The Lao People’s Democratic Republic has so far remained unmoved and unimpressed by the lure of large-scale industrial development and as a result is the least developed of the former French Colonies
In Indochina. Laos is also one of Asia’s least traveled countries, despite its rich array of cultures and traditions. This small, landlocked nation offers the traveler an unmatched glimpse of the South East Asia of old.
Its often mountainous terrain offers the tourist breathtaking jungle scenery, the chance to visit exotic hill tribe cultures, and magnificent ancient monuments and temples. Besides the stunning natural beauty of Laos, most visitors are moved by the gentle, relaxed nature of its people and the ambience of a bygone area it exudes.
The historical highlight of Laos is the enchanting town of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The ancient capital of the Lao Kingdom hosts many old temples and monuments and is a trip not to be missed. Beside cultural jewels, the country offers a wealth of other experiences. Trek through the jungle to visit ethnic minorities, cruise the mighty Mekong River, or simply relax and enjoy the French flair of the capital Vientiane.
It is the only country to share a border with all other nations in the region: Thailand to the west, Cambodia to the south, Vietnam to the east and Myanmar and China to the north. With this geographical location, combination holiday possibilities with any or all Laos' neighbors are countless.
Vientiane
Wat Hoprakeo King Xayasethathirath constructed Wat Phra Keo in 1565 when he moved the capital of the Lane Xang Kingdom to Vientiane. Originally, this Wat was built to house the Emerald Buddha – a statue which the Siamese Invaders moved to Thailand in the 18th century and which can now be seen in the Grand Palace in Bangkok. The French renovated the badly damaged temple in 1942.
Patuxai
This monument is a copy of the French Arc de Triumph and was built in 1958, commemorating the Lao people who died in the pre-revolutionary wars. Although the monument was never completely finished, parts of this huge structure are decorated in Lao style.
Lao National History Museum This museum is located in an old French mansion build in 1925 and houses different exhibitions of interesting artifacts. The main part of the museum is dedicated to the lengthy struggle for power of the Pathet Lao. There are some interesting Khmer sandstone sculptures and interesting information about the French colonial period and the struggle for independence. This museum was formerly known as the Revolutionary Museum.
Sites around Vientiane
Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge This impressive bridge was completed in 1994. Over 1,100 meters long it was the first road connection between Thailand and Laos. Trade and travel between the two countries was made a lot easier and increased the importance of the city of Nong Khai on the Thai border and Vientiane. It also quickly became an attractive entry point for tourists.
Buddha Park
Located 25km outside Vientiane on the shore of the Mekong River is a garden with statues of various religious figures from the Ramayana Story as well as the history of Buddha. All the statues are made of concrete and are of recent construction. The park itself is not of any particular interest, but the drive to the park takes you through the countryside and from the park you have a nice view over the Mekong and the Friendship Bridge.
National Ethnic Cultural Park
Located 20km outside of Vientiane on the way to the Friendship Bridge this park caters mainly to domestic visitors. The park has a small Zoo, a children playground, a public swimming pool and also some models of traditional Lao Houses.
Lao Pako
This eco-tourism lodge is a very nice getaway from Vientiane. The charming resort is made out of wood and bamboo and offers basic comfort. Apart from enjoying the peace of this beautiful are, there are possibilities for short treks in the area, village visits and boat rides. The resort is located on the Nam Ngum River about 50km south of Vientiane.
From Vientiane to Luang Prabang
Nam Ngum Lake This large artificial lake produces most of the electricity used in Vientiane. Located in the Ngum River Valley, surrounded by hills, the lake invites for a pleasant cruise amongst picturesque islands. The lake can be visited in a day from Vientiane or en-route to Vang Vieng. There is one resort inviting for overnight stays.
Vang Vieng
This town is nestled along a scenic bend of the Nam Song River and about half way between Vientiane and Luang Prabang if traveling overland on Route 13. The little city is not without charm, but the main attractions are the limestone cliffs and the many caves along the river.
LUANG PRABANG (A World Heritage Site)
The ancient capital of the former Kingdom Lane Xang is one of the best-preserved ancient cities in Southeast Asia. Nestled in the mountains at the confluence of the Mekong and Khan rivers, The town is adorned with gilded temples on nearly every street corner and saffron robed monks strolling through the quiet city center, giving it a unique charm of bygone days and rich cultural heritage. A UNESCO report identified 33 temples and 111 historic Lao-French buildings in Luang Prabang and the city was declared a World Heritage Site in 1995. The center of this sleepy town and its ancient monuments are best explored and discover by foot.
MAIN SITES IN LUANG PRABANG:
Wat Xiengthong Wat Xiengthong is the most beautiful among all monasteries of Luang Prabang and is a prime sample of typical Lao architecture. The monastery is located on a peninsula where the Mekong and the Nam Khan rivers meet and was constructed in 1560 by King Say Setthathirath.
Wat Wisunalat
This temple was built in 1513 and therefore the oldest temple in Luang Prabang. Wat Wisunalat was destroyed by fire at the end of the 19th Century and rebuilt shortly after, keeping the old structure as much as possible. It has a unique roof that slopes sideway over the terrace and inside the high ceiling is a collection of gilded Buddha images.
Wat Aham
This Wat used to be the residence of the Sangkhalat (Supreme Patriarch of Lao Buddhism).
In front of the temple are two large Banyan trees, home to the town’s most important spirit shrine.
Arriving in Lao P.D.R.
The only two ports of arrival by air is Wattay Airport in Vientiane and Luang Prabang International Airport.
Cities with directs flights to Vientiane/Wattay Airport are Bangkok, Phnom Penh, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Chiang Mai, Kunming, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
Airline Companies currently serving in Vientiane are Lao Aviation, Thai Airways International, Vietnam Airline, The Southern China Airline, Silk Air, and Malaysian Airline.
Lao Aviation serves domestic flights only.
Cities with directs flight to Luang Prabang International Airport is Bangkok, Chiang Mai & Kunming served by Thai Airways, Bangkok Air and Lao Aviation.
Airport tax: US$ 10 (international flight) and US$ 1.0 (domestic fight) for every passenger on every departure.
Antique items for example Buddha images and other old artifacts are prohibited to be taken out of Laos. If you have already traveled from neighboring countries, you are advised to declare you belongings to the customs to avoid any problems when leaving Laos.
It is prohibited for any visitor to bring into Lao the followings:
Weapons, explosives and inflammable objects.
Opium and other narcotics.
Cultural materials unsuitable to Vietnamese society.
Climate
Laos enjoys a tropical climate with two distinct seasons - the rainy season from the beginning of May to the end of September and dry season from October through to April. The yearly average temperature is about 28 C, rising to a maximum of 38 C in April and May. In Vientiane minimum temperatures of 19 C are to be expected in January. In mountainous areas, however, temperatures drop to 14-15 C during the winter months, and in cold nights easily reach the freezing point.
The average precipitation is highest in southern Laos, where the Annamite Mountains receive over 3000 mm annually. In Vientiane rainfall is about 1500-2000 mm, and in the northern provinces only 1000-1500 mm.
Health equipment
No vaccinations are presently required. If traveling to remote or border areas, travelers should check with their doctor or travel immunization clinic regarding the advisability of inoculation against Typhoid, Cholera, Dengue fever, hepatitis, malaria, rabies, tetanus and Japanese encephalitis.
Though averaging rainfalls of between 1360mm, in Luang Prabang, to 3700mm on the Boloven Plateau during the June to October monsoon season, Laos regularly suffers from water shortages in the low-lying Mekong Delta plains. This can adversely affect the rice crops that account for almost 80% of the country's agricultural land.
The country's highest peak, at 2,820m, can be found in the mountainous ranges of northeastern Laos, in the province Xiang Khouang, However, nearly equally as impressive are the mountains at the southern end of the Annamite range which reach heights of 2,600m. The Khammouanne and Bolaven plateaus dominate the central region of the Annamites.
Language
The official language used in Laos is Lao language. However, the usage of the language can differ from north and south. English, French and Russian are spoken in business or by some senior government officials. Many shopkeepers can understand Basic English and French.
Religion
Buddhism first appeared in Laos during the eighth century A.D. as shown by both the Buddha image and the stone inscription found at Ban Talat near Vientiane, now exhibited at the Museum of Ho Prakeo. After the foundation of the unified Kingdom of Lane Xang, King FaNgum (14th century) declared Buddhism as the state religion and urged the people to abandon animism or other beliefs such as the cult of spirits. His policy meant to develop the Lao culture based on a common faith: the Theravada Buddhism. Today Theravada Buddhism is the professed religion of about 90% of Lao people. Buddhism is an inherent feature of daily life and casts a strong influence on Lao society. Lao woman can be seen each morning giving alms to monks, earning merit to lessen the number of their rebirth. Lao men are expected to become a monk for at least a short time in their lives.
Traditionally they spent three months during the rainy season in a Vat, a Buddhist temple. But nowadays most men curtail their stay to one or two weeks.
Government
The highest position in the Lao government is the President (Mr. H.E. Khamtay Siphandone), who is elected every five years by the National Assembly. This head of state also acts as the Commander in Chief of the country's armed forces. The highest executive organ in the Lao government is the Council of Ministers, this is headed by a Chairman, who also acts as Prime Minister (Mr. H.E. Bounnyang Vorachit), with Vice Chairman (Mr. H.E. Somsavath Lengsava) overseeing the work of government ministers.
The country's 16 provinces (khoueng) are further divided into districts (Muang) and villages (ban). Vientiane contains its own municipality - or kampheng nakhon - and the special zone of Xaisomboun, in the northeast of the province, was established in June 1994. A further special zone was set up in mid-1992 with the integration of two districts of Xaignabouri.
Economy
The economic structure of the Lao PDR consists of many sectors under different forms of ownership and economic organizational system, but these sectors are equal before law and operate under the management of the state with the view to freely cooperate and compete in their business activities.
Were it not for the persistent problems of regional flooding, drought and insect infestation, Laos would be permanently self-sufficient in food. 80% of the country's workforce is involved in subsistence agriculture, which makes up about half of the GDP, with glutinous rice the country's main agricultural produce. Also grown for local use are maize, cassava, pulses, groundnuts, fruits, sugar cane, and tobacco, while main exports include timber and wood products, garments, coffee, and tin, mainly to France, Germany, Thailand and Vietnam. Laos also has, largely untapped, reserves of tin, lead and zinc, as well as iron ore, coal and timber.
A member of both the Asian Development Bank and the Colombo Plan, which promotes economic and social development in Asia and the Pacific, Laos still struggles with a very basic infrastructure. Many roads are impassable during the monsoon and there are no railways. Only large urban areas have access to regular power supplies, while telecommunications are still very basic.
