Laos Country Guide
The "Land of a Million Elephants", as it was once known, Laos is a landlocked country of about 6.5 million that boasts a diverse and colourful mix of 68 or so ethnic groups and tribes living either low in its fertile river valleys or high in its hills and mountains. Most are a peaceful and deeply spiritual people, practicing the same traditions and labour that their forbears have for centuries.
Boys and young men still shave their heads and don the saffron robes of Buddhist monks and hill tribes-women can still be found in their homes weaving traditional, colourful designs on foot looms in remote villages virtually unchanged for centuries.
Laos is a laid back country that can be taken in at your leisure!
Enjoy a herbal massage, stroll the streets, bargain for local handicrafts at open markets, sip coffee or tea at street side cafés and watch the local life go by. You can immerse yourself into its more spiritual side by retreating into the incensed tranquillity of a Buddhist temple (wat) or even by practicing meditation.
Laos is a country that offers plenty of challenging terrain, interesting sites and activities for the adventurous. You can kayak or go boating down the Mekong, trek through jungles atop an elephant, go exploring and even rock-climbing in limestone caves, hike mountains in search of remote and ancient temple ruins or camp out in wildlife conservation parks.
Below on this Laos Country Guide is some useful travel information for visitors contemplating a trip to Laos, including suggestions on where and when to go, visa requirements, money used, information about Laos food and drink as well as a handy Travellers' Dos and Don'ts list.
For those definitely planning a trip, we recommend going to our Laos Useful Links pages to access other sites with more detailed information on Laos. Click on the Laos Destination Guides page for more detailed information about different cities in Laos, and to book accommodation; or visit our Laos Tours page for things to do during your stay.
We recommend you check out the Laos travel information from fellow travellers on the RealTravel web site. Or you can read about travel in Laos on GoNOMAD.
Check out the latest Laos Travel features on YouTube.
Laos Country Guide
Useful information on this page includes:
Climate/Weather
Follow the link to our Laos weather page for Laos climate and weather details and a six-day Vientiane weather forecast.
Communication
The international dialling code for Laos is +856.
Emergency numbers for Laos are 190 (fire), 191 (police) and for 195 (ambulance).
International phone calls can be made from most internet cafes, and are often cheaper than payphones. Mobile telephone roaming agreements exist with many international carriers. It is advisable to check with your provider. Coverage can be ordinary in many locations throughout Laos, however is good in the major cities & towns.
Internet
Internet cafes are widespread throughout Vientiane, Vang Vieng & Luang Prabang with relatively quick connections. Outside of the major towns they are less frequent with much slower service.
Post
The postal system is relatively reliable and cheap, however if you are sending mail to most western countries, be advised that it can take up to 2 weeks.
Currency/Money
Currency
Lao Kip (LAK; symbol ₭) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of ₭50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 2,000, 1,000, and 500. To view the current Laos exchange rate, click on this link to OANDA.com - The Currency Site.
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. ATMs are available in all major towns, although they only dispense kip.
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.
Banking Hours
Standard opening hourse are 8:30am - 3:30pm with all banks open during lunch hours. However, ANZ is open until 5pm.
Customs/Behaviour
The Lao people are generally tolerant, patient and laid back, thanks in large part to the heavy influence of Theravada Buddhism and its concept of Karma (karma - rebirth) which discourages aggressiveness or excessive ambition but encourages correct conduct. Proper conduct would include controlling one's passions and other strong emotions, proper and modest dress and behaviour and respectful treatment of others. Public displays of anger or affection are discouraged.
Most everyone in Laos including foreigners, men and women alike, are treated very courteously. Elders get an extra measure of deference. Handshakes are widely accepted in Laos though the traditional greeting is the nop which can be used to say 'thank you' and 'goodbye' as well. Put your palms together in a prayer-like position at chest level and make a slight bow. A lower bow with higher hands is given when greeting elders.
As a falang (foreigner) you will be able to get away with a lot but it is always best to know the local customs and taboos and as a responsible tourist you may want to adhere to a few rules (see list below). Remember that the head is sacred and feet are considered the lowliest part of the body and your dress and body language are signs of your 'respectability'.
Click here for a more extensive review of Lao culture.
Traveller Dos and Don'ts
- 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.
- Do consider leaving a small donation when visiting temples.
- Don't take pictures posing with Buddha images, handle, climb or sit on them
- 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.
- Do greet someone who is greeting you - by nop, handshake or a polite bow and smile - but don't offer a kiss!
- Do respect the Laos' interpersonal space - there is little physical contact or closeness between individuals who are not family.
- Don't be surprised if someone goes right past you to get to something first - Laos generally do not queue up for anything.
- Do bargain for goods in markets and shops (except where there are fixed prices) but do so with a good attitude and smile. Prices are generally not inordinately high to begin with as they may be in other Asian cities.
Electricity
Embassy Information
Events/Festivals
Time your trip to fall during one of Laos festivals or holidays and see this otherwise tranquil country come to life with activity. During the Laos lunar New Year (Bun Pii Mai) in mid-April, everyone is busy cleaning their homes, making offerings at the temples and enjoying the festivities.
On the streets, expect to cool off with water tossed your way by well-intentioned Laos for good luck and "ritual cleansing". In Luang Prabang, they welcome the New Year with a colourful procession of elephants and celebrants in traditional costume.
The Rocket Festival (Bun Bang Fai) celebrated in May to bring on the rainy season involves a lot of music, dancing, folk theatre and the firing of bamboo rockets. Sometime between October and November is the Water Festival (Bun Nam) during which there are boat races on the waterways of Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Savannakhet.
Around the same time is the Awk Phansa which sees saffron-enrobed monks everywhere emerging from their three month retreat to wander the streets and countryside with their alms bowls. Locals float banana-leaf boats with incense, flowers and candles down the river on the eve of Awk Phansa.
Also in November is the That Luang Festival in Vientiane during which there are fireworks, music and a candlelit procession.
Click on this link for more information on Laos holidays and festivals.
Food
Laos cuisine is similar to Thai food in its use of lime, chillies, garlic, tamarind, fish sauce, lemongrass, galingale, ginger, ground peanuts, coconut milk, mint, coriander and other fresh herbs. There is also a common condiment called pa daek, a pungent fermented fish paste that, along with sticky rice (klao niaw), are more unique to Laos.
Laos eat sticky rice dishes with their right hand, taking a ball of rice and dipping it with other food. Some popular dishes that are a must for gastronomes are laap, a dish made with minced meat, fish or chicken in a lime, fish sauce and chilli concoction and tam maak hung, a spicy, tangy salad made of shredded young papaya.
Meat, chicken and duck are often roasted over an open fire (ping kai is barbecued chicken) but many Laos also have a taste for raw meat dishes. Often served at the end of a Laos meal is a rice whisky called lao lao.
General Information
Population – 6.5 million people
Total Area - 236,800 square kilometres
Capital – Vientiane (700,000 people)
Time Zone - Standard time zone: UTC/GMT +7 hours.
To view the current time in Vientiane, click on this link to TimeAndDate.com.
Language
The official language of Laos is Lao, however French and English are spoken in parts of the country, especially the more popular tourist areas. Other ethnic languages are also spoken. Some common Lao words/phrases handy for travellers include:
Hello - Sabaai-dii
How are you? - Sabaai-dii baw?
Please - Kalunaa
Thank you - Khop jai
You're welcome - Baw pen nyang
Yes - men/doy/eur
No - baw
Excuse me/I'm sorry - khaw thoht
Goodbye and Take Care - sohk dee
I don't understand - Khoy baw khao jai
Where is the toilet? - hong naam yuu sai?
0 - soon
1 - neung
2 - song
3 - saam
4 - sii
5 - haa
6 - hok
7 - jet
8 - paet
9 - kao
10 - sip
Location
Laos is a land-locked country that lies in South-East Asia. It shares extensive borders with Vietnam and Thailand (almost 4,000km combined); as well as shorter borders with China, Cambodia & Myanmar (Burma). To view a map of Laos, click on this link to WorldAtlas.com.
Public Holidays
Follow the link to view a current list of public holidays in Laos.
Religion
The predominant religion in Laos is Buddhism, accounting for 60% of the population. Almost 40% of the population believe in Animism, a form of belief in spirits (i.e. mystical, supernatural, non-empirical or imagined entities). The other 1.5% accounts for various Christian denominations.
Visas/Passports
Passports
Passport with at least six months remaining validity required by everyone who enters Laos.
Visas
Required by all nationals from the UK, Australia, Canada, USA and EU countries.
Visa requirements are subject to change and you should check with your embassy to check the latest visa requirements.
Visas on arrival are for 30 days for most nationalities and this can be extended a max of two times for up to 30 days each time.
The Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that visas can be issued upon arrival in Laos to tourists at the following ports of entry: Wattay Airport in Vientiane; Pakse and Luang Prabang Airports; Friendship Bridges in Vientiane and Savannakhet; and land-border crossings at Boten, Huay Xai and Chong Mek.
Visa Cost
Visa cost ranges from $20 (China) to $42 (Canada). Sweden is $31, $35 for the USA, UK and most of Europe, $40 for India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and $30 for Australia. The full list is on display at the Visa Application window.
Validity
All visas are issued for single entry and must be used within two months of date of issue.
Applications 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.
