Organize your stay Laos
Money Laos
The official currency in Laos is the Lao kip (LAK)
Exchange rates (August 2020, rounded): 1 US dollar (US$) = 9,045 kips; 1 euro (€) = 10,635 kips; 1 Swiss franc (CHF) = 9,892 kips; 1 Canadian dollar (CAN$) = 6,780 kips; 1 Thai bath (THB) = 288 kips.
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Existing tickets: 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000 and 100,000 kips. For each bank withdrawal, always ask for a share in medium denominations (10,000 and 5,000 kips especially), as merchants will often have difficulty giving you change in large denominations.
Budget & Tips Laos
In Laos, the average monthly salary is about 100 US$ per head.
A beer : between 8 000 and 15 000 kips.
A meal (dish + drink): from 25,000 to 70,000 kips.
One night in a cheap guesthouse: 50,000 to 80,000 kips.
A tuk-tuk race: 10 000 kips minimum.
Renting a bike or scooter for a day: 10,000 kips or 70,000 kips minimum.
Passport and visas Laos
All passports issued in France are now biometric. They contain your photo, fingerprints and a secure chip. To obtain it, go to the town hall with a tax stamp, proof of address, a piece of ID and two passport photos. The passport is delivered within about three weeks. It is valid for 10 years. Children must have a personal passport (valid for five years).
Advice. Before leaving, remember to photocopy all the documents you take with you. You will take one copy of each document and leave the other one with someone in France. In the event of loss or theft, the renewal process will be much easier with the consular authorities. You can also keep copies on the official website (mon.service-public.fr). All you have to do is create an account and scan all your identity papers and other important documents in the confidential area.
To enter Laos, a passport valid for six months after the date of arrival is required.
Visa. A visa is required to enter Laos. The price depends on the nationality of the applicant. Same price for French, Belgian and Luxemburgish citizens but more expensive for Canadians. By contacting the Laos embassy in Paris or Brussels, it takes three days and costs 30 € (visa fee) + 5 € (application fee). Please bring two passport photos. The visa application can be made by mail. In this case, count 35 € for visa fees and 5 € for the return journey
It is possible to obtain the visa on arrival at the Thai border or at the airport in Vientiane or Luang Prabang, it costs 30 US$ (plus a small tip for customs officers) and takes 15 minutes. Same rate at the Lao consulate in Bangkok. Main land border crossings with Thailand: Houayxay (north), Friendship Bridge (near Vientiane) and Chong Mek (near Pakse). No visa is required for Swiss nationals for a stay not exceeding 15 days.
Extension of visa. Go to one of the immigration offices in Vientiane, Luang Prabang or Pakse, open Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm. A visa extension costs US$2 per day. For a longer extension, it is preferable to leave the country by making a round trip to the Thai border, which takes a day at most. In case the visa is not extended, the visitor will have to pay a penalty of 10 US$ per day when leaving the country.
Driver's license Laos
French nationals staying in Laos for a short period of time can drive and rent a car with a valid French driving licence accompanied by a valid international driving licence.
Be careful, the rental of scooters is officially forbidden to foreigners, but the practice is quite widespread. Be careful!
Health Laos
The general state of the health care system in Laos is generally insufficient and even very poor in some provinces.
If you have a serious health problem it is advisable to travel to Thailand for surgery. Aek Clinic in Udon Thani: ✆ +66 42 341 033 - Medical Centre of the French Embassy in Vientiane: 24 hours a day, ✆ +856 21 41 50 - ✆ +856 20 655 4794.
Before departure: For advice before your trip, do not hesitate to consult your doctor and subscribe to an assistance company covering medical expenses and medical repatriation.
You can also contact the travel medicine company at the Institut Pasteur medical centre at ✆ 01 45 68 80 88 (www.pasteur.fr/fr/sante/centre-medical) or visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the heading "Conseils aux voyageurs" (www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/voyageurs)
In the event of illness or serious problems during your trip, consult a pharmacist and then a doctor as soon as possible.
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Mandatory vaccination Laos
There are no mandatory vaccinations to enter Laotian territory, except for yellow fever. A certificate of yellow fever vaccination is required upon entry to the country for travellers coming from countries where there is a risk of yellow fever transmission.
The recommended vaccinations are included in the vaccination schedule, so the Hepatitis A vaccination schedule should be updated. Vaccinations against Japanese encephalitis, hepatitis B, rabies and typhoid are recommended for extended stays.
Security Laos
Undefused Explosive Ordnance Disposal (UXO). Since the Indochina war, there are estimated to be more than 80 million UXOs and mines under the ground, particularly along the border with Vietnam: stay on the marked paths and observe the signs. Always check with NGOs specialising in mine clearance.
Time difference Laos
Laos is 6 hours ahead of France in winter and 5 hours ahead in summer. In winter when it is 10am in France, it is 4pm in Laos.
Spoken languages Laos
The national language is Lao, belonging to the Thai language family, sometimes called Tai-Kadai or Kadai. Thai television and radio are broadcast in Laos. The various ethnic minorities also have their own languages. Chinese, English and French are also spoken in Laos. French is still spoken by the elderly. But English is the economic language spoken by the majority of people. Lao is not an easy language to learn, it is spoken with the nose and the same word with a different pronunciation means different things. In France, you can learn Lao at the Institut National des Langues et des Civilisations Orientales (INALCO, Paris). In Vientiane and Luang Prabang, courses are given at the French Institute. Finally, to learn some basics before going to Laos, here are some easy-to-access books:
Chou Norindr, Parlons lao, Ed. L'Harmattan, 1994.
Lamvieng Inthamone, Je lis et j'écris lao, Ed. Inalco, 1980.
Marc Reinhorn, Dictionnaire Laotien-Français, Ed. du CNRS, 2 vol.
Tatsuo Hoshimo and Russel Marcus, Lao for beginners, Tuttle Language Library.
Klaus Werner, Learning Lao for everybody, State Printing Entreprise.
Communication Laos
The internet network is generally of average quality throughout the country, but most establishments (hotels, guesthouses, restaurants) generally offer free Wi-Fi connection. The quality of the connection is adequate in large cities, and much more random or even non-existent in more remote areas.
Electricity and measurements Laos
Electricity. Theoretical voltage of 220 volts, sometimes fluctuating. Adapters for American plugs are sometimes useful.
Weights and measures. Laos has adopted the international metric system. In many cases, places are indicated in lak (kilometres) by the distance from the city centre (usually the post office).
Luggage Laos
Preferably choose cotton clothing and plan to wear long sleeves to protect yourself from mosquitoes or the hot sun. Don't forget a pair of waterproof sandals, comfortable hiking shoes, a fleece (nights can be cool), a raincoat (poncho or k-way style), a pair of sunglasses, a scarf (against dust), shorts (boat) and a swimsuit (for waterfalls).
Small equipment: flashlight or headlamp, light sleeping bag, anti-mosquito product for the skin, mosquito net impregnated with repellent (specialized shop), medicine kit (quinine, antibiotics), condoms, towel or sarong easy to dry. Pocket knife and sunscreen in the aircraft hold.
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When it comes to excess luggage, airlines are now rather strict. If they will sometimes leave you alone for 1 or 2 kg too much on some destinations, you will not have any margin on African destinations, so much the demand of passengers is important! If you are travelling light, don't be surprised to be accosted several times in the check-in area by other travellers in order to take those kilos you don't use on your own. It's up to you, but this practice is forbidden, especially if you don't know what you're being asked to carry. Because it is true that once you exceed the weight limit, the cutter falls, and it falls severely: €30 per extra kilo on a long-haul flight with Air France, €120 per extra baggage with British Airways. Note that airlines sometimes offer discounts of 20 to 30% if you pay for your excess baggage on their website before going to the airport. If the cost is still too high, you can still send part of your belongings by post, if the destination allows it
