Laos Travel Tips

Before visiting Laos, you should apply to the Laos Embassy for a tourist visa. The validity of a tourist visa is 60 days and the duration of stay is 30 days. However, visitors from Russia, South Korea, Japan, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Mongolia and ASEAN members can enter the country without visa. Tourists entering Laos from Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Pakse airports and other land ports may apply a visa on arrival.

The consumption level in Laos is not high. The price of an ordinary meal is around 10,000 Kip and a bowl of rice noodles costs 5,000 Kip. The accommodation around tourist spots are mainly family-style guesthouses with independent or public bathrooms and the price is between 100,000 and 500,000 Kip for a double-bed room. Credit cards only can be used in Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and other famous tourist destinations. The number of ATM is small; therefore, you'd better bring some cash.

Famous shopping sites in Laos are morning and night markets in Vientiane and night market in Luang Prabang, where a wide variety of commodities are sold, from handmade souvenirs to daily necessities of locals, traditional costumes and delicious food. Walking through the night markets and bargaining with vendors after enjoying delicious food is an amazing experience. Luang Prabang night market is known as a quite market where most vendors are female with friendly smile. Although visitors come and go in a continuous stream, quarrels and disputes never happen.

There are many traditional festivals in the country, among which Songkran Festival and Pha That Luang Festival are well-known. Songkran Festival, also known as Water Festival, is actually the New Year's Day for Laos. It is celebrated from April 13 to 15 to pray for big harvest, and people splash water to each other, hoping to wash away disasters and bad lucks. Pha That Luang Festival is held in November. Monks and Buddhists from all over Laos congregate to celebrate the festival with a religious ceremony. National exhibition and art and sport performances will be held. If you visit Laos during these two periods of time, you will fully experience the local customs.It is easy to buy a temporary SIM card and rechargeable cards in stores which are authorized by four telecom operators including ETL, Unitel, Beeline and M-Phone. The price is about 15,000 Kip. The SIM card can be used after sending the user's name and passport number to a certain number to register. It is also very convenient to surf the internet in Laos where many hotels and cafes provide free WIFI services. You can also access to the internet via SIM card. You can dial 191 for police, 190 for fire, 195 for ambulance and 192 for the tourist police. The calling code is +856.

The voltage of Laos is 220 V with US 2 or 3 pins plug. You'd better bring a plug adaptor.

Laos is a Buddhist country, so you should respect the locals' faith and try to do as the Lao do. Here is something you should notice: 
Do not touch the Buddha.
Be well dressed and take off your shoes before entering a temple.
Don't point your feet at others.
Don't open a door or move objects by feet.