Here we have put together some useful tips and practical information on travelling in Laos. Read on or use the links below to jump to a section of particular interest.

 Passports & Visas

Visitors of most nationalities need a visa in order to visit Laos. Visitors of member states of ASEAN are exempted from this.

You can apply for this visa at a Laotian embassy in or near your country. Please contact the embassy for more details. The visa for Laos is valid for one month and occupies a full page in your passport. Please make sure you have enough pages in your passport. The passport has to be valid for at least 6 months.

 For most nationalities a visa upon arrival is available at the international airports of Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Pakse. The visa costs 30 USD per person (31 USD during the weekend) and is valid from 30 days(*). You need to fill in a form and hand in one picture. A visa upon arrival is possible at most bordercrossings (see section “bordercrossings”). Here the visa also costs 30 USD per person (31 USD during the weekend) and is valid for 30 days. You need to fill in a form and hand in one picture.

 
(*) The Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs has decided to adjust the visa fees for several countries!

From 1 November 2006 the visa on arrival fees will be as follows:

 Afghanistan = 40 USD
Australia = 35 USD
Bangladesh = 40 USD

Belgium = 30 USD
Bhutan = 30 USD
Canada = 42 USD
China = 20 USD
Denmark = 35 USD
England = 35 USD
France = 30 USD
Germany = 30 USD
Greece = 35 USD
Hong Kong = 30 USD
India = 40 USD
Ireland = 35 USD
Italy = 35 USD
Nepal = 40 USD
Netherlands = 35 USD
New Zealand = 30 USD
North Korea = 30 USD
Norway = 35 USD
Pakistan = 40 USD
Portugal = 35 USD
Saudi Arabia = 31 USD
South Korea = 30 USD
Sri Lanka = 40 USD
Switzerland = 35 USD
Taiwan = 30 USD
Turkey = 35 USD
USA = 35 USD
Vietnam = 20 USD

For other countries not mentioned above: 30 USD

For the latest updated visa fees please look here:
http://www.bkklaoembassy.com/consular%20service/visafee.htm

 

Health

Health risks include: Cholera, dengue fever, hepatitis, Japanese encephalitis, malaria, rabies, typhoid.

We strongly recommend you should visit either their personal physician or a travel health clinic 4-8 weeks before departure.

Dangers to your health include Cholera Malaria and Typhoid. Hepatitis A and E occur; hepatitis B is highly endemic. Dengue fever, diphtheria, tuberculosis and Japanese encephalitis occur.

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

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.

Typhoid may occur. Polio virus transmission has been interrupted, but complete eradication is not yet certain.

Before traveling to Laos consult your private physician on advise for vaccinations and prophylactics.

Money

The Kip is the official currency of Laos. The Kip comes in the following denominations: 50 000, 20 000. 10 000, 5 000, 2 000, 1 000 and 500. There are no coins in Laos. The last few years the Kip has been hovering around 10 000 for the US Dollar.

In many places cash US Dollars and Thai Baht are accepted.
The Kip is not freely convertable, which means that you can’t buy any outside of Laos, and any you leave with can’t be exchanged anywhere else.
There are a couple of ATM machines in Luang Prabang and Vientiane where you can withdraw Kip. This service is not yet reliable so don't count on it.
Some more upmarket hotels and restaurants accept credit cards
In banks in the bigger cities (Luang Prabang, Vientiane and Pakse) you can withdraw cash with your credit card and change traveler cheques.
Cash US dollars, Euros and Thai Baht can be exchanged at banks all over the country. Many small shopkeepers and guesthouse also change cash money.
We advise to bring a mix of cash US Dollars, Euros or Thai Baht and Traveller Cheques.

When traveling to remote areas make sure to bring loads of kip, as other currencies are rarely accepted.

Food

All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Use tapwater for brushing your teeth
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.

Lao food is traditionally eaten with sticky rice, with the fingers. In the countryside, people will all eat family style, sitting on the floor, sharing a few dishes. Traditional Lao food is dry, spicy and very delicious. There are Chinese and French influences in Lao food.

Here are some favourites:

Laap, a traditional Lao food is made from chopped meat, chicken or duck is a favourite. The finely chopped meat, spices and broth is mixed with uncooked rice grains that have been dry fried, and crushed. Laap is eaten with a plate of raw vegetables and sticky rice.

Tam Mak Houng is a salad made from sliced raw papaya, garlic, chile, peanuts, sugar, fermented fish sauce and lime juice – it can be extremely spicy, so be careful!

Som moo is fermented pork sausage, found in many forms. The sausage is made from raw pork – sometimes lean, sometimes pork skin. Som moo may be eaten raw or cooked. A mixture of som moo, tam mak koung and laap make a popular Lao lunchtime meal.

Barbequed som moo, served Vietnamese style is popular in Laos. Known as Naem Nuang, it is served with transparent rice paper, thin noodles and lots of herbs, vegetables, lettuce and a sauce. You take all the ingredients, and build your own spring roll – watch the locals to see how it is done.

Foe (pronounced like the British English ‘fur’) is the name for noodle soup, which can be found everywhere in Laos. It is simailar in style to the chinese noodle soup found allover Asia.

French Baguettes are found in the larger towns, served for breakfast, filled as a sandwich with pate, moo yor (a pork lunchmeat), vegetables, and chile sauce. Baguettes are also dunked into coffee for breakfast.

As well as French bread, you will find a lot of salad in Laos. The traditional lao diet includes a lot of raw vegetables – but the French left the tossed salad behind. In Luang Prabang, they make a delicious salad made from watercress.

Tipping & Taxes

Tipping in Laos is not customary. It is highly appreciated though. In more upscale restaurants a tip of between 5 and 10% is recommended. In other places leaving the small change is enough.
Taxi and tuk tuk drivers on regular trips don’t expect any tip at all.
Guides and drivers of rented vehicles expect to be tipped. For guides a tip between 2 and 5 USD per day is normal, for drivers between 1 and 3 USD per day. Of course tipping is always related to the quality of services rendered.

The only taxes you might encounter in the country will be airport departure taxes. International departure airporttax is currently 10 USD per person at all airports in Laos. Domestic departure tax is 10 000 Kip per person at the moment.

Links & Reading

Visa regulations are subject to changes. For more details please visit these websites: http://www.bkklaoembassy.com or http://la.embassyinformation.com/

For the latest updates on current diseases and health issues see the website of the World Health Organisation: http://www.who.int/countries/lao/en/

Lao eco-lodge near the stunning Tad Fane waterfalls: http://www.tadfane.com/

Luang Prabang World Heritage Site from UNESCO: http://whc.unesco.org/sites/479.htm

Wat Phou World Heritage Site from UNESCO: http://whc.unesco.org/sites/481.htm

UXO LAO is the national agency responsible for unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance and education in the Lao PDR: http://www.uxolao.org/casestudies.htm

History: The Secret War in Laos: http://www.angelfire.com/in/Laos/

Lots of articles on politics and history: http://www.vientianetimes.com

Laos history in detail up to 1994: http://www.countryreports.org/history/latoc.aspx?countryid=137&countryName=Laos

Find businesses in Lao PDR and interesting homepages of Lao people around the world here: http://webindex.mahasan.com/

This website provides travelers with free information on tourism services in the Lao PDR in order to help generate income for local communities, support natural and cultural protected areas, and minimize negative impacts on Lao culture and environment: http://www.ecotourismlaos.com/

A search engine in Dutch http://www.zoekmach1ne.nl/

Bordercrossings

with Cambodia:
Veunkham - Dom Kralor (road or river)


with Thailand:
Friendship Bridge Vientiane - Nongkhai (road)
Ban Houai Sai - Chiang Khong (in Bokeo Province) (boat)
Friendship Bridge Savannakhet - Mukdaharn (in Savannakhet Province) (road)
Vang Tao - Chong Mek (in Champasak Province) (road)
Hong Sa - Huai Khon
Thakhek - Nakhon Phanom (boat)
Nam Heung - Tha Li


with Vietnam:
Denesavanh (Savannaket) - Lao Bao (Hue)  (road)
Nam Phao - Cau Treo (Dong Hoi) (road)
Nong Haet (Phonsavan) - Nam Can (Vinh) (road)
Ban Panghok (Muang Xai) - Tay Trang (Dien Bien Phu) (road)
Na Meo (road) - Nam Xoi

Attapeu (road) - Bo Y, Kontum

 

with China:
Boten - Bohane(road)

 

Please remember that bordercrossing formalities are subject to changes. For the latest update please check with the embassy or consulate of Laos in your country.