An overview of Laos will hep you to prepare all necessary luggage for your trip before travelling to this peaceful country

CAPITAL: Capital of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR is the official name of Laos) is Vientiane.
 
SUPERFICY:
Inland area: 236,800 Km2 

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION: Located on the eastern coast of the South-East Asian Indochinese Peninsula with no access to the sea, Laos shares its borders with China to the North, Myanmar to the North-West, Thailand to the West, Cambodia to the South and Vietnam to the East. An estimated 70% of the total area is dominated by rugged mountains, dense jungle and plateau. Peaks rise from 1500 to 2500 m, the highest one being the Phu Bia at 2820 m. The Mekong, which still remains the main transport link, extends 1800 km. Areas cultivated are located along the Mekong plain, where half of the population is concentrated.

 POPULATION: Laos has 5 million inhabitants with an average density of 21.1 inhabitants/km2. 48% of the population is Lao, 14% tribal Thai, 13% Sino Tibetan (including the Hmong and Yao ethnic minorities), 24% Mon-Khmer and 1% Vietnamese and Chinese.
There are actually a lot of different ethnic minorities group in Laos but most of them belong to the three main categories: The Lao Loum, the Lao Theung and the Lao Sung. 85% of the population live in the countryside.
The dominant religion is Buddhism (60% of the population). There is a small community of Catholics while the rest of the population is animistic.

LANGUAGE: Lao is the official language although English is increasingly spoken by Laotians in main cities. Some people and especially the elderly still speak French, while the middle-aged speak Russian. A guide is, however, highly recommended as language can be a problem outside the main cities for people who have no knowledge of Laotian.

CURRENCY: Please search on this website for your reference www.xe.com/ucc/ TIME: Laos is 7 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)

ELECTRICITY: In Laos electric current is 220V, but sockets are not always standard. Adapters can be found in local markets. Note that one third of the country has not yet got electricity

HEALTH & MEDICAL FACILITIES: No vaccination is required, but visitors are advised to receive inoculations against hepatitis A and B, typhoid and tetanus, as to make sure of whether anti malaria treatment is necessary depending on the region they travel to. Inoculation for yellow fever and tablets for malaria are not necessary although doctors still usually recommend them.

Vientiane has good hospitals staffed with foreign medical personnel, while in Luang Prabang and Pakse there is only local medical staff. For life threatening injury it is advisable to be evacuated to Bangkok or Singapore and we therefore strongly recommended taking out medical travel insurance.

BEFORE GOING: If you are traveling in the north or the centre from November to February warm clothes are recommended and especially appropriate all year long in the northern provinces (Samnua, Phongsaly, Luang Nam Tha, Oudomxay, Luang Prabang and Xieng Khouang).

In the south, light clothing is a must all year long except in Paksong (Salavan Province).
We also recommend you bring along mosquito - repellent and high factor sun – block, a cap or a hat, sunglasses, a raincoat and a small bag to carry a few things in case you have to leave your big suitcases at the hotel for a few days.

Since Laos has a hot and humid tropical climate, casual and light clothing is best all year round, preferably made from natural fibers. A sweater or jacket may be useful in hill areas, particularly during winter months, when evenings can be quite cold. A windproof jacket is essential when touring along Mekong River during November to February. An umbrella or raincoat is recommended if visiting the country during the monsoon months (June-September). A hat and a high-factor sun block cream are advisable a protection against the hot tropical sun when sightseeing outdoors. Shoes are generally removed at the entrance to temples.

Color standard films (such as Kodak, Konica or Fuji) are available in the main cities. But slide films, B/W films, video films and camera batteries as well as any specialized photo or video equipment should be brought with you. Photography and video in airports and near any military installations and government offices are forbidden and discretion should be observed when photographing people especially monks and hill tribes.

Useful, too, is a flashlight, for exploring caves or details of temples interiors, which are often not properly illuminated.

HOW TO GET TO LAOS
By air: Presently, Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Pakse are the three international airports where arrival / departure of international passengers is allowed. 

Overland: The country can be entered or exited overland at the following immigration checkpoints, which are open daily from 08.30 AM to 05.00 PM:

Friendship Bridge from / to Nongkhai  (Thailand) crossing Mekong River by shuttle bus (from 06.00 AM to 10.00 PM)

- Houei Xay by crossing Mekong River by ferry from / to Chiangkhong (Thailand) (from 08.00 AM to 06.00 PM)
- Sam Neua ( Nameo) / Pa Hang  on route  N0  6  to Vietnam
- Boten, Luang Namtha province, from / to Bohan and Mengla (Yunnan, China)
- Nonghet, Xiengkhouang Province, from / to Nam Kan (Vietnam)
- Savannakhet from / to Mukdahan (Thailand), actually by ferry. At the end  of 2006, the  bridge  crossing Mekong river will  be completely  finished
- Denesavanh from / to Lao Bao (Vietnam)
- Namphao, Borikhamxay province, from / to Lak Sao (Vietnam)
- Thakek from / to Nakhon Phanom (Thailand) by ferry
- Tong Kham /Chalo , route N0 12, which  link Thakek to Ving or Dong Hoi (Vietnam)
- Vangtao from / to Chongmek and Ubon Ratchatani (Thailand)
- Veunkham from / to Stung Treng (Cambodia) by boat