LAOS AT A GLANCE

LAOS – SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL

The official name of Laos is the Lao People's Democratic Republic, or Lao PDR - but it has been said that the acronym could equally stand for "Lao People Don't Rush!" For many that is the charm and main attraction of Laos. The country moves at a pace as languid as the Mekong River that flows through it. Towns are less hectic than elsewhere in Asia and the countryside is a combination of beauty and tranquility.

Like its neighbors in Indochina, Laos spent much of the last half of the 20th Century hidden from the gaze of the outside world. Visitors today encounter a simple society with a strong spiritual tradition where the stresses and strains of the modern world seem irrelevant. Despite increased interest from the outside world Laos still remains the undoubted undiscovered gem of Asia. The landlocked nation of a little over six million people exudes a delightful, almost other-worldly charm and reminds one of a simpler, easier time.

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 groups (69) 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 lives 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.

Currency
The official currency is the Lao Kip (L-KIP) although US dollars or Thai Bath are widely accepted in the whole country. So are the Euros in the banks, and for payment in the hotels and restaurants of major cities. At the time of publishing exchange rate is US$ 1 = 10.700 L-KIP and 1 Euro = 12.600 L-Kip.
 
Traveler’s cheques can be cashed only at major banks and usually incur a 2 to 5% transaction fee.

Visa and Master cards are accepted now in most hotels in Vientiane and Luang Prabang, a few restaurants and shops in the main towns (Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Pakse), but can also be subject to 2 to 5% transaction fees.

You can also get cash advances with your credit card either from automated teller machines (ATM) in Vientiane BCL Bank or from foreign exchange offices (subject to 2 to 5% transaction fees).

Climate
Laos has a tropical monsoon climate with two seasons: dry from October to April and rainy from May to September. Temperatures vary according to altitude and can be very cold in mountainous areas from November to February.

Local Time
Laos is 7 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. It is the same time zone as Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia.

Electricity
In Laos electric current is 220V, but sockets are not always standard. Adapters can be found in local markets.

Water
It is advisable not to drink water from the tap unless it is boiled properly. Pure drinking water bottles are widely available.

Telecommunications
International phone calls through the services-call 178 allow you to have discounted rates. This service is free but if you need to call from a hotel, it is advisable to check first with the reception.

For mobile phone users: only a few international operators have an agreement with Lao operators, but you will be able to buy phone cards on the spot. There are quite a lot of Internet shops in most of the big cities in all provinces of Laos, although the Internet connection is often running quite slow.

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 is not necessary although doctors still usually recommend it.

Vientiane has good hospitals staffed with foreign medical personnel, while in Luang Prabang and Pakse there are 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.

Transportation
There are three international airports in Laos: Wattay in Vientiane located 15 minutes from the city centre, Luang Prabang in the North, 10 minutes from the heart of the historic quarter, and Pakse in the South located 10 minutes from the city centre.

Road networks have improved but still need to be upgraded in some areas. By car or bus, it takes about 7-8 hours from Vientiane to reach Pakse and 8 hours from Vientiane to Luang Prabang.

Shopping
Although Laos is still under development, you can find all kinds of products often imported from Thailand. There is however a strong tradition of cotton and silk weaving. Beautiful fabrics and manufactured products can be found. Prices displayed are usually fixed, but in other cases do not hesitate to bargain.

Tipping
Tipping is not mandatory although it is appreciated. Note that prices in hotels and restaurants usually include 10% for VAT.

Public Holidays 2009

GENERAL INFORMATION

GEOGRAPHY
Laos is a landlocked country covering 236,800 square kilometers and shares its borders with China, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. 70% of its total land area is comprised of mountains and plateaus. The Mekong River is Laos' primary geographical feature, running the entire length of the country and serving as a natural border with Thailand..

CLIMATE AND SEASONS
Laos has a tropical monsoon climate with wet and dry seasons. May is very hot with occasional rain; June to October is the humid and wet monsoon season; and November to April is the cooler, dry season.

(Box of Max, Min temperature, Rain through out the year of Vientiane and Luang Prabang.)

PEOPLE
Laos' population as of 2007 estimating 6,521,998 consists of 68 different ethnic groups, with most falling into three main categories: The Lao Loum who inhabit the lowlands, the semi-nomadic Lao Theung who live in the lower mountain ranges and the Lao Soung hill tribes originating from Burma, Tibet and southern China.

LANGUAGE
The Lao language has varying dialects throughout the country. Interestingly, many ethnic groups don't speak any Lao. Other languages used in Laos are French, English, Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese.

RELIGION
The great majority of the Lao people are Theravada Buddhists. Many Laotian men attend Buddhist monasteries for training before entering secular life. Other religions practiced include various Christian denominations, Baha'I Faith and Islam. Animism is widely practiced among ethnic groups.

FESTIVALS AND HOLIDAYS
The vast majority of Laos’ festivals are linked to the seasons or Buddhist holidays. Pimai, the Lao New Year, is the country's most important holiday. The three-day celebration usually takes place in mid-April and is characterized by the ceremonial washing of Buddha statues in temples. Other noteworthy festivals include:

• January - Bun Pha Wet. Falling on different dates throughout the month the festival commemorates the Jataka, the life story of Lord Buddha as Prince Vestsantara. The story is recited in temples throughout the country and this is considered a particularly auspicious time for ordination as a monk.

• February - Magha Puja - Held on the night of the full moon to commemorate the original teachings of Lord Buddha given to over a thousand monks who came spontaneously to hear him speak. The festival is marked by grand parades of candle-bearing worshippers circling their local temples and much religious music and chanting. - Vietnamese Tet & Chinese New Year - Celebrated in Vientiane, Pakse and Savannakhet by the Vietnamese and Chinese communities who close their businesses for several days during this period.

• March - Boun Khoun Khao - A harvest festival celebrated at local temples

• April - Boun Pimai - This is the celebration of the Lao New Year and is a combination of merriment and meditation. Similar to other festivals at this time, in particular Thailand, Boun Pimai is celebrated with parades, dancing, singing and enthusiastic water-throwing. At Luang Prabang water pouring ceremonies are performed on Buddha statues. Temple compounds are further decorated with small sand Stupas, offered to bring good fortune and health.

• May - Labor Day 1st May - public holiday. Boun Bang Fai (rocket festival) - With its origins in pre-Buddhist rain-invoking ceremonies, this festival now coincides with the Lao Visakha Puja celebrations. Parades, songs and dances all lead to an explosive climax as huge, ornate, homemade bamboo rockets are blessed and fired into the skies to invite the rains.

• June/July - Children's Day (1st June - public holiday). Khao Phansaa - Marking the beginning of the three-month Buddhist Lent, which commences at the full moon in July and continues until the full moon in October.

• August - Haw Khao Padap Din - Devoted to remembering and paying respect to the dead, it is marked by the macabre ceremony of exhuming previously buried bodies, cleaning the remains and then cremating them on the night of the full moon. Relatives then present gifts to the monks who have chanted on behalf of those who have passed away.

• October - Awk Phansaa (Awk Watsa) - Marking the end of Buddhist Lent on the day of the full moon. Monks are at last permitted to leave the temple and are presented with gifts. Bun Nam (water festival) - In riverside towns such as Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Savannakhet, the highly competitive Bun Nam boat races (suang heua) are held during the same time as Awk Phansaa.

• November - Boun That Luang - Though celebrated at many temples around the country this festival is traditionally centered at That Luang in Vientiane. Fairs, beauty contests, music and fireworks take place throughout the week of the full moon and end with a candlelight procession (wien thien) around the temple of That Luang.

• December - Lao National Day (2nd December - public holiday) - Streets strewn with national flags and banners, processions, parades, and speeches are the highlights of this celebration for the victory of the proletariat in 1975.

LAOS TIME

GMT plus 7 hours

HANDICRAFTS AND SOUVENIRS

Laos has a strong tradition of cotton and silk weaving. In fact, several renowned European designers have recently started coming to Laos to purchase elaborate weavings. The weavings display a level of skill and artistry not seen anywhere else in the world. Artists from each province incorporate distinctive colors and patterns into their work. Such pieces can be bought in all the major markets, or directly from makers in silk weaving villages in Luang Prabang.