A landlocked nation in Southeast Asia occupying the northwest portion of the Indochinese peninsula, Laos is surrounded by China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Burma. It is twice the size of Pennsylvania. Laos is a mountainous country, especially in the north, where peaks rise above 9,000 ft (2,800 m). Dense forests cover the northern and eastern areas. The Mekong River, which forms the boundary with Burma and Thailand, flows through the country for 932 mi (1,500 km) of its course. The Lao tourist industry continued to grow. In 1995 Luang Prabang was placed on the Unesco World Heritage list, and Wat Phu, the ancient Khmer temple near Champasak, followed. Other parts of the country are opening up to ecotourism, including the Bolaven Plateau, the Plain of Jars, and the far north. An added attraction is that many of the country's colorful minority tribes live in these regions. Laos now attracts over a million tourists a year (well over half of them Thai), and the figure is likely to rise. Laos does not suffer severe population pressure, but there is a steady migration into the cities due to increasing disparities between urban and rural living standards. The government has shown little inclination to address this problem, or the abysmally low education standards, or poor health facilities for a rural population faced with diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS. Some NGOs and foreign aid programs are trying to help, but human resources remain poorly developed.

For now, Laos remains relatively isolated and undeveloped. Its capital, Vientiane, is more like a big village than a crowded Asian hub and life throughout the country is slow-paced. Most people come to Laos and make a brief tour of Vientiane and UNESCO World Heritage-listed Luang Prabang with perhaps a brief detour to the mysterious Plain of Jars. But those who make the effort to explore further afield will be well rewarded with luscious landscapes, friendly people and unique glimpses of a country hardly changed for over a century.

Official Language: Lao

Demonyn: Laotian, Lao

Currency: Kip (LAK)

Time Zone: (UTC+7)

Internet TLD: .la

Calling Code: +856

Visa formalities for Laos:

Passports
Passport with at least six months remaining validity required by all nationals of countries referred to in the chart above.

Visas
Required by all nationals of countries

Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see General Info).

Types of Visa and Cost
Tourist, Business: €50 (including service and document fees). Families may only be charged €50 per family if all living at the same address and same surname is indicated on passports.

Validity
Validity starts from day of entry into Laos. Tourist/Business: 30 days (can be extended twice in Vientiane for 30 days). Visas must be used within three months of being issued.

Applications to:
Consulate (or consular section at embassy) or an officially recognized tour operator. A visa valid for Laos can also be obtained from travel agencies in Bangkok (Thailand) or on arrival (at most points of entry, but it is recommended that one is obtained before arrival). Visas are issued on arrival at 14 international checkpoints throughout Laos, including Luang Prabang Airport, Pakse Airport and (Wattay) Vientiane International Airport for stays of 15 days and costs US$30. For further details, contact the nearest embassy (see General Info).

Working Days Required
Three.

Warning
The threat from terrorism in Laos is low. However, travelers should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be in public areas, including places frequented by foreigners.

Unexploded ordnance in rural areas is an ongoing danger.

Outbreaks of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) in Laos have resulted in human fatalities. As a precaution, travelers should avoid live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds is likely; and ensure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked. 

The Lao government prohibits sexual relationships between foreign citizens and Lao nationals except when the two parties have been married in accordance with Lao family law. Penalties for breaking these regulations can range from fines to imprisonment.

Penalties for illegal drug importation and use are severe and can include the death penalty.

It is illegal not to carry an ID document, and fines for not having one for presentation are high.

Attractions in Laos:

That Dam (Black Stupa)

Historic statue is said to be built on the cave of a dormant seven-headed dragon which rose to the rescue of the Vientiane population in the 1828 war with Thailand. Now standing guard over the town's center, the imposing and mysterious stupa is overgrown with moss and the black spire creates an ominous impression against the blue sky. Legends aside, it is a curious and fascinating sight in Asia where all that is precious normally glitters in gold. The old black stone feeds your imagination evoking bygone eras and ghosts from the past.

Wat Dongpalan

Sculpture and decoration around this neighborhood temple lift spirits with their exuberance. Elaborately crowned moon faces top outside walls, which are brightly painted and decorated with kinnarys (angels), elephants and hunters. Several times a year, when special offerings are made at temples, sticky rice is placed in the mouth of each moon. Massive Buddha’s and giant figures stand in the courtyard. The naga dragons at the spout of the hanglin, the carrier for scented water, are chased by crocodiles. In contrast the sim (temple hall) and monks' quarters are simple buildings.

Wat Inpeng

The major attraction of this temple is a magnificently carved wooden and mosaic facade. The rest of the exterior is beautiful as well, colorfully decorated with elaborately colonnaded windows, paintings over the entrance and gilded mythological nagas swirling up at each roof corner. Stone studded snakes guard the stairs. By contrast, the interior is simple, floored with cool stone tiles. A quaint garden offers a shady sitting area. Animal statues are dotted beside topiary trees, benches and unused fountains.

That Luang

The golden steeple of That Kuang looms over Vientiane. This is a national symbol and the most important religious building in Laos. The present gold leaf stupa is a recreation of the 16th century temple thought to have been built by the King. During the That Luang Festival in November you can see the stupa at its finest, elaborately decorated in lights. This is a beautiful sight as the afternoon sun dips behind the Mekong and highlights its gold pinnacles.

Sisakhet Museum

This temple, built in 1818, was recently named as one of the world's most endangered monuments. Established during the reign of King Anouvong, the last King of Laos, it is the oldest wat in Vientiane and the only one to survive the invasions of the 1820s. Around the perimeter are 10,136 bronze and metal Buddha statues. This ancient place of worship is definitely worth a visit as it is not only an interesting site to look around, but also a valuable piece of Lao's cultural heritage.

Climate of Laos:

Laos has a monsoon climate of a dry and a wet season.  The dry season lasts from November to May with the cooler period in December and January.  At its coldest, the temperatures can fall to as low as 15 deg C.  The cold periods tend to be at night and early morning with colder temperatures at higher altitudes.  During the hot period of the dry season, between March and May, temperatures can reach the high 30s.  The rainy season is a lot cooler, and rainfall varies according to altitude.  Generally speaking, the monsoon season produces severe rain that lasts for short periods of time.  The wet months vary according to location, in Vientiane, they are from May to September, in Luang Prabang, and August is far wetter than any other month.