LAO'S IN BRIEF
Destination Profiles
Laos
is an enigmatic backwater slowly waking up to the world.
The petite capital of Vientiane is a place of historic
temples, while Luang Prabang is a slice of Lao history
with temples, shrines and palaces lining its slow-paced
streets. Elsewhere in Laos is the puzzling Plain of Jars
and the sleepy Mekong islands of Si Phan Don, ensuring
an enchanting time. A visit to Laos is a visit to
another world, an older Asia and will enlighten your
senses every step of the way.
About Cambodia
 Laos
only really opened its doors to tourism about a decade ago
and remains one of the least explored, most enigmatic
countries in the world. While the country has abundant
natural and cultural attractions, it is the people that
make this destination so special and spending time in Laos
is as much about soaking up the unique atmosphere as
sightseeing in the traditional sense Lovely
Luang Prabang and the capital Vientiane are the most
popular destinations in Laos, but trekking areas in the
north and the laid-back south are emerging as areas to
keep visitors in the country for longer. Hotels have
improved in popular tourist centers, while infrastructure
is also improving steadily, making a trip to this hidden
kingdom easier than ever before. Visit the land of a
million elephants before there are millions of tourists.
Government
Since
the revolution of 1975 which overthrew the monarchy,
Laos has been called the Lao People’s Democratic
Republic and has been governed by a Marxist-Leninist
party the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party. There is
no opposition in Laos and the party remains strongly
influenced by the Vietnamese, although economic reforms
have been adopted.
Population
and People
The
population of Laos is about 5 million and growing fast.
Lao make up 50 percent of the population, while a huge
number of other ethnic groups make up the rest. They
include a diversity of groups known as Lao Thai, related
to the Thai minorities, Lao Theung, mainly Mon-Khmer
peoples thought to have inhabited the area before the
other groups, and the Lao Sung, who live at elevations
above 1000m and only migrated here in the last century.
There are also sizeable Vietnamese, Chinese, Thai and
Khmer communities.
Language
The
national language of Laos is Lao, as spoken and written
in the capital Vientiane. Thai and Lao are mutually
intelligible, although the script is different. English
is the first language among young students, while French
is spoken by some older people.
Religion
About
60% of the population of Laos follow Theravada Buddhism.
It was introduced to Laos in the late 13th century. It
is enhanced by traditional animist beliefs and spirit
worship that were popular before Buddhism and remain the
pre-dominant faith among minority groups in Laos.
Buddhism
is believed to have arrived in Laos in the late 13th
or early 14th centuries and probably arrived through
Cambodia which controlled much of Laos at that time.
Buddhism became the state religion under the first of
the Lan Xang monarchs, the great King Fa Ngum in 1356
AD, who symbolically accepted the Pha Bang Buddha
image from his Khmer father-in-law Jayavarman.
Buddhism was slow to spread through Laos due to a
belief in spirits among many of the Lao highland
minorities, but finally began to be regularly taught
from the 17th century. Therevada Buddhism, as
practised in Laos and much of mainland South-East
Asia, is believed by its followers to be a purer form
of Buddhism than its Mahayana counterpart from Tibet.
According to the four noble truths of Therevada
Buddhism, all life is suffering and that suffering is
caused by desire. The way out of suffering is to
eliminate desire by following the eight-fold path. The
eight fold path is a code of ethics for life and
consists of right understanding, right thought, right
speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort,
right mindfulness and right concentration. The
eventual goal for all Buddhists is nirvana or the
elimination of all suffering, extinction and an end to
the cycle of reincarnation.
Geography
& Climate
Landlocked
Laos covers 235,000 sq km and shares borders with China to
the north, Vietnam to the East, Cambodia to the south and
Thailand and Myanmar to the west. The climate in Laos is characterized
by three distinct seasons. The rainy season of the
south-west monsoon extends from June to November. It is
followed by a short, cool dry period from November to
January, which develops into a hot dry season from
February through May. Average daytime temperatures
generally range from 25C to 30C, but can drop to 10C in
the mountainous areas of the country in the north.
Local
Time
Local
time is Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) plus seven hours.
Health
Precautions
No
vaccinations are required for entry into Laos. However,
it is recommended that all visitors be inoculated
against typhoid, tetanus, and hepatitis A and B. It is
not wise to drink tap water. Prescription drugs are
available in urban areas. Precautions against malaria,
such as doxycycline or labrum, are are recommended when
visiting most parts of the country. Travelers should
consult their doctor before leaving for Laos.
Food
Most
visitors will find Lao cuisine to be similar to that of
neighboring Thailand. Freshwater fish is a popular part
of most Lao diets, while in remote areas wild animals
are more likely to be part of the diet than domestic
animals. Local specialties include laps, a salad of
minced meat, lime juice, garlic, green onions, mint and chilies.
Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai food is also widely
available, as is a range of western cuisine in Vientiane
and Luang Prabang.
Electricity
All urban areas have minimum electricity (220 volts).
Most sockets found in hotels are French style two-pin.
Power cuts are common.
Shopping
Laos offers
a limited range of handicrafts when compared with
neighboring Thailand, but Lao textiles are among the
most accomplished in the region. Different minority
groups produce different patterns and items can be
bought as clothing, tablecloths or bags. Carvings in
wood or stone are popular depicting scenes from Hindu or
Buddhist mythology, as well a intricately carved opium
pipes, although make sure these not of ivory. Some Asian
antiquities are available in the tourist centers, but
officially there is a ban on the export of these items
so do not invest too much in any one item.
International
Flights
There are
now two international gateways to Laos. Wattay
Inter-national Airport serves the capital of Vientiane
and Luang Prabang International Airport acts as a newly
popular gateway to the north. Airlines currently
servicing Laos include flag carrier Lao Aviation, as
well as Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, Siem Reap
Airways, Yunnan Airlines, Vietnam Airlines and Silk Air.
Direct flights to Vientiane are available from Bangkok,
Chang Mai, Hanoi, Saigon, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Kunming
and Singapore. Luang Prabang is connected to Chiang Mai
and Danang, but more routes are expected soon.
Domestic
Services
Domestic
flights are available between Vientiane and a number of
provincial destinations. Most popular is Luang Prabang,
but it is also possible to fly to Xieng Khuang, Oudomxai,
Luang Namtha, Huayxai, Samneua, Savannakhet and Pakse.
Luang Prabang is connected to Xieng Khuang and Luang
Namtha.
Airport
Taxes
US$10 for
international flights from Vientiane and Luang Prabang
and just 1000K for domestic flights.
15-day
visas are available at international airports and the
Friendship Bridge at Nong Khai for US$30, but those
coming by land from Cambodia, China, Vietnam or other
Thai crossings will need to arrange a visa in advance.
There are Lao embassies in Bangkok, Hanoi and Phnom
Penh, plus Saigon and Danang consulates.
Currency
The Kip
is the used as the official currency of Laos (US $1 =
10,800K), but US dollars and Thai Baht are widely
accepted. Places in Vientiane and Luang Prabang accept
international credit cards such as Visa and Master Card.
The Lao
calendar is a mix of solar and lunar, the year reckoned
by sun and the months by moon, unlike western countries
where it is the sun alone.
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Festivals & Public Holidays |
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-
International New Year
:
January 1-3
- Magha Puja :
February
- Lao Women's Day :
March 8
- Lao New Year :
April 15-17
- International Labour Day : May 1
- Visak Bochea (Buddha's Birthday) :
Mid May
- Rocket Festival :
May
- Khao Pansaa :
July
- Haw Khao Padip Din (Festival of the Dead) :
September
- Awk Phansaa :
October
- Water Festival :
October
- That Luang Festival :
November
- Lao National Day :
December 2
- Bun Pha Wet :
December
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