Preparing to go to laos

PREPARING TO GO TO LAOS

CAPITAL
Vientiane

LANGUAGE
The official language is Lao; however, many tribal languages are also spoken. French, Vietnamese and some English are spoken.

RELIGION
The majority of the Lao people are Buddhists. The Laos-Lum (Valley Laos) people follow the Hinayana (Theravada) form of Buddhism. The religions of the Laos-Theung (Laos of the mountain tops) range from traditional Confucianism to animism and Christianity.

LOCAL TIME
IndoChina Time (ICT) is 7 hours ahead of GMT.

ELECTRICITY
The electricity supply in Laos is rated at 230 volts AC. If you bring electrical appliances you should also bring an international adaptor. Plug design varies, depending where you are; however, two flat pins (USA style) or round two pin plugs are fairly common.

PASSPORT & VISA
Passports must be valid for at least six months. Visas are required for many nationalities, including Australia, New Zealand, USA and Canada; 30 Day visas are available on arrival at both air, river and land border crossings. Please note 2 passport sized photos are required. Visas currently (as of October 13, 2016) costs 35 USD per person for US passport holders & 42 USD per person for Canadian passport holders
Visa regulations can and do change frequently and without notice so please ensure you check the current visa advice with your closest Laos embassy or consulate before travelling.
All Passengers are responsible for securing proper documentation prior to joining the tour. Passports are required; in addition travelers are advised to check with local consulates for full details regarding Visa requirements. Please note securing a valid visa for entry is sole responsibility of the traveler.

Currency information:
Lao Kip (LAK; symbol ₭­) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of ₭50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 2,000, 1,000, 500, 100, 50, 10, 5 and 1. Most transactions are conducted in cash; American Dollars, Thai Baht or Lao Kip (LAK).

Credit cards:
Major credit cards are accepted in the more up market hotels and restaurants only in Vientiane and Luang Prabang. Several banks will also offer a cash advance on credit cards for a commission.

ATM:
Nowadays most ATMs are reliable. However, there is a limit on how much you can withdraw during a day, and currently the withdrawal limit per day is set at approximately 1,000,000 LAK. Vientiane has the largest selection of ATMs in the county, especially around Th Setthathriat. Major hotels are likely to have an ATM on-site too.
The domestic economy in Laos still depends on the Thai baht and the US dollar; pounds and Euros, less so. In fact, two-thirds of the cash in the capital Vientiane, is Thai or American. Although only kip is legally negotiable in everyday transactions, it’s worth remembering that for small purchases and transactions, prices will be quoted in kip. This is relevant for where you are - in larger cities Thai baht or US dollars are more in use, whereas in smaller towns and villages, kip is usually preferred.

Travellers cheques:
Limited acceptance and often comes with a hefty commission charge – available at most banks in Vientiane. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in US Dollars or Thai Baht.

Banking hours:
Mon-Fri 0830-1600. Some banks remain open during lunch.

Telephone:
The General Post Office (GPO) offers public telephones for national and international calls. There are also card phone booths available. Lao Telecome Numphu Centre in Vientiane is useful for making international calls, domestic calls and sending faxes.

Mobile phone:
Roaming agreements exist with a few international mobile phone companies. Check with your service provider. Coverage is sporadic and mainly, though not exclusively, situated around Vientiane. It’s better and cheaper to arrives to Laos with your mobile phone unlocked and then to buy a pay-as-you-go SIM card. Look for Tigo and M-phone top-up cards.

Internet:
Internet cafes are located in the major towns and are becoming increasingly common in places frequented by backpackers. High-speed connection is only available in places such as Vientiane and Luang Prabang. In Vientiane the best streets to head to for fast internet connection and internet cafes with Skype and air-conditioning are Th Samsenthai and Th Setthathriat. Expect to pay around 7000K an hour for broadband. Wi-Fi is increasingly available in many Western orientated bars and cafes

Post:
The General Post Office (GPO) is beside the Morning Market in Vientiane. Normal postal service is inexpensive and generally reliable although it can take around two weeks to and from Western countries. A courier service is recommended for urgent or valuable mail.

Post office hours:
Mon-Fri 0800-1700, Sat-Sun 0800-1200.

WEATHER & CLIMATE
Throughout the country, the climate is hot and tropical, with the rainy season between May and October when temperatures are at their highest, up to 35°C. The weather is very similar to that of northern Vietnam. The dry season runs from November to April, which is the best time to visit as the temperature is at its most comfortable. However, the mountainous areas can be very cold at this time, down to around 5°C.

Vientiane: (approx)

CLOTHING
We recommend bringing light loose fitting cotton clothes with pale colours as they tend to be cooler. We recommend bringing some light rainwear, with warmer layers from October to March and for upland areas. If you come during the monsoon summer months, bring lightweight waterproofs and an umbrella.
Laos is a Buddhist country and guests should dress accordingly. Shorts or revealing clothes are never acceptable. For women, sarongs work well in the heat as do long-sleeved light cotton shirts. Shoes must be removed when entering a religious building or somebody's home. It is a legal requirement 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.

Social conventions:
Religious beliefs should be respected. Lao people should not be touched on the head and women should not touch monks. Handshaking is not that usual; Lao people greet each other with their palms together and a slight bowing of the head. Take care when discussing politics and related subjects in conversation so as not to cause offence.

FOOD
Dishes are a blend of Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese in flavour and presentation but Lao food lacks the variety that many of the cuisines from surrounding countries offer. Traditionally, Lao food is very spicy – Lao people will often add chilies by the fistful and use heavy seasoning - but this kick is often tempered for the western palate. Fish sauce is often used to flavour dishes.
There are several fairly good French restaurants in Vientiane, catering mainly for the diplomatic community, and Luang Prabang, which has recently seen something of a culinary revival. In touristy areas the usual traveller fare will be available, so expect to see menus offering muesli, chow mien, pizza, burgers, sandwiches, curries, pancakes and fritters. Green tea is usually served weak and free in most restaurants, water tends to be filtered and providing it is, it will be safe to drink.

• Sticky rice (best eaten with fingers, simply roll it up to the size of a golf ball and pop in your mouth).
• Pho (white rice noodle soup, usually served with beef and/or pork although vegetarian versions are available). This is the typical food of Laos. If it’s a little plain Lao people will add in fish sauce, dried chilies etc to give it a kick.
• Laap (minced meat, fish or vegetables tossed in lime juice, garlic, onions, powdered rice and chilies, accompanied by sticky rice).
• Tam maal hung (Lao-style spicy salad of shredded papaya with lots of chilli, garlic, lime, fish sauce and palm sugar.).
• Khai phaan (weed from the Mekong River - a Luang Prabang specialty).

Things to know:
Lao breakfast is generally rice noodles. If noodles and meaty broth is not your thing for breakfast, French baguettes with sweet Lao coffee and khai (eggs) is possible in most places that cater to tourists, as are the ubiquitous traveller pancakes, cornflakes and takes on western cooked breakfasts. Eating out, unless at the very top restaurants, is very good value. Cappuccinos and lattes are increasingly available and are often made with pasteurized milk that has travelled from Thailand.

Regional drinks:
Lao lao (rice whisky) is popular and there are two brands available.
Beer Lao is very popular.

SHOPPING
The markets in Vientiane and Luang Prabang are worth visiting. Silk, cotton fabrics, wood carvings, pottery, silver jewelry and handmade shirts are good buys. Lao sarongs (pha sin) and hill tribe bags are a popular souvenir. Although the majority of shops have fixed prices, bartering is still advisable for many items.
In Vientiane, it’s worth heading out to the weaving district of Ban Nong Bouathong, northeast of the city. Try the Phaeng Mai Gallery which sells beautiful Lao textiles. For something really smart, head to the American designer Carol Cassidy’s shop, Lao Textiles, well-known internationally. Here, you’ll find items that will fit in well at parties back home as well as on your travels. Lao weavers design the items and work in an attractive old French-Lao house. If buying clothes in Laos note that most fabrics are not machine washable as the dye runs. Nearby, opposite Talat Sao Market, is the clumsily named Handicraft Products of Ethnic Groups- here you’ll find handicrafts from all across the country.
Luang Prabang is best known for its handicrafts, art, textiles and jewelry. In an old French mansion, Pathana Boupha Antique House is certainly worth a visit. There’s some beautiful silverwork and old photos for sale, mostly from the Lao owners’ private collection. It’s brilliant for browsing and for choosing an inspired, unusual gift. There are also plenty of small bookshops. L’Etranger Books & Tea is a lovely place to cool off or curl up with a book in. It sells both new and second-hand books mainly about Laos and Southeast Asia but head upstairs to the tea lounge and you can see local art displayed too.
Another great spot to combine retail with tea is the Baan Khily Gallery, which sells Lao crafts and mulberry bark paper (sǎa). The friendly owner is often on-site and there’s an upstairs terrace.

TIPPING GUIDELINES
Tourism has introduced the practice and now restaurant and café owners are savvy to this. It is not so much expected in Laos but anything you do leave for the staff, who’s salaries are likely to be very low, will be appreciated. If you’d like to leave a tip for good food or service, 10-12% would be a good guideline.

2 -3 persons in a car:
USD 2-4 per person a day for a driver
USD 5-10 per person a day for a guide

Group of 10-20:
USD 1 per person for a driver
USD 3 per person a day for a guide

HEALTH & MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS & GUIDELINES
As a general recommendation, it is advisable to check with your family doctor or travel clinic for latest health information.
Vaccinations against Japanese B encephalitis, tuberculosis and hepatitis A & B are often recommended. Malaria is considered to be a risk throughout the country so we highly recommend consulting a doctor or travel clinic for advice on whether malaria prophylaxis is required; in any case, take precautions to avoid mosquito bites. This is also important as a way to avoid dengue fever, a serious disease which is also carried by mosquitoes.
Prescription drugs are not always widely available and visitors should bring any required medication with them carrying them in their hand luggage. If carrying a lot of medicine, it is advisable to have a doctor's letter stating that medicines are required for personal use. It is advisable to bring plenty of mosquito repellent, particularly for use in the evenings. A spare pair of glasses, if worn, is also advisable.

TRAVEL INSURANCE
It is highly recommended that you purchase travel insurance. Your home country health plan may only provide limited coverage while traveling outside of the country. Indus Travels can offer you a complete travel insurance package. Some credit cards do offer travel insurance, however they do not always provide adequate coverage. Review and understand the terms of your credit card insurance policy. Extra travel insurance can be purchased. Most insurance companies do have exclusions in their coverage. Pre-existing medical conditions are not insurable.