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Innovative Travel in Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos & Thailand with Travel Loops 
Laos
>> Travel Tips
Visas
Visas on arrival are available for most nationalities. Visas are available at the following entry points: International Airports: Vientiane, Luang Prabang, and Pakse Border crossings with Thailand: Nong Khai – Vientiane Friendship Bridge, Chiang Khong – Houay Xai, Nakhon Phanom – Tha Khek, Mukdahan – Savannakhet, and Chong Mek - Vung Tao
Border crossings with Vietnam: Nam Can – Nam Khan, Cau Treo – Nam Phao, and Lao Bao – Dansavanh Border crossing with China: Mohan - Boten Visas on arrival are NOT available at other border crossings, and at the border crossing with Cambodia. Visa fees for a 30-day tourist visa are from US$30 to US$42 depending on the nationality. Visas must be paid for in U.S. dollars or Thai Baht in cash. Other currencies, including Lao Kip are NOT accepted. You will also need one passport-sized photo, and you will need the name of the hotel or guesthouse where you intend to stay. Even though you can obtain a visa on arrival, it is advisable to get a visa before hand at a Lao embassy if possible. This is to avoid any problems or delays at immigration, especially if you plan to enter Laos at an overland border crossing. For example; at the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge, the wait to get the visa can be several hours, due to the large number of people crossing the border. Plus if you already have your visa, you can take a bus directly from Nong Khai to Vientiane. In Laos, tourist visas can be extended for a maximum of 30 days for a fee of US$2 per day for the number of days you want. You will also need a passport-sized photo. This can be done at the Immigration Office in Vientiane, or at many travel agents, hotels, or guesthouses. However, the fee will be higher if you use these outside services, and the farther away you are from Vientiane, the longer it will take. The fee for overstaying your visa is US$ 10.00 per day, paid when you leave the country. We can assist with your visa to Laos. If you have any questions, or need assistance, please Contact Travel Loops. Money
The official currency of Laos is the Lao Kip (LAK). However, the Thai Baht and the US dollar are also used. However, most all prices (bus, taxi, hotel, guesthouse, restaurant, stores, etc.) are in Kip, so you will need to change money at the border. In Laos, you can change money at banks or moneychangers. The exchange rate is almost the same at both. In Vientiane and Luang Prabang you can exchange other currencies, but in the provinces and in rural areas, only US dollars and Thai Baht can be exchanged. It is advisable to change your currency into US dollars before you arrive in Laos. Travellers Cheques can be cashed in most banks, but only cheques in US dollars are readily accepted. Credit cards can be used in some hotels, restaurants and shops in Vientiane and Luang Prabang. However, outside of these cities, credit cards cannot be used. ATMs do exist in Vientiane, but they dispense only a limited amount of cash, and only in Kip. Plus they only accept Visa and MasterCard. The above information may have changed, but it is best not to rely on ATMs in Laos. Internet Access In the cities, there are now many internet shops. The rates are about US$0.50 to US$1 per hour. However, in the provinces and more rural areas, the rates are higher and the speeds are lower. Only some places in Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng offer wi-fi. Getting Around In Laos Air The only airline in Laos is Lao Airlines. They operate domestic flights to Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Pakse, Phongsaly, Luang Nam Tha, Huay Xai, Muang Xai, Sam Nua, Phonsavan, and Sainyabouli. See the Lao Airlines website for fares and schedules: www.laoairlines.com Busses There are basically two kinds of long distance busses in Laos: air-conditioned busses, including VIP busses, and local busses. Air conditioned busses run between the major cities, and many of them are overnight & sleeper busses, and some are quite luxurious. Local busses on the other hand, are older and not air-conditioned, and usually take many hours longer than the schedule to reach their destination. This is because they make continuous stops along the way to drop-off and pick-up passengers, and to load and unload cargo. There are also city busses in Vientiane. They are very cheap, and can be quite convenient if you know where you are going. There is a city bus from the Thai Lao Friendship Bridge into Vientiane. The Talat Sao bus terminal is located next to Talat Sao Market. Sawng Thaew These are converted pickup trucks with two rows of benches in the bed of the truck. They serve shorter routes, and run mainly between provincial capitals and outlying villages. They too stop wherever passengers want to get on and off, and they can get quite crowded. Lot Doi Saan A kind of large truck with a wooden structure built on the back with seats, the lot doi saan was at one time, the main form of transport when the road system in Laos was almost nonexistent. Now you will see them on the back roads where other forms of transport could not travel. Around Town Of course in the cities and towns, the ubiquitous Tuk-Tuks and Moto-taxis are everywhere. Be prepared to bargain, and be sure to establish the price and your destination before starting out. Boat Travel With more than 4600km of navigable rivers in Laos, waterways were the traditional highways for people and commerce. The main navigable rivers in Laos are the Mekong, Nam Ou, Nam Khan, Nam Tha, Nam Ngum and Se Kong. The Mekong River is the longest and most important, and runs the entire length of the country.
However, with the advent of paved roads and buses, boats cannot compete with the speed and low-cost of buses and sawng thaew for mass transportation. As a result, there is not a lot of river travel left in Laos. From a tourist’s standpoint, it is too bad that this “romantic” mode of travel is disappearing in Laos. But as you see by our Laos Cruising Itinerary, Houai Xai to Luang Prabang 05 Day Deluxe Cruise, river travel is still possible, and it is well worth it to take at least one river trip in Laos. It is quite an experience to take a slow boat along the river going from one riverside village to another as the beautiful riverside scenery as it glides by.
River Taxis
For going shorter distances, you can hire a river taxi. Long-tail boats (héua hang nyáo) are the most common and can be hired for around US$5.00 an hour for 8 to 10 passengers. There are also larger boats that can carry up to 20 passengers that can be hired for about US$8.00 an hour. The above prices may vary with the time of the year and river conditions, and boat operators will try to extract as much as they can from tourists. There is currently river travel between Luang Prabang and Pak Ou Caves, between Huay Xai and Vientiane, and between Luang Prabang and Hat Sa (Phongsali).
Safety Laos is a very safe place to travel, and there is little in the way of crime and scams as is so often reported in other heavily touristed countries in Southeast Asia. The great majority of Lao people are honest and trustworthy, but things have changed somewhat. With the increase in tourism, there has been an increase in petty crimes, such as theft and small scams. These are more of an annoyance than anything dangerous, and can be easily avoided using common sense. Towns are safe to walk around in, but as with any place you visit, you need to be aware of your surroundings, and also leave valuables and important documents in the hotel safe. What to Bring
Being a topical country, most of Laos is of course hot and humid. Items like insect repellent, sun screen, sun glasses, and some type of head covering are important. This is especially true if you will be traveling in rural areas, and if you will be doing any hiking or walking. If you take any prescription medication, you should bring twice what you will need in case of loss or theft. Some prescription medicine may be difficult to find, or not available at all, especially newer drugs.
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