This Is Laos

                             This is Laos -

An Overview For Travellers

Author: Dorte Holm Jensen

The official language of Laos is Lao, a language closely related to Thai, and it\'s worth learning a few basic expressions before you go. French, a left over from the colonial days, still features on signs and is understood by some older people, but these days English is far more popular.

Lao People\'s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR)borders with China to the North, Myanmar (Burma) to Northwest, Thailand to the West, Cambodia to the South and finally Vietnam to the East.

The highways in Laos have improved in the past ten years, but 80still remain unpaved.  However, the main routes connecting Vientiane, Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang and Savannakhet are now sealed, and the transport options on these roads include bus, minibus, and converted truck.

The Lao currency is the kip andas of March 2009, there are around 8500 kip to the dollar and 13,500 kip to the Euro. Make sure that you get rid of all your Kip before you leave Laos. There will be no possibility to exchange it in other countries just like you cannot buy it before you go there.

Laos is a very poor country and it is possible to get by for less than 10 USD per day. A basic room with shared bathroom costs from US$2 - US$8, meals are usually under US$5 (western food is more expensive), and plain local dishes can cost less than US$1. A local bus from Vientiane to Vang Vieng costs US$2.50; the slow boat from Luang Prabang to Huay Xai costs US$20 for a two days journey.

Three rules for visiting Laos; 1: Do not have sex with a local, (Sexual relations between a Lao national and a foreigner are illegal unless they are married) 2: Do not use drugs (If caught it will result in heavy fines and expulsion at best, and imprisonment or even execution at worst) and do not criticize the Lao government or the Communist Party in any way. Laos is known for being very corrupt and if you are accused of any offense - your legal rights may be slim or non-existent.

The capital of Laos is known as the sleepiest capital in the world. There is not really a lot to do in Vientiane besides from visiting temples, the Buddha Park, the Morning Market or chilling out in one of the many bars by the Mekong riverside sipping beerlao or lao-lao (Rice Whiskey).

If you are fine with a laid-back holiday, soaking in the atmosphere of a low-rise authentic Lao city surrounded by lush, green jungle - Luang Prabang in the North is the place to be. Especially if you are a temple-maniac.

Imagine a charming mixture of French colonial architecture and rough & ready wooden shags, add some colourful market stalls, a bunch of orange cloaked monks\', quite a few ancient temples, waterfalls and lush jungle... and you will start to get the picture; This is Laos...

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/exotic-locations-articles/this-is-laos-an-overview-for-travellers-1094415.html

About the Author

FincaFantasticaTravel: http://fincafantastica.biz is catering for the the independent traveler with among other things: Adventure Tours: http://fincafantastica.biz/2009-adventure-travel.html

Lao Travel Planning Tips

Author:

D.Rasavong

• Planning a trip to Laos? You might have gathered most of information you need to make your travel plan. At this point you might either be exhausted or over whelming by the wealth information available on the internet.
  Don\'t worry, a careful planning will help smoothing your travel. Here are some tips to keep in mind when planning a trip to Laos.
• Plan your itinerary carefully. If you plan to go to other countries in the region before or after Laos (e.g Thailand, Cambodia or Vietnam), at least determine where to go first, next and last plus the entry/exit points in Laos. It\'s important to have a clear plan to avoid doubling back that can eat up your time and money.
  If you need to get a Lao entry visa, decide where and how to get it. Tourist visas are now valid for 30 days. Here are two ways to get the Lao visa:
  - Arrange it with the Lao Embassy. If there is no Lao embassy in your country, you might need to get it in one of Laos\'s neighboring countries (Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and China). Allow plenty of time if you chose this option.
  - Get it at Lao border or airport. Tourist visa is available at most Lao ports of entry. Visa fee ranges from US$20 (China) to US$42 (Canada). Have the exact amount of money and 2 passport photos ready for that.
  Please note that not everyone is eligible for Lao visa-on-arrival, you better check to make sure you aren\'t in the list of 'not entitle' nationalities.
• Get your passport ready. Make sure your passport is not expiring within the next six months otherwise your application will be rejected. It can even be worse if you plan to get a Lao visa-on-arrival, and arrive at a Lao border or Airport only to find that you\'re not allowed to enter the county because of your expiring passport.
• If you consider taking anti-malarial drugs. Keep in mind that you might have awful reactions to anti-malarial. It\'s best to consult your doctor.
• Sort out your traveler check or credit card(s) for use in Laos. Take some cash as well. Small notes helps save hassles when it comes to buying things on the go like bottled water and snacks.
• Book/buy your tickets early. Book your ticket as soon as you have a clear plan.  You can save good amount of money by purchasing your ticket early. If possible stay with the same airline during your entire trip to receive round-trip or connecting fare discounts.
• If you\'re on medication ask your doctor for your prescribed medicine. Take enough for the period of your travel. It\'s a good practice to keep them in their original packages (in case you have to declare at the airport security checkpoint). Putting them in your carry-on bag to ensure that you have your medicine whenever you need.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-tips-articles/lao-travel-planning-tips-3924888.html

About the Author

D. Rasavong is the owner and author of www.laos-guide-999.com. Her website provides a wide range of information on Laos from Lao travel tips to the rich culture of Laos.