Laos, an agricultural country specialised in rice farming, possesses a myriad of magnificent mountains, vast untouched forests, countless rice paddy fields and endlessly expanded river, which brings about infinite tourism potential for this land. Laotian culture is the combination of several other cultures including Thailand and China and also embraces the diversity of many different ethnic minority groups living in the country. Likewise, food is an important part that Laotians take great pride in sharing with foreign travellers, which should be more widely known to the world. The unique laidback local life said to be unchanged for years and decades creates a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere that is hard to find anywhere else. Away from the bustling urban lifestyles, this is where your souls will be nurtured and rejuvenated.
Arrival: Siem Reap
Departure: Luang Prabang
22 Days 21 Nights
From: US$ 4144/Person
Arrival: Luang Prabang
Departure: Luang Prabang
4 Days 3 Nights
From: US$ 700/Person
Arrival: Vientiane
Departure: Vientiane
5 Days 4 Nights
From: US$ 875/Person
Arrival: Hanoi
Departure: Luang Prabang
29 Days 28 Nights
From: US$ 4459/Person
Arrival: Vientiane
Departure: Ho Chi Minh
11 Days 10 Nights
From: US$ 1623/Person
Arrival: Phonsavan
Departure: Phonsavan
3 Days 2 Nights
From: US$ 480/Person
Arrival: Pakse
Departure: Pakse
6 Days 5 Nights
From: US$ 960/Person
Arrival: Luang Prabang
Departure: Vientiane
8 Days 7 Nights
From: US$ 1280/Person
Arrival: Pakse
Departure: Luang Prabang
9 Days 8 Nights
From: US$ 1920/Person
Arrival: Siem Reap
Departure: Luang Prabang
18 Days 17 Nights
From: US$ 2768/Person
Arrival: Vientiane
Departure: Ho Chi Minh
18 Days 17 Nights
From: US$ 2993/Person
Arrival: Vientiane
Departure: Luang Prabang
7 Days 6 Nights
From: US$ 1225/Person
Arrival: Luang Prabang
Departure: Siem Reap
19 Days 18 Nights
From: US$ 2898/Person
History
Dos & Don'ts
Shopping
Health & Safety
Transportation
Top landscapes
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Laos is a small country with extraordinary beautiful landscapes and peaceful lifestyle, which is also known as the Land of Million Elephants.
After a long time experiencing the ups and downs of history, finally on December 2, 1957, the Lao People's Democratic Republic was established and this day became the National Day of Laos.
Laos fascinates visitors with the temples adopting unique architectures, beautiful waterfalls, and the hospitable nature of the local people. Lao culture embraces in itself plenty of wonders, including the rich options of culinary that has charmed many travellers.
+ Learn to live slowly, be patient and smile more when visiting Laos.
+ Ask for permission before taking pictures, especially in remote areas.
+ Wear appropriate attire when in Laos. Laotians are very discreet in how to dress, especially women. Therefore, wandering around wearing revealing clothes is considered impolite and disrespectful.
- Touching or patting the head of a Laotian (especially a man) is not only abstinent but also considered as an insult, which can even lead to a serious scuffle.
- Do not touch a monk or give them anything. The only exception is during the alms ceremony when you give food in the bowls of the monks.
- Laos is not the ideal country for backpackers. 260 million unexploded bombs from 1964-1973 remain undiscovered. It is really dangerous if you accidentally wander into deserted trails or bomb-scattered areas.
- Do not act too affectionate in public. Holding hands and cuddling for a bit are okay, but anything more than that and you should get a room somewhere.
The abundance and diversity of goods for shopping in Laos cannot come close to that in Thailand or China, but you will probably find some unique items that cannot be found in any other country in the world. You can buy souvenirs such as traditional skirts of Laotian, silk, handicrafts or silver. Some items such as antiques and jewelry might come from smuggling, so you should consider carefully before buying for you might get in trouble when leaving Laos.
Laotians are often very frank with words so they hate quarrelling out loud. So if you would like them to lower the price, don't bargain too much, the employee might even sell you at a loss because they don't want to lose their face.
Laos is a safe and peaceful country to travel. The people are friendly and helpful. Petty crime is quite infrequent in in tourist areas, however you should still pay attention in crowded places and keep an eye on your bags.
Pharmacies are common across Laos with assistants who can speak some English. Hospitals and clinics in Laos are not quite high standard but well equipped for diagnosing, treating malaria and dengue fever and handling minor and injuries. Travelers are advised to buy international health insurance in case you need to move to Thailand for serious injuries treatment. We recommend that visitors check with their government, your doctor or travel clinic for the latest information on health risks in Laos before departure.
Getting around Laos may be more challenging and slower than in other countries in the region but transportation network has been gradually improved. Depend on the destination and travel style, you can choose the suitable vehicles. Below is some most popular transportations in Laos:
Flights
If you do not have time, airplane is the suitable option for you to travel between cities, but it is more costly than other type of transportation.
Boats
Traveling by boat is one of the most popular ways in Laos. Taking a cruising trip along the Mekong river is also an interesting experience for travelers. There are several boat services such as slow boat, speed boat, traditional boat, etc with different price for you to select.
Buses
Buses are the main transportation to travel between popular destinations and cities and the price is reasonable.
Tuk Tuk
Tuk Tuk is a unique and popular in Laos due to its suitable price and convenience. Taking a tuk-tuk ride around the city is an interesting way to experience the city‘s sites and the local’s life.
Vientiane
Vientiane is the charming capital in Laos. The city does not own large modern buildings, entertainment areas or busy streets, but there are numerous old stupa and temples dating back hundreds of years. You can also admire of French inspired architecture buildings in the city.
Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang was the capital of Laos until 1975. Through many ups and downs, Luang Prabang still retains its inherent peaceful and ancient beauty, cultural values with unique architectures representing different historical periods of this land. It is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.
Phonsavan
Phonsavan is home to Plain of Jars - a famous archaeological site. The Plain of Jars is a megalithic archaeological landscape which consists of thousands of stone jars scattered along the valley and central plains of Xieng Khuoang Plateau.
Vang Vieng
Vang Vieng is known for the peaceful countryside stretching along the bank of Nam Song River. This small town lies amidst the immense green forests and mountains, protecting its own pristine nature and tranquility. This place also attracts tourist because of outdoor activities including kayaking and tubing, hiking and exploring caves.
Si Phan Don
The Si Phan Don which literally means Four Thousand Islands still retains a wild charm like a painting. You can admire the unique features of each island being immersed in sky clouds, vast rivers and surrounding landscape.
Although as with other countries in the world, the seasons seem to be going a bit haywire, generally the dry season lasts from around February to June. Particularly around March to May it can get very, very hot and humid. At this time, farmers cut down forests in the mountains to make sticky rice fields, and the resulting smoky haze means that visibility is reduced. It starts to rain in about July, but is still quite hot. In December and January temperatures generally drop and can get quite chilly, particularly in the evening, although it never hits zero and doesn't come anywhere close to snowing. Northern towns are more mountainous and get colder still, although most foreigners from Canada or England don't find it cold at all.
Both Vientiane and Luang Prabang have international airports. Both have taxis (Vientiane) or tuk tuks (Luang Prabang) waiting to take passengers after each incoming flight. Prices are set, and placards advertise what they are. From the airport to the centre of Vientiane town costs $5 and this small car will hold a maximum four passengers or three if you have even a moderate amount of luggage. If you're really struggling for cash it is often possible to go out of the airport to the highway and flag down a passing share tuk tuk, which will cost around $2-3 per person, but the hassle, time and energy required make this an option only for those on the tightest of budgets. In Luang Prabang the only option is to take a tuk tuk to town at the set price of 50,000 kip ($5). These will take up to 5 passengers and the drivers will often do the work of finding other passengers if you are alone.
No. If an item has a price tag then you're not expected to bargain. You are not expected to bargain in a grocery store or restaurant either. The main venues for bargaining are the local markets, where the price will probably be a little flexible, although not as much as in neighbouring countries.
Yell, scream or behave like a rude foreign tourist, throw your money at the vendor, refuse to buy after the vendor has accepted your price or go red in the face arguing over 1,000 kip. And don't lose your sense of humour -- you are supposed to be having fun.
International access ATMs dispensing US dollars can be found in most major tourist centres across the country. In more rural areas of the country however work on the assumption there will be no ATMs and so arrive with enough cash.
In most places in Laos, tipping is not expected though as always it is appreciated. If you want to tip, 10% percent is pretty generous.
Generally speaking, yes. Using common sense means you'll probably get out in one piece. Violent crime against foreigners occasionally takes place, but overall it's safe and women in particular find they feel more secure than in the west. The biggest problems are petty theft, scams and traffic accidents.
Some sensible actions to take:
1) Wear helmets when riding motorcycles or bikes
2) Don't go wandering aimlessly through a town or city late at night
3) Don't get drunk and pick fights with bar staff
4) Don't travel on the roads during holiday periods
Laos generally uses 230V, 50Hz electricity. They use types A, B, C, E and F power sockets. It is recommended to bring a converter or to purchase one upon arrival. You will need a converter throughout Laos.
Most meals are included for travelers as well as your guide. You will need help translating the menus, and thus the guide will typically eat with you unless you specify a different arrangement. Occasionally meals will be up to you, particularly when you are in a larger city with many restaurant options that cater to tourists. This gives you freedom to eat what you want to try, and your tour guide can give you restaurant recommendations in these scenarios.
Laos is a relatively safe country both in the rural countryside as well as in larger cities. As always, travelers need to be aware of their surroundings and use common sense when venturing out at night. However, crime rates in general are very low, particularly against tourists. The most common issue reported are pickpockets when visiting crowded marketplaces or shopping areas. Be wise and keep your possessions hidden under your top layer of clothing to prevent anything from being stolen.
You can book your Laos tour at any time and generally the earlier you book, the better. Booking early (3 months or more recommended) is especially important for travelers visiting during the high season to ensure that first choice hotels are still available.
Further, we usually recommend that you wait to book your international flights until after your tour is confirmed. The sooner that we arrange your tour, the sooner that you can take advantage of flight deals as they become available. We are often able to accommodate last minute travelers as well (some even departing in less than one week!!), so give us a call and we will do our best! For last minute bookings, it helps to be flexible and organized. Your first choice hotel may not be available for your selected dates, but your trip planner can probably recommend some similar options that would be equally interesting!
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BUILDING HOUSES AND SUPPLYING WORK TOOLSFor family in rural area in need to build a house, we create project by project to help them during their first step in stabilizing their lives. We have launched in projects to built houses for poor farmers in Hai Duong and Thai Nguyen provinces. The projects will extend to other provinces of Cao Băng, Son La of Vietnam. The next step of the project is to supply work tools for poor farmers. The most valuable work tools are giving cows (For ploughing in paddy field) where the field is terrace so no plough machine can help. See more.
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BRING CHILDREN TO SCHOOLSWe’re not trying to give candy, pens, notepads, sweets, chocolates, money, or any other gifts to random kids on the street. It is a horrible idea. If you want to give them to the kids, by all means, do so! Donate to a local church, mosque, school, or charity. Give school supplies, soccer balls or toys, but give them to adults to distribute. Greentours Indochina has worked with local authorities in rural areas in the North of Vietnam to supply needs for children including: Backpack and other book bags, Calculators, Spiral bound composition and other notebooks, Filler paper, Colored pencils, crayons and markers, Ruler with English and metric measurements, Colored pens, Erasers... The project extends to build class rooms in remote areas. Please contact us on the occasions if you can help by your particular work based on your skills from simple work like carrying brinks, hanging pictures to making a drawing for the whole class room. |
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