MALAYSIA Airlines (MAS) ramps up flights to Yangon, Myanmar from Kuala Lumpur from September 2. Facing off with AirAsia, MAS will have daily flights, up from its current five weekly flights.
CLOTHING Comfortable lightweight clothing in natural fabrics such as cotton is most suitable for travelling in Indochina, and . The dress code is fairly casual as in most parts of the tropics but it is advisable to cover arms and legs in the evenings against biting insects. A lightweight raincoat is a good idea in the rainy season. Visitors to Buddhist countries should not wear shorts, short skirts or other skimpy clothing when visiting religious buildings and shoes should be removed before entering a private home. Bodily hygiene and cleanliness are of the highest standard in and a visitor's failure to meet these standard is nit well received. Wash yourself and your clothes daily or prepare to the laughed at and avoided!
ELECTRICITY 220V, 50Hz
FOOD has a wide range of food, ranging from European to Asian cuisine. But whenever you visit please do not forget to try 'khao neo' (sticky rice). Khao neo is a symbol of and it is taken together with all sort of food (like Europeans eat bread). Khao neo can also be used to make desert. So don't forget to try Lao khao neo. Laap (meat salad), tam maak houng (papaya salad) and ping kai (bbq chicken) are typical Lao food and eaten with khao neo. Please bear in mind that some of Lao food are quite hot and spicy, so it is a good idea to ask people to make it less spicy if you cannot take hot food. There are a lot of restaurants scattered over the town. You can find Japanese, French, Italian, Chinese, Indian and other kinds of food in those restaurants with their own unique environment. If you like something quick and simple, fer (noodle soup) is the best choice, especially for those who are always up and running.
HEALTH No vaccinations are required except for yellow fever if you are coming from an area where the disease is present. However visitors should be inoculated against typhoid, cholera, hepatitis A & B, tetanus and polio. Malaria is present in most of the region and it is advisable to take precautions especially if travelling off the beaten track. It is essential to purchase your own travel insurance covering air evacuation before traveling. Please kindly visit Travel Insurance for being instructed.
TRAVEL INSURANCE Travel insurance is not included in all of our tours/service. We highly recommend you purchase your own one including air evacuation in your country before traveling. Please kindly visit our Travel Insurance to purchase your own one if you haven't had one.
HOURS OF BUSINESS Offices are usually open from Monday to Friday from 08:00 until 16:00 and often close for lunch between 12:00 and 14:00. Shops open from Monday to Saturday between 09:00 and 17:00 and some also open on Sunday.
LANGUAGE The official language used in is Lao language. However, the usage of the language can differ from north and south. English, French and Russian are spoken in business or by some senior government officials. Many shopkeepers can understand basic English and French.
MONEY Lao national currency is Kip. There has been some devaluation of Lao Kip in the past few years. There are exchange booths available throughout town. Major credit cards are also accepted in large shops. You can also withdraw cash by using your credit cards, but it has to be done at a bank, since there is no automatic teller machine in just yet.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
January 1
New Year's Day
April 13-15
Boun Pimai. The Lao New Year
May 1
Labour Day
Dec 2
Independence Day
RELIGION As in the neighbouring countries of , and Cambodia Theravada Buddhism is the dominant religion and saffron-robed monks are a common sight in . There are also a small number of Catholics and Protestants.
SHOPPING Like other Asian countries, there are many souvenirs choices in . The best buys in are ethnic minority fabrics. The Lao sarong or pha sin made from silk or cotton is popular souvenir. Other souvenirs to look out for include arts & antique, gold, silver & gems, in particular from Luang Prabang.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS Most hotels now have IDD phones in rooms and it is possible to send faxes from hotels and post offices although be warned these services are expensive in all four countries. Public phones are available in Vientiane and other major cities. You can also go to Lao Telecom office to call and fax overseas. Phone cards are widely available in most convenient stores. There are a number of Internet cafes in Vientiane and major cities. So you can be sure that you can always keep in touch with your family and friends.
TIPPING Tipping for good service is appreciated in these developing nations. It is at your discretion to tip tour guides and drivers at the end of a tour. Hotel and station porters should also be tipped.
VISAS Like in , visa is payable on arrival or can be collected on arrival at most border check points without prior authorization. The visa fee is 30USD and requires the filling in of an application form and two passport-sized photos. In all cases, a valid passport is required.
WATER It is not advisable to drink tap water in Indochina, and but bottled mineral water is safe and available everywhere. Ice in drinks is generally OK in good standard hotels and restaurants but it is best to avoid it on street stalls or in country areas.
WEATHER has a warm and tropical climate with two seasons: the rainy season from the beginning of May to the end of September and the dry season from October to April. The average temperature 29 degree centigrade. Maximum temperature can reach up to 40 degree centigrade. Temperatures can drop to as low as 15 degrees or even lower in mountains. Generally, tourists are recommended to visit during the months of November to March because these are cool months and rainfall is lower than other periods.
