Laos Travel Tip
Laos Travel Tip, Useful Tips for Laos Travel by Go Asia Travel
1. Laos’s food and Drinks
Laos’s food doesn’t have the variety and depth of the more famous cuisine of neighboring China, Thailand and Vietnam, but you can eat well in Laos if you take the time to learn a little about the cuisine while you’re there. While few people travel to this country with food as their prime objective, a little experimentation can take you a long way towards appreciating the cuisine can be very rewarding.
It’s little surprise that Lao food is similar to Thai cuisine, given the long interwoven history the two countries share. But while dishes such as meat salad and (som tam, papaya salad) will be familiar to anyone with even a basic knowledge of Thai food, there are some aspects of Lao cuisine that are unmistakably Lao. The most obvious of these is “khao niaw” (sticky rice), which is classed by scholars as being one of the main identifiers of Lao culture.
In the Mekong River valley areas, where Lao culture is strongest, sticky rice is ever-present. During five days of trekking through villages in Champasak Province we ate sticky rice with every meal. That might sound a bit repetitive, but the “khao niaw” was only part of these meals, and each one was complemented with at least two different and tasty Lao dishes.
Sticky rice isn’t so popular in mountainous areas – the H’mong don’t eat at all – and the culinary variety can be pretty limited, too. The limits come from a lack of money and difficult growing conditions.
2. Climates and Weather in Laos
The annual monsoon cycle that affect of mainland Southeast Asia produce a dry and wet monsoon climate with three basic seasons for most of Laos. The southwest monsoon arrives in Laos between May July and lasts into November.
The monsoon is followed by a dry period (from November to May), beginning with lower relative temperatures and cool breezes created by Asia’s northeast monsoon (which by passes most of Laos), lasting until mid February. Exceptions to this general tern include Xieng Khuang, Hua and Phongsali Provinces, which receive rainfall coming from Vietnam and China during the months Apr and May.
Rainfall varies substantially according to altitude with the highland of Vientiane, Bolikhamsai. Khammuan ad eastern Champasak Provinces receiving
Temperature is also varying according to altitude. In the humid, low lying Mekong River valley, temperature range from 15oC to 380C while the mountain of Xieng Khoang can drop to 0oC.
3. Traveling with Children in Laos
Like many places in Southeast Asia, traveling with children in Laos can be a lot of fun as long as you come prepared with the right attitudes, physical requirements and the usual parental patience.
Practicalities
Amenities geared towards children – such as high chairs in restaurants, child safety seats for vehicles, or nappy-changing facilities in public restrooms are virtually unknown in Laos. Thus parents will have to be extra resourceful in seeking out substitutes or follow the example of Lao families (which means holding smaller children on their laps much of the time).
Outside of Vientiane day-care centre are likewise unknown, though this is rarely a problem. The Lao adore children and in many instances will shower attention on your off- spring, who will readily find playmates among their Lao peers and a temporary nanny service at practically every stop.
Baby formula and nappies (diapers) are available at mini markets in the larger towns and cities, but for rural areas you’ll need to bring along a sufficient supply.
For the most part parents needn’t worry too much about health concerns though it pays to lay down a few ground rules – such as regular hand-washing – to head off potential medical problems. Children should especially be warned not to play with animals encountered along the way since rabies is disturbingly common in Laos
Sights & Activities in Laos
Younger children usually don’t find historic temples and French colonial architecture of Luang Prabang and Vientiane inspiring as their parents do, but traveling with children does tend to give you a different perspective to what you might be used to. In Luang Prabang the waterfalls at Tat Sae and Tat Kuang Si can amuse most kids for days. Boat trips are u well-received too.
Most children also take to the unique Hindu-Buddhist sculpture garden of Khuan outside Vientiane. The also has a few more mainstream act such as swimming pools and ten-pin bowling alleys. Elsewhere, the Plain of Jars is the kind of fantasy exploration most prone to.
Over the last 15 years or so Laos has earned reputation among visitors as a remarkably safe place to travel with little crime reported and few of the scams so often found in more places such as Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. And while the vast majority of Laotians remain honest and welcoming, things aren’t quite as idyllic as they once were. The main change has been in the rise of petty crime, such as theft and low-level seams, which are more annoying than actually dangerous. That’s not to say Laos is danger free. However, most dangers are easy enough to avoid.
Road travel in Laos
Better roads, better vehicles and fewer insurgents mean road travel in Laos is quite safe, if not always comfortable. It’s not yet possible to totally rule out the threat from armed bandits or insurgents, though it is miniscule. And while the scarcity of traffic in Laos means there are far, far fewer accidents than the daily horror on Vietnam’s roads, accidents are still the major risk to travelers.
Armed Attack
With the H’mong insurgency virtually finished, travel along Rtes 7 and 13, particularly in the vicinity of Muang Phu Khun and Kasi, is as safe as it has been for decades. There have been no reported attacks on traffic for more than two years. However, you might still have in armed soldier on your bus, just to make sure. If you’re still nervous – and it’s true that two Swiss cyclists were murdered during an ambush on Rte 13 in 2004 – ask around in Vientiane or Luang Prabang to make sure this situation remains secure before traveling along Rte 7 to Phonsavan or Rte 13 between Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang.
Accidents
After speedboats, and assuming you’ll not be walking through any minefields, the law of averages suggests traveling by road is probably My the most dangerous activity in Laos. Having said that, there are relatively few reports of bus crashes and the like, and the lack of traffic and quality of roads makes collisions less likely too.
When riding in buses, you may be able to cut your risk of serious injuries if you choose an aisle seat towards the middle of the bus; these are generally more comfortable too. If you can’t get an aisle seat, the right side is usually safer as it cuts down the risks in the event traffic your conveyance is side- swiped by oncoming traffic. It’s worth carrying on your person the number of your embassy in Vientiane and the number of Aek Udoro Hospitalin in Udon Thani, Thailand, to call for help if necessary.
SPEEDBOATS
The speedboats that careen along the Kong and Nam Ou Rivers in northern are as dangerous as they are fast. We recommend that you avoid all speedboat travel unless absolutely necessary.
THEFT
While Lao are generally trustworthy people and theft is much less common elsewhere in Southeast Asia, it has in recent years. Most of the reports we’ve heard involve opportunistic acts that you are aware of them, are fairly easy avoided.
Money or goods going missing from hotel rooms is becoming more common, so don’t leave cash or other tempting items (such as women’s cosmetics) out on show. If ride a crowded bus, watch your luggage don’t keep money in your trousers pocket. If you ride a bicycle or motorcycle in Vientiane, don’t place anything of value in the basket – thieving duos on motorbikes have been known to ride by and snatch bags from baskets. Also in Vientiane, we’ve had several reports of (usually) women having daypack stolen after they’ve changed money near BCEL bank on the riverfront – be careful around here.
Other reports involve theft on buses between Vientiane and Luang Prabang and on the slow boat between Huay Xai and Luang Prabang. Simple locks on your bags are usually enough to discourage the lightfingered.
4. Gay & Lesbian Travel in Laos
For the most part Lao culture is very tolerant of homo-sexuality. Although lesbianism is often either denied completely or misunderstood. The gay and lesbian scene is not nearly as prominent as in neighboring Thailand, though it’s progressively more open. Strictly speaking, homosexuality is illegal, though we haven’t heard of police busting anyone in recent years. In any case, public displays of affection – whether heterosexual or homosexual – are frowned upon.
5. Embassies & Consulates in Laos
Of the 75 or so nations that have diplomatic relations with Laos, around 25 maintain embassies and consulates in Vientiane. Many of the remainder, for example Canada and the UK, are served by their embassies in Bangkok, Hanoi or Beijing. Opening hour for the embassies of neighboring countries with valid border crossings are given here. Principal consular offices in Vientiane (area code: 021):
Australia
Tel: 413600; www.laos.einbassy.gov-au; Th Nehru, Ban Phonxai
Cambodia
Tel: 314952; fax 314951; Km 3, Add: Th Tha Deua, Ban That Khao; 07.30-11am & 2-5pm Mon-Fri
Issues visas for US$20.
China
Tel: 315105; Fax 315104; Add: Th Wat Nak Nyai, Ban Wat Nak, 9 – 11.30 am Mon-Fri
Issues visas in four working days.
Myanmar
Tel: 314910; Add: Th Sok Pa Luang; 8am-noon & 1-4.30pm Mon-Fri
Issues tourist visas in three days for US$20.
Thailand Embassy
Tel: 900238; www.thaiembassy.org/vientiane; Add: Th Phonkheng; (8.30am – noon & 1-3.30 pm Mon-Fri)
Consulate (That Luang; 8 am-Mon & 1-4.30pm) Come here for visa renewals, extensions etc
USA
Tel: 267000 – http://www.vientiane/usembassy.gov.
Add: Th That Dam (Th Bartholomie)
Vietnam
Tel: 413400; Add: Th That Luang; 8-11.30 am & 1-4.30 pm, Mon-Fri)
Issues tourist visas in three working days for US$50, or in one day for US$55.
6. Festivals & Events in Laos
Festivals in Laos are mostly linked to agricultural seasons or Buddhist holidays. The word for festival in Lao is bun. Most of festival dates change according to the lunar calendar, though even these are not set in stone and some festivals are celebrated at different times depending on where you are. All of this makes advance planning difficult. The government tourism website (www.tourismlaos.gov.la) has more details and lists the current year’s dates for the larger celebrations.
JANUARY
International New Year (1-3 January)
Public holiday.
Bun Khun Khao (mid-January)
The annual harvest festival sees villagers perform ceremonies offering thanks to the land spirits for allowing their crops to flourish.
FEBRUARY
Makha Busa (Magha Puja or Bun Khao, Full Moon)
This commemorates a speech given by the Buddha to 1250 enlightened monks who came to hear him without prior summons. Chanting and offerings mark the festival, culminating in candlelit circumambulation of wats throughout the country. Celebrations in Vientiane and at Wat Phu are most fervent
Vietnamese Tet & Chinese New Year
Celebrated in Vientiane, Pakse and Savannakhet with parties, fireworks and visits to Vietnamese and Chinese temples. Chinese-and-Vietnamese-run businesses usually close for three day.
MARCH
Bun Pha Wet
This is a temple-centered festival in the Jataka or birth-tale of Prince Vesantara, (the Buddha’s penultimate life is recited. This is also a favored time for Lao males to be ordained into monkhood.
APRIL
Bun Pi Mal (Lao New Year, 14-16 April)
Practically whole country celebrates the Lao New Year. Houses a cleaned, people put on new clothes and Buddha images are washed with lustral water. In wats, you’ll see fruit and flower offerings at altars and votive mounds of sand stone in the courtyards. Later, people douse one aim and sometimes random tourists with water, which appropriate activity as April is usually the hottest f the year. This festival is particularly picturesque in Luang Prabang, where it includes elephant procession and lots of traditional costuming. The 14th, 15th, 16th of April are public holidays.
MAY
Visakha Busa (Visakha PuJa, Full Moon)
This Mid 15th day of the sixth lunar month, which is considered the day of the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and passing away. Activities are centered on the wat, with much chanting, sermonizing and, at night beautiful candlelit processions.
Bun Bang Fai (Rocket Festival)
This is a pre – Buddhist rain ceremony now celebrated alongside Visakha Busa in Laos and northeastern Thailand. It can be one of the wildest festivals in the whole country, with musk, and folk theatre (especially the irreverent performances), processions and general merrymaking all culminating in the firing of bamboo rockets is supposed to prompt on to the heavens to initiate the rainy season and bring needed water to the rice fields.
JULY
Bun Khao Phansa (Khao Watu, Full Moon)
This is the beginning of the traditional three-month “rain retreat” during which Buddhist monks are expected to station themselves in a single monastery.
AUGUST/ SEPTEMBER
Haw Khao Padap Pin (Full Moon)
This somber festival sees the living pay respect to the dead. Many cremations takes place-bones being exhumed for the purpose – and gifts are presented to the Buddhist order so monks will chant on behalf of the deceased.
OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER
Bun Awk Phansa (Ok Watsa, Full Moon)
At the end of the three month rain retreat, monks can leave the monasteries to travel and are presented with robes, alms-bowls requisites of the renunciate life.
Bun Pha That Luang (That Luang festival, full moon) Pha That Luang in Vientiane, this Increasingly commercial celebration lasts a week and includes firework and drinking across the capital. There is also procession between Pha That Luang and Wat Simuang
DECEMBER
Lao National Day (2 December)
Celebration is mandatory; hence many poorer communities postpone some of the traditional Awk Phansa activities until national day, saving themselves considerable expense.
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