Laos Travel Tips

Below is a list of Laos travel tips that we believe would be useful for anyone who plans to visit Laos.

All are about common sense but because of cultural and traditional differences; it will make a great difference in your travel trip if you know and understand some of their culture.

Laos is a landlocked country and little visited by the outside world. Most parts of the country has still been unchanged for centuries. Lao people are friendly and eager to welcome you to visit their country.

Following are some useful travel information you need to know before you leave home.

Entry requirements:

• Visas:
  Conditions of the visa change regularly. Please contact the nearest Laos Embassy for the most up to date information.
  

• Passport validity:
  Your passport should have a minimum validity of 6 months, or entry to Laos may not be permitted.
  

Local laws:

• Using, possessing, trafficking and manufacturing illigal drugs are serious offences in Laos.
• Sexual relationships between foreign citizens and Lao nationals is prohibited, except when the two parties have been married in accordance with Lao Family Law.
• It is compulsory to carry an ID document or a passport with you at all time.
• Photographing or visiting military sites is prohibited.

• Nop is the traditional greeting which can be used to say "thank you" and "goodbye" as well.
• Remove shoes when entering temples and homes.
• Ask permission before taking pictures of people.
• Do not touch people or children on their heads.

Health:

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Laos and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date.

Laos travel tips about Money:

• Currency:
  Lao Kip (LAK)
  
• 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 and ATMs:
  

  Major credit cards are accepted in the more upmarket hotels and restaurants only.
  

• Traveller's Cheques:
  Limited acceptance. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in US Dollars or Thai Baht.
  

Laos travel tips about transportation:

• Road Travel
  There are buses and private coaches running from major cities to anothers. Taxi and TukTuk are the best mean of transport to travel around the city.
  

• River Travel:
  There are slow boats and speed boats operating in daily basic. Take special precausion when travelling by speed boats particularly in the dry season, November to April. Life-vests and crash helmets should be provided and worn.
  

• Air Travel:
  The national airline of Laos is Laos Airlines. It flights domestic route daily from major cities to anothers. There are no direct flights from the USA, Australia or Europe; flights are mainly via Bangkok, Vietnam, China or Cambodia.
  

Laos travel tips about Communications:

• Telephone:
  Country code: 856. The General Post Office (GPO) offers public telephones for national and international calls. There are also card phone booths available.
  

• Mobile Telephone:
  Roaming agreements exist with a few international mobile phone companies. Check with your service provider for more detailed.
  

• Internet:
  Internet cafes are located in the major towns and are becoming increasingly common in places frequented by backpackers.
  

• Post:
  Post Office is located beside the Morning Market in Vientiane. Postal service is inexpensive and reliable but it can take around two weeks to/from Western countries. A courier service is recommended for urgent or valuable mail.
  

• Press:
  
  • English-language newspapers include the Vientiane Times.
  • Le Rénovateur is a French-language newspaper.
  • The Lao-language daily is the Vientiane Mai.
    

• Radio:
  

  Lao National Radio is the national radio station.
  

Time:
GMT + 7.

Vientiane Time Now!!

Electricity:
230 volts AC, 50Hz.

Duty Free:
Goods listed below may be imported into Laos without incurring customs duty:

• 500 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 500g of tobacco.
• One bottle of alcoholic beverage and two bottles of wine.
• Personal jewellery up to 500g.
  

In this page about Laos travel tips we add additional governments websites from four different countries and from World Health Organization for you to do more research about Laos and hope these will help.

Australia Nationals:
Website: Smarttraveller.gov.au/Laos

British Nationals:
Website: www.fco.gov.uk/Laos

USA Nationals:
Website: http://travel.state.gov/travel/Laos

Canada Nationals:
Website: Voyage.gc.ca/Laos

World Health Organization:
Website: World Health Organization/Laos

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The road to Huay Xai  Not rated yet
I have traveled several times this road. Once by bus which was close to a nightmare as the road was really bad. Several years later I did it again, this ...