Vacation to Laos

Vacation to Laos

Vacation to Laos at a glance

Nestled between Thailand and Vietnam down the middle of Southeast Asia, Laos can be an often overlooked oasis. From the stellar waterfalls and natural splendor of the north on the cultural icons and museums with the capital, Vientiane, Laos is jam-packed with incredible sights. A large number of visitors only ever reach Vientiane on visa runs from Thailand, nevertheless the country has a great deal more to offer than that.

Some from the most beautiful scenery in the community lies in Laos, and it’s well worth the trip to explore it.

Laos Quick Information

Currency

Laos Kip. The kip will be worth roughly .00012 USD, so don’t panic if you find a sandwich that amounted to 25,000 kip. That’s normal!

Electricity Socket

230V AC electricity. Power outlets are two-prong round or flat sockets. A power adaptor must not be needed if you’re from North America or Europe since the outlets will accommodate both sorts of plugs. To avoid the hassle of needing to buy new adapters for on the go, we recommend getting your hands on a Universal Travel Adaptor prior to leaving.

Visa

Getting a visa for Laos is super convenient. Just show up on the border, type on a webpage, pay, wait, and be given a 30-day tourist visa on arrival. While certain countries in Africa as well as the Middle East must make application for visas beforehand, most others can just get visas on arrival. Citizens of ASEAN countries, Japan, Switzerland, Russia, and South Korea could get a free visa on arrival valid for 1 month.
The 30-day tourist visa costs between $30 and $42, based on where you’re from. If you don’t use a passport sized photo along, it will cost you $1-$2 extra. The visa on arrival process is actually straightforward in most cases doesn’t take over 10 minutes.

Transportation

The transport from place towards the next is very easy in Cambodia and is also quite efficient. We recommend downloading the Skyscanner App to examine bus, boat and train schedules in advance.

Festivals and Celebrations

Holidays in Laos, similar to much from the rest of Southeast Asia, really are a blend of traditional and religious and festive and fun.

One with the biggest celebrations would be the Lao New Year, or Pi Mai Lao, which occur in April. Much like Thailand’s Songkran, this festival spans 3 days and erupts to a nationwide water fight. You’ll definitely want to help keep your valuables and electronics waterproofed before stepping out in the streets with this celebration.

In May, various villages will need part in Rocket Festivals. Traditionally done to be a request for rain, small rockets are sent in the sky throughout this festive weekend. At the height from the country’s hot and dry season, this celebration also gets to be a chance to cool off with some Lao beer and free a little!
Boun Awk Pansa falls in October and marks the end in the monks’ three-month fast during Buddhist Lent. Traditional offerings are created at temples inside the morning, whilst the atmosphere turns to some party through the evening. Small boats of banana leaves are sent on the rivers adorned with candles and flowers forever luck.
Following Boun Awk Pansa can be a boat racing festival. Races are located in many towns throughout america, but probably the biggest and is in Vientiane. The competitors practice for months beforehand as well as the entire city comes alive with excitement while they prepare for the races. It’s definitely an experience you won’t wish to miss if you’ll maintain Laos in October.

Safety

Overall, Laos is definitely a safe place to check out. Personally, I’ve felt considerably more comfortable walking alone there compared with most from the places I’ve lived inside US. But similar to anywhere you're going, it’s good being cautious. The Lao folks are generally friendly and kind, however, you should always be smart. Don’t leave money outside in your accommodation and keep track of your belongings when traveling, especially on the crowded bus. If you’re driving a motorbike, it’s good and keep it locked and parked in paid lots whenever you can to avoid theft.
In song of Laos, you may still find unexploded ordinances left from the Indochina War. While they’re mostly in rural areas, some can be found near routes 7 and 13, so exercise caution when traveling of these areas. The roads are secure and there’s really not even attempt to worry about, but this probably isn’t the best place to set off on that solo trek with the wilderness you’ve been contemplating.

Language

Lao, sometimes known as Laotian, will be the official language of Laos. It’s closely relevant to Thai, it's that if you speak Thai, you’ll be capable of getting by in Laos just great. Luckily, many with the Lao people speak a little English, so even though you’re not fluent in Thai (at all like me) you’ll certainly be able to manage all on your own while traveling there. Different dialects are spoken inside different regions from the country, but each are pretty similar. If you want to study a few basics, the following is our guide on Lao for travelers.

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