Business Hours
Government offices are open from 08:30am-12:00pm, 01:00pm-04:00pm on Monday through Friday. Banks open from 08:30am-03:30pm on Monday-Friday, shops around 09:00am-06:00pm (holiday depends on each shop).
Embassies & Consulates
For a list of embassies and consulates in Vientiane and other cities, see EmbassyPages
Healthcare
Laos has basic healthcare. Precautionary measures like eating only well cooked food, drinking bottled water, staying hydrated, avoiding being bitten by mosquitoes and wearing protective clothing will help prevent most common ailments.
To find a hospital, see Google Maps Hospitals in Laos.
Payment
Refer to EzyKip Application to make payment during traveling in Laos.
Phone
International direct dial is widely available. You can also purchase a local pre-paid SIM card for your mobile phone.
Post
There are post offices in all provincial capitals. Both DHL and FedEx have offices in Vientiane.
Visa
Refer to www.laoevisa.gov.la to obtain your e-visa online.
Currency
The Kip is the official currency of the Lao PDR and the following banknotes are currently in circulation: 500; 1,000; 2,000; 5,000; 10,000; 20,000, 50,000 and 100,000 Kip.
The best currencies to use when exchanging money are: US Dollars, Euros and Thai Baht. You can exchange your currency at the bank, airport, or at a foreign currency exchange office.
Credit Cards
Visa, Master Card and American Express are accepted only in larger hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops in the large cities (such as Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Savannakhet and Champasack).
Internet
Internet access is available in many hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants in big cities. Although internet cafes are often available in provincial capitals, it may be difficult to connect to the internet in some rural areas.
Language
The national language is Lao, but English is commonly used in major tourist centers. Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai are also widely understood. French, German, Russian and a number of other European languages are also spoken by many educated Lao, as many students received higher education in Europe during 1970’s-1990’s.
Time
The time in Laos is 7 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT +7).
Weather
Laos generally enjoys a mild tropical climate, but it can get quite chilly in the cool season. Temperatures range from 10-40 degrees celsius in the Mekong Valley.
Online Taxi
LOCA, the leading ride-hailing app and the largest online taxi service provider in Laos is another one of the great choices that you couldn’t resist.
It provides convenient, sustainable, environmentally-friendly transportation options including electric taxi services, electric motorcycles, to deliver goods and passengers to create an environment-friendly journey and reduce air pollution.
Moreover, it’s got transparent pricing, strict driver selection process, and 24/7 customer service to ensure safety, fair income for drivers, and a seamless experience for customers, all while reducing carbon emissions for a greener future.
Try the electric taxi service today on the LOCA app. Download the app at:
Online Payment
LOCA Pay, payment service that helps you connect your credit/debit card for making the payment transaction with all Lao standard QR code continuously and seamlessly while traveling in Laos.
Download the app at: https://loca.la/how-to-pay-in-laos/
Travel with Children
Laos is a safe, quiet country with a lot to explore for both adults and children. Lao people love kids. Children provide good opportunities for opening communication with Lao people.
Why 7 Tips to Protect Children?
During your travels, you will probably meet children at risk-perhaps begging at crossroads, selling postcards or fruit at tourist sites, or bus stations. You want to help them, but you don’t know how. You can really protect these children if you take the right actions. Follow these 7 Tips and travel Child Safe!
7 Better Ways to Protect Children During Your Travels
1. THINK! Children are not tourist attractions let’s not treat them like they are.
Children living or studying in schools, orphanages or slums shouldn’t be exposed to tourist visits. These places are not zoos. Imagine a bus full of foreigners visiting schools in your home country. Would you find this acceptable?
Put child protection first and do not visit these places. Find alternatives that really help children at www.thinkchildsafe.org
2. THINK! Volunteering with children feels good but could be harmful look for better ways to help them.
Working with children in institutions such as orphanages is a job for local experts, not for travelers who are just passing through. Children deserve more than good intentions, they need experienced and skilled caretakers and teachers who know the local culture and language.
Make sure your volunteering is a great experience and has the best impact possible. Do not work directly with children; instead, share your professional skills with local staff. You can also explore other ways to put your talents to use and find alternatives at www.thinkchildsafe.org
3. THINK! Children pay a price for your generosity – don’t give to begging children.
When you give money, food or gifts to begging children or buy anything from them, you encourage them to continue begging. This prevents them from going to school and locks them into a cycle of poverty.
There are better ways to support children and youth: use businesses with a social impact, such as training restaurants and shops, or donate to organizations supporting children and their families. Find such organizations and businesses at www.thinkchildsafe.org
4. THINK! Professionals know best – call them if a child needs help.
Helping children directly can cause problems because you don’t know the local culture and laws. For instance, never take a child back to your hotel room – it’s dangerous for both you and the child.
When you see a child in need, the best thing to do is to contact local professionals. Call a child protection hotline, contact a local organization or the police. You won’t bother anyone it is their job to check and help. Just call. You could save their life and give them a first chance to build their future. Find hotline numbers on the back of these Tips.
5. THINK! Sex with children is a crime report child sex tourism.
Sex tourism involving children is a devastating reality. It happens in hotels, in bars, etc. You may even be approached and offered sex with children.
When you see such a situation, don’t put yourself at risk. Call a child protection hotline, contact a local organization or the police, so immediate action can be taken to protect the child and investigate the situation. Find hotline numbers on the back of these Tips.
6. THINK! Children should not be at work instead of school – report child labor.
Some children sell goods at tourist sites or offer their services as guides. Others are hired in tourism businesses like hotels or restaurants, and this is a problem when it hurts their education.
Do not buy goods or use services offered by children. If you think that a business employs underage children, call a child protection hotline, contact a local organization or the police. They will check the child’s situation many children are just helping out their parents after school, but some may be exploited. Find hotline numbers on the back of these Tips.
7. THINK! Protect children – be a Child Safe Traveler.
ChildSafe raises awareness about how you can help children during your trip. It also trains and certifies many businesses in the tourism industry (such as hotels, travel agencies, restaurants, and taxi services) to actively protect children.
Use ChildSafe Certified Businesses when planning and throughout your trip to avoid being involved in harmful situations for children. Every action described in these Tips will make a big difference.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT! www.thinkchildsafe.org
International border crossing where tourists enter and exit the Lao PDR.
International Airport:
- Wattay International Airport has many international airlines operating flights to and from this airport, with 12 airlines such as: Thai AirAsia, Lucky Air, Sishuan Airline, Vietnam Airline, Lao Airline State Enterprise, Thai Smile Airways, Jeju Air, China Eastern Airlines, China Express Airlines, Scoot Tiger Air, China Southern Airlines from Vientiane to Bangkok, Hanoi, Chongqing, Hochiminh, Kunming, PhanomPenh, Incheon-South S, Korea, Shangi-Singapore and GuangZhou.
- Luang Prabang International Airport is another international gateway to the Lao PDR. Currently, there are airlines such as: Lao Airline, Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, Vietnam Airline, Lucky Air, China Eastern Airlines and Charter Flight
- Savannakhet International Airport is another international airport with international flights operated by Lao Airlines (currently temporarily suspended).
- Pakse International Airport only has Lao Airlines flying to Phanom Penh and Hochinminh.
- In addition, there are airports in various provinces, but they only provide services for flights within the Lao PDR.
On land:
International border crossing between Laos and Thailand:
- Samluangkham Border Crossing = Bokeo Province – Samluangkham, Chiang Rai Province
- Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge IV Border Crossing = Bokeo Province – Chiang Rai Province
- Nam Ngen Border Crossing = Sayabouly Province – Houay Khon Border Crossing, Vat Nan Province
- Nam Huong Border Crossing = Sayabouly Province – Loei Province
- Phoudu Border Crossing = Sayabouly Province – Uttaradit Province
- Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge I Border Crossing = Vientiane Capital – Nong Khai Province
- Thanaleng Railway Station Border Crossing = Vientiane Capital
- Paksan Port Border Crossing = Bolikhamxay Province – Beungkan Province
- Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge III Border Crossing = Khammouane Province – Nakhon Phanom Province
- Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge II Border Crossing = Savannakhet Province – Mukdahan Province
- Vang Tao Border Crossing = Champasak Province – Song Mek Province Ubon Ratchathani
- Pangmon Border Crossing = Xayaboury Province – Ban Hoak, Phayao 2 Province
- Thabok Thanaleng Border Crossing = Vientiane Capital
International border crossing between Laos and China:
- Lantuy Border Crossing = Phongsaly Province – Kham District “Kheng District” of Yunnan Province
- Boten Border Crossing = Luang Namtha Province – Bohan, Yunnan Province
- Lao-China Railway Border Crossing = Luang Namtha Province – Bohan, Yunnan Province
International border crossing between Laos and Vietnam:
- Pang Chut Border Crossing = Phongsaly Province – Tai Trang, Dien Bien Province
- Nam Soi Border Crossing = Huaphanh Province – Nameo, Thanh Hoa Province
- Nam Kang Border Crossing = Xieng Khouang Province – Nam Kang, Nghe An Province
- Nam Phao Border Crossing = Borikhamxay Province – Cau Cheu, Hat Tinh Province
- Napau Border Crossing = Khammouane Province – Chalo, Quang Binh Province
- Densavanh Border Crossing, Savannakhet Province – Lao Bao, Quang Chi Province
- Lalai Border Crossing = Salavanh Province – Lalai, Quang Chi Province
- Phoukea Border Crossing = Attapeu Province – Bei, Kon Tum Province
- Dak Taok Border Crossing = Sekong Province – Nam Giang, Quang Nam Province
International border crossing between Laos and Cambodia:
- Nong Nok Khian Border Crossing = Champasak Province – Tra Bien, Xieng Keng Province
International border crossing between Laos and Myanmar:
- Ban Muang Mom Border Crossing = Bokeo Province – Vang Poung, Tha Khi Lek Province
What is Cultural Heritage?
Cultural heritage is central to protecting our sense of who we are. It gives us an irrefutable connection to the past to certain social values, beliefs, customs and traditions that allows us to identify ourselves with others and deepen our sense of unity, belongings and national pride. Cultural heritage is a valuable resource in the fields of tourism, education, employment and sustainable development. Cultural heritage tourism experiences include architectural and archaeological treasures, festivals or events, historic or heritage, sites, monuments and landmarks, museums, etc.
The balance between development and the protection of Cultural Heritage Tourism
Tourism is an excellent way to encourage and provide access to cultural heritage, but it also brings with it challenges related to overcrowding, cultural appropriation and the loss of authenticity. Tourism brings money and jobs to cities and regions, but it can also damage residents’ day-to-day lives, as well as the area’s culture and heritage. Given the possible negative effects of over-tourism and its impact on cultural heritage, some local communities and heritage experts experienced at times opposed tourism and its associated development.
Sustainable Cultural Heritage Tourism offers a new perspective, as it places cultural heritage and local communities at the center of decision-making processes. Involving local communities and other stakeholders in the decision-making processes is the key to ensure results which benefit both cultural heritage and the local population. The objective of sustainable cultural tourism is to ensure good conservation practices along with authentic interpretation that supports the local economy.
Social Benefits of Cultural and Heritage Tourism
Studies show that travelers are more apt to visit places with strong community identity socially, heritage assets have the ability to make contributions to an area’s livability and identity.
- Helps build social capital.
- Promotes preservation of local traditions, customs and culture.
- Promotes positive behavior.
- Helps improve the community’s image and pride.
- Promotes community beautification.
Sustainable Cultural Heritage Tourism
Cultural heritage is a valuable resource in the fields of tourism, education, employment and sustainable development. Sustainable cultural tourism is a vital part of regional and macro-regional development strategies. In this regard, culture is both a driver and an enabler of sustainable development.
Local Community Engagement and Awareness
As an underlying principle in tourism planning, it is crucial for government to assess and develop a clear understanding of community’s attitudes and perceptions towards tourism. From there, methods can be deployed to:
- Create awareness of the benefits of tourism as force for economic growth.
- Engage local communities in tourism development planning.
- Instill a sense of pride in locals related to their cultural values and authenticity when engaging in tourism activities.
This will reinforce the community’s pride and Importance of preserving their cultural assets as a source of economic sustainability for generations to come.
Why Cultural Heritage Tourism is important for Country Development
Cultural heritage tourism is important for many reasons. It gives the local population the opportunity to benefit financially from their cultural heritage. It also helps to protect cultural heritage and to improve the quality of life of residents and visitors. Linking tourism with heritage and culture will benefit the local economy. Cultural heritage tourism can, therefore, help to strengthen identities, improve intercultural understanding, preserve the heritage and culture of an area.
Community Building and Empowerment
One of the most impactful ways that tourism can protect cultural heritage is to empower through community. When tourists appreciate local markets, it sparks pride in the community and allows them to continue doing work that is culturally significant. The safeguarding of heritage resources and cultural-historic activities, landscape and nature, as well as all endogenous resources which can be enjoyed by tourists and local community present the key to preserve the cultural identity of territories and for a more effective sustainable development.
Partnership
