standards are low. However, it is possible to hire cars with a driver through hotels or tourist agencies. Asia Vehicle Rental Co Ltd in Vientiane can help visitors with all their rental needs (tel: (21) 217 493 (and fax) or 223 867; e-mail: avr@loxinfo.co.th; website: www.avr.laopdr.com). Documentation: International Driving Permit recommended, although it is not legally required.
URBAN: There is a mixture of old and metered taxis in Vientiane that can usually be located at Wattay Airport, the Friendship bridge and the Morning market. Taxis can also be hired for approximately US$20 per day. Converted motorcycles, known as tuk-tuks or jumbos, are available in all major towns and cities and are perfect for shorter journeys around town. Bargaining is expected. Motorcycles and bicycles can be hired for the day in Vientiane and Luang Prabang.
Note: Travel outside Vientiane should be prearranged with a tour company.
Accommodation
HOTELS: There are good hotels and guest houses in Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and Vientiane, but facilities are sparse elsewhere. Local village hostels are available, but with few amenities. For more details of prices and location, contact a tour company with experience in Laos.
CAMPING: There are no facilities for camping in Laos.
ECOLODGES: Laos is eager to promote ecotourism and visitors can stay in specially constructed ecolodges in either Laopako, one hour 30 minutes from Vientiane on the Nam Mgum river, or the Boat Landing in Luang Namtha province.
Sport & Activities
Wildlife: Laos’s pristine landscape hosts a variety of flora and fauna, including rare primates, mammals and birds. Freshwater dolphins can be found in the Mekong river. There is still some unexploded ordinance in the countryside, and official advice should be taken about which areas to avoid.
Trekking: Travellers can head to the hills independently or take part in locally organised guided tours.
Mountain biking: The lack of cars makes cycling a good proposition. Terrain can be difficult, however, and there are not many roads. Visitors are advised to bring their own bicycles, though there are some for hire in the larger towns.
Climate
Throughout most of the country, the climate is hot and tropical, with the rainy season between May and October when temperatures are at their highest. The dry season runs from November to April.
Required clothing: Lightweights and rainwear, with a sweater for winter and upland areas. |
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