Travel Tips in Laos

CLIMATE
Laos has a warm and tropical climate with two seasons: the rainy season from the beginning of May to the end of September and the dry season from October to April. The average temperature is 29 degrees centigrade. Maximum temperature can reach up to 40 degrees centigrade. Temperatures can drop to as low as 15 degrees or even lower in mountains. In Vientiane minimum temperatures of 19 C are to be expected in January. In mountainous areas, however, temperatures drop to 14-15 C during the winter months, and in cold nights easily reach the freezing point.
The average precipitation is highest in southern Laos, where the Annamite Mountains receive over 3000 mm annually. In Vientiane rainfall is about 1500-2000 mm, and in the Northern provinces only 1000-1500 mm. Generally, tourists are recommended to visit Laos during the months of November to March because these are cool months and rainfall is lower than other periods.

MONEY IN LAOS
The Lao currency is the kip, which is inconvertible, unstable and generally inflationary. As of 20 January 2006, there are 10,561 kip to the US$.
The largest bill is only 50000 kip, though the largest notes in common circulation are 20000 kip or 10000 kip; withdrawing 1M kip from an ATM (about US$100) could result in 100 notes of 10000 kip each. This makes carrying large quantities of kip quite inconvenient. Fortunately, there is little need to do so, as US$ are readily accepted throughout the country (although sometimes at somewhat disadvantageous rates - 10000 kip to the US$ is common), and Thai baht are also readily accepted in many areas. For short visits to the main centres there's little point to exchanging kip, as changing them back is a hassle in Laos and practically impossible elsewhere.
Many banks, travel agents and guesthouses will allow you to take out cash from a credit card as a cash advance. This usually occurs by withdrawing the money in US$ from the card as a cash advance; the card issuer will usually charge a fee (about 3%), the Lao bank involved will charge about 3%, and then the agent providing the cash advance might (or might not) charge another 3%, and then the amount is converted from US$ to kip at 10000 to the US$, costing another 5% or so - hence, overall, these transactions are much more expensive than the typical charge for withdrawing cash from ATMs in other countries. Changing traveller's cheques is easy in any large village.

FORMALITIES
You can easily obtain 15-day tourist visas on arrival in Laos, subject to the furnishing of 30USD and one passport photo per person. Laos visas can be obtained on arrival at the following border crossings:

• The Friendship Bridge crossing (near Vientiane, bordering Thailand)
• The Vientiane International Airport (Wattay Airport)
• The Luang Prabang International Airport
• Pakse International Airport
• Nam Kan/Noeng Haet (Xieng Khuang province, bordering Vietnam, since March 2003)
• Lak Sao (Bolikhamsao Province, bordering Vietnam, since March 2003)
• Lao Bao (Savannakhet Province, bordering Vietnam, since March 2003)
• Thakek (Savannakhet Province, bordering Thailand, since March 2003)
• Chong Mek (Champasak Province, bordering Thailand, since March 2003)
• Huay Xai (Bokeo Province, since March 2003)
• Boten (Luang Namtha Province, bordering Thailand, since March 2003

All applicants wishing to travel to the Lao PDR can obtain a visa in advance of their arrival at any Lao Embassy or Consulate.

WHAT TO BRING?
Your baggage should be clearly labelled and kept to a reasonable minimum. Comfortable casual clothes made of cotton are best in tropical and semi-tropical climates. Packing one set of smart casual clothes is advisable. Laundry services are available throughout the country, although hotel laundry costs can be expensive. Make sure you bring:

• Flat walking shoes and sandals
• Hat & sunglasses
• Bathers
• Money belt
• Raincoat or umbrella
• Basic first aid kit
• Insect repellent
• Alarm clock
• Small torch
• Swiss Army pocketknife
• Power adapter
• Women’s sanitary products
• Slide or any specialised film if used (print film is widely available in Laos)
• Eye patch for the train (if undertaking the Bangkok to Hanoi journey)
• Effective, airline type ear plugs (if undertaking the Bangkok to Hanoi or Inside Laos journeys)
• One layer of warm clothes (for travelling on the Mekong between Huay Xai and Luang Prabang from November to March

Do’s and Don’t

• Do dress modestly when entering temples, museums, official buildings and government offices; no shorts or sleeveless shirts, tank tops or beach wear. Shorts that cover the thighs are acceptable everywhere else. Be clean and neat in appearance whenever possible.
• Do like the locals and keep your sense of time flexible. Expecting punctuality will often lead to frustration.
• Do remove shoes when entering temples and homes (it is convenient to wear slip-ons or sandals)
• Don't point your feet towards people or Buddha images. When sitting in a temple, keep legs together and to the side in a mermaid position.
• Don't, if you are a woman, touch monks, hand them objects, sit with or talk to them outside of temples. Any offerings need to pass through the hands of a man first.
• Do ask permission before taking pictures of people, particularly in villages outside the cities where the people may have superstitions against being photographed.
• Don't touch people or children on their heads.
• Don't lose your temper in public - speaking loudly and angrily is often counterproductive.
• Don't engage in public displays of affection

If you need any further assistance, please Contact Us.

Country Info:
Official Name: The Lao People's Democratic Republic
Capital: Vientiane
Area: 236,800 sq km (91,400 sq miles)
Population: 6,368,481m (July 2006)
Religion(s): The population is 65.4% Buddhist, with 33.1% animist, 1.3 %
Christian and 0.1% Other, including a tiny Islamic minority (1995 census).