Laos Travel Info

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Lao Travel Planning Tips

By Duangpy Rasavong

Planning a trip to Laos? By now you might have done your research, and know a bit about Laos. You might already get excited and dream of the place you're heading to. But wait! You need to plan your trip a bit before you go.

A careful planning plays an essential role in determining your travel experience (good or not so-good). Here are some tips to keep in mind when planning a trip to Laos.

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.

• Plan your itinerary carefully. It helps saving hassle, time and money if you plan your routs thoroughly.


• Decide where and how to get your tourist visa. Tourist visas are now valid for 30 days. Here are two ways to get the Lao visa:


• Arrange it with the Lao Embassy, either in your neighbor countries if there isn't one in your own country or 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 issued at most Lao ports of entry. Visa fee ranges from US$20 (China) to US$42 (Canada). Remember to take exact amount of money and 2 passport photos for that.

Please note that not everyone is eligible for Lao visa-on-arrival, you better checkto 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. You won't be given a visa to enter Laos if your passport has less than six months validity. It can be worse if you plan to get a Lao visa-on-arrival, and arrive at a Lao border or Airport only to find your passport is invalid.


• If you consider taking anti-malarial drugs, take it well in advance because you might have awful reactions to anti-malarial. If you take it too close to your travel date, you may still feel awful on your vacation. It's best to ask your doctor.


• Sort out your traveler check or credit card(s) for use in Laos. Take some cash as well. Small notes make it easy when you need to buy 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. 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.

Duangpy is the owner and author of http://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

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Duangpy_Rasavong

Discovering Laos


laos travel info
laos travel info
laos travel info

Laos Travel Information

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Sapa Travel Information

Sapa overview
Located in Vietnam's remote north west mountains, Sapa is famous for both its fine, rugged scenery and also its rich cultural diversity. Sapa is an incredibly picturesque village that lies on the Hoang Lien Son mountain range near the Chinese border in northwestern Vietnam, known as "the Tonkinese Alps". Sapa and its surrounding region is host to many hill tribes, as well as rice terraces, lush vegetation, and Fansipan, the highest peak in Vietnam. However, as a result of a recent surge in popularity Sapa has rapidly become a tourist hot-spot where money is the drug of choice. Don't be put off by the rush, your explorations of the surrounding countryside will be worth the trouble.

Trains to Sapa
From Hanoi it is a 9-hour train journey to Sapa. Vietnam Rail operates some of the cars, but other cars in the train are operated by private companies (Tulico, Ratraco, Victoria Hotels, and others). Some of these cars are significantly nicer than the standard cars. You may need to arrange with a travel agency to get tickets on these tourist cars. Anywhere in the main village of Sapa can be reached on foot, and the town is small enough that you're not likely to get lost. A basic map will be good enough for most travellers.

Ethnic minority villages and sights
* Sapa is a charming mountain town, surrounded by picturesque mountains and rice terraces. Great views of the area can be had (weather permitting) from the nearby hills. One of these has been built up into a tourist attraction ("Ham Rong Resort") with various gardens (orchid, European), ethnic minority dance performance areas, viewpoints, and restaurants. It's a short walk south from the central square and then up some stairs. Entrance is 30,000 dong. While walking in the mountains you will encounter many hill tribes such as the Red Zao tribe.
* Many ethnic minorities, such as the Hmong and the Dao, live in and around Sapa. Many older women in particular make ethnic-style clothes, blankets, etc. to sell to tourists. Striking up a conversation with them can be very rewarding. Tourists intending to trek to the various villages through the paddy fields should be prepared with good trekking shoes or rubber boots, a walking stick and extra clothing kept in a waterproof bag. Depending on the season, the rice fields, which are build in terraces, can be very muddy and slippery. If one does not wear shoes which enables a good grip in mud, one is likely to keep slipping and falling on one's butt and perhaps slide down the slopes.

* For the less adventurous, some of the villages, such as Lao Chai Village, is accessible via jeep, motorcycle and van. Or walking to the ethnic village of Cat Cat just a few kilometers' walk from Sapa. You're not likely to get lost - just walk down the road out of Sapa, which should be marked on maps, and after a while you'll find a path which descends the hill to your left. This path runs through the village before climbing another hill back to the road. This walk provides a good chance to observe Vietnamese farming and farm animals, and there are excellent views. The walk back up can be difficult (it is steep in parts) but once you get back onto the road there are plenty of enterprising locals ready to take you back to Sapa on motorbikes. Entrance to the villages is currently 15,000 VND.

Shopping in Sapa:
* It is possible to change money, traveler cheques and get cash advance on credit cards at the bigger Hotels in Sapa. Furthermore, there are ATMs on the main street but they only accept VISA and not Mastercard or Maestro. So you might be better off with stocking up on cash before heading to Sapa. The nearest ATM accepting all major cards is in Lao Cai.
* The usual endless supply of nearly identical tourist trinkets is available at every turn. It appears that the minority women sell their trinkets at considerable mark-up over what the ethnic Vietnamese charge in the market, with little room for negotiation. Prices are highly elastic; it pays to shop around for the right pair of reproduction Montagnard earrings.
* The various markets sell clothes, blankets, etc. with colorful designs traditional to the various ethnic minorities in the town. Take note that the dye used to give a blue color stains the fingers (and not only the fingers) - which is why many of the women who make them have darkened fingertips. When you wash these clothes the colour will flow off.
* Marijuana and opium are sold commonly, yet discreetly, by minority men and women on the streets of Sapa. If you decide to indulge, understand that the Vietnamese legal system has little respect for the rights of the accused.

About the Author

For typical itineraries to Sapa, visit our site at: http://vietnamholidaynow.com/english/vietnam/tour/Hanoi-tour-and-excursion/238.html or contact our Sales team tel: +84-43-6339577/ email: info@vietnamholidaynow.com

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laos travel information

Laos Travel Information

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About the Author

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Slide show on cultural night 2008 at UPLB


laos travel information
laos travel information
laos travel information

Laos Travel Information

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I'm going traveling to Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. What's the best way to get around there?

I land in Bangkok. The places outside Thailand I really want to see are Vientiane, Siem Reap and Saigon. I looked at a few sites and they don't really give the same information.
Thanks :)

You can fly to all these places OR Buses are frequent and cheap. Cambodia:There are several class options too. From Bangkok, go to Ekkamai bus station and get the bus to Trat. From Trat bus station take the [hourly] mini bus to Hat Lek and walk across the border to Cambodia. Another tuk tuk or motorbike will take you the 12 km to Ko Kong. It's better to spend the night there as buses don't go in the afternoon. Guesthouses are cheap. I paid $4 for my admittedly grungey room. But it's just one night. Bus station ko Kong to Sikhanoukville is around $8 and takes about 4 hours. Beautiful trip through the mountains. From Sikhanoukville there are buses to Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, etc Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi.

Laos: Train to Nong Khai from Bangkok. Get a sleeper. Walk across the border into Laos and take a tuk tuk to Vientiane. It's a bit of a dive though. Try Vang Vieng . Much more fun. And Luang Prabang for a bit of culture.

IFLYtheworld.com Luang Prabang


laos travel information
laos travel information

Laos Travel Info

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YA cut my account beacause I said something about Athe U.S.?

I am an America citizen who has travelled around the world and has learnt a great deal of information about things my country did in the past and is currently doing now.All I asked was a question about freedom of speech in America and why so many things like the attack on the country of Laos during the Vietnam war and some other important incidents have never been told to the American people and after 6 years,1000's or points and hundreds of best answers for travel in Thailand my account was suspended which just goes to show you there isn't freedom of speech in America because if you ask a question about free speech it can get you kicked out.All of the people from other western countries agreed with me and gave good info but apparently someone was reading that didn't want anybody reading what I was exposing.Yeah #1 America. my home.

hahaha, that sure shows freedom of speech :|

INTO THE LAOS - Intro.avi


laos travel info
laos travel info