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| General Information |
| When to go |
- The best time to visit Laos is between November and April.
- The hot season from March to May is very dry and certain river trips are not possible. |
| Languages |
The official language is Lao. Other languages used are French, English. Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese. |
| Religion |
Buddhism first appeared in Laos during the eighth century A.D., as shown by both the Buddha image and the stone inscription found at Ban Talat near Vientiane, now exhibited at Hor Pra keo Museum. After the foundation of the unified Kingdom of Lane Xang, King Fa Ngum (14th Century) declared Buddhism as the state religion and urged the people to abandon Animism or other beliefs such as the Cult of Spirits. His policy meant to develop the Lao culture based on a common faith: Theravada Buddhism. |
| Visas |
All visitors entering Laos must possess valid passports. Visa can obtained from Lao Embassies and Consulates abroad. In addition, visa can also be obtained on arrival at the international Checkpoint.
30 days visas are available in advance of arrival at Lao embassies. This can be done in several ways through a tour company recognized by the Lao PDR from Lao Embassies or Consulate in countries such as: Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Cambodia, Cuba, PR of China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, DPR of Korea, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, USA and Vietnam. The visa fee varies from between US$8- 42 depending o the agreement with the various governments.
For those wishing to extend their stay, it is possible to extend your visa at the Immigration Office in Vientiane, through travel agencies. |
| Time |
7 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMS +7) |
| Electricity |
Electric current: 220 volts. |
| Tipping |
Unlike most Asian countries, the culture of tipping in the Laos' service industry is becoming more prevalent with much influence from western countries. Although, nearly all major hotels and restaurants have a policy of automatically adding a 10 percent service charge to your bills, a small token to show you gratitude is still expected in the form of a tip, leaving the amount for the tip to the customer's own discretion. Apart from hotels and restaurants, other smaller service establishments as well as taxi drivers expect a small gratuity in return for the service rendered. |
| Climate and Weather |
March to May is hot and dry, with temperatures ranging from 22 to 32 C. June to October is rainy. November to February is cool; temperatures range from 22 to 28 C. Average humidity year-round is 77%. |
| Money and Currency |
| Currency |
The Kip is the official currency of the Lao PDR and the following bank
notes are currently in circulation: 500; 1,000; 2,000; 5,000; 10,000; 20,000 and 50,000 Kip.
The best currencies to use when exchanging money are: US Dollars, Euros and Thai Baht. You can exchange your currency at the bank, airport, or at a foreign currency exchange office. |
| Credit Cards |
Visa is the most common. Master Card and American Express are accepted at most banks in the larger towns (such as Vientiane and Luang Prabang), and in the big hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops. |
As with the other Asian Tigers, the Laos economy has been fluctuating fairly wildly in recent years. Generally speaking, however, the Laos are slightly more expensive than other countries in the region. You'll get the best value for money in North Luzon, while you're more likely to shell out in Boracay and Cebu.
The US Dollar is the most recognized currency in the Laos, and is often easier (and cheaper) to change than travelers' cheques. Large denomination US bills will get you a particularly good rate, but only clean banknotes are acceptable. If you want to use checks, the bigger brands will be accepted by most banks throughout the country. ATMs can be found all over the country. and you can use MasterCard and Visa in them. |
| Useful Contact Numbers |
| Emergency services (police, fire and ambulance) throughout the Laos is 166 |
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