Laos

SAFETY: fair
The political situation can be described as stable. The three main cities (Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Pakse) are safe. The people are very kind and hospitable.

TRANSPORT SYSTEM: fair
There has been substantial improvement in recent years, during which several roads have been paved for the first time and the old ones, which were in a precarious state in the 1990s, have been widened and resurfaced. The capital, Vientiane, has the only public buses providing urban transport in Laos. In Vientiane and in many other towns there are private taxi services operated by tuk-tuks, the larger jumbo tuk-tuks and motorbike taxis. For centuries river navigation was the country's main means of transport. Tourist river travel, on the other hand, has grown since the 1990s, after the Lao borders were opened to tourism.

Main airports: Vientiane; Houeisay; Oudomxay; Luang Prabang; Sam Neua; Phongsaly; Pakse; Luang Namtha; Savannakhet.

ACCOMMODATION: poor.
The categories used to classify hotels do not correspond to ours. The hotel sector is still developing. The major towns have some excellent, recently built hotels. The country has become very popular with foreign tourists thanks to the relaxed, cheerful lifestyle of the Lao people and its preservation of the traditional character of old Asia.

COUNTRY FACTS:  Full name: Lao People's Democratic Republic. – Borders: China to the north, Vietnam to the north-east and east, Cambodia to the south, Thailand to the west and Myanmar (Burma) to the north-west. -  Time zone: +6h compared with Italy, +5h when daylight saving time is in force in Italy.– Area: 238,000 sq km. – Capital: Vientiane – Population: 6,700,000 – Religion: 65% Buddhist, 32.9% animist, 1.3% Christian, 0.8% other religions. –Languages: Lao, French, English.- Measurements: metric system.

CURRENCY: Kip (LAK). No customs formalities. Please note that in Laos the only reliable international ATMs are those of BFL Bank and BCEL Bank. –  Credit cards: the major credit cards are accepted in the large hotels and the main tourist establishments. Transactions are conducted mainly in US dollars, Thai baht or Lao kip. – Exchange: bring euros. It is also possible to pay in US dollars and Thai baht.

ELECTRICITY: 230 V, 50 Hz. – Sockets: of various types; an adaptor is recommended.

DOCUMENTS: passport required, with at least 6 months' remaining validity from the date of entry into the country. Not carrying your passport with you is considered illegal; if you fail to produce it when asked, fines can be high. – Driving: international driving permit (1949 Geneva Convention or 1968 Vienna Convention model). – Insurance: in all cases it is recommended to take out third-party liability insurance with adequate cover, which also covers injury and/or accidents. Foreign nationals involved in road accidents are, in most cases, required to pay compensation for damage to third parties, whether to persons or property, regardless of fault.

COMMUNICATIONS AND TELEPHONES:  International dialling code: 00856 – GSM: coverage limited to the capital and a few other urban centres. Standard: GSM 900 MHz (as in Italy). Local operators: Enterprise of Telecommunications Lao, Lao Asia Telecommunication State Enterprise, Lao Telecommunications and Milicom Lao – Internet: available only in the main cities. – Web domain: .la – Emergency numbers: Fire brigade: 1190, Ambulance: 1195, Police: 1191, 241162, 241163, 241164, 212703, Tourist Police (Vientiane): 021-251-128.

RULES, LAWS AND CUSTOMS:
Local law prohibits intimate relations between foreigners and Lao citizens, permitting them only within a marriage valid under Lao law; offenders face fines of between USD 500 and 5,000 and, in some cases, even arrest. There have been instances of the local authorities raiding hotel rooms on suspicion of a breach of this prohibition.

Legislation on sexual abuse or violence against minors:
Anyone who commits offences against minors abroad (sexual abuse, exploitation, prostitution) is prosecuted on their return to Italy under the laws in force in our country.
Legislation on the use and/or dealing of drugs (soft or hard):
Severe penalties apply to the import, possession and use of narcotics; in 2001 the death penalty was introduced for certain offences.
In the event of problems with the local police (detention or arrest), it is advisable to inform the Italian Embassy in Bangkok or the French Embassy in the country for the necessary assistance.

HEALTH: health care is inadequate, even in the capital, and local hospital treatment is not advised except in an emergency. Emergency medical repatriation is, for the time being, difficult. It is advisable to check for any epidemics before departure. There are no compulsory vaccinations; consult your doctor. The French Embassy in Laos is responsible for emergency medical assistance to Italian citizens.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS: 1-3 January, International New Year; 6 January, Pathet Lao Day in the capital; 20 January, Army Day; January/February, Chinese and Vietnamese New Year; 8 March, Women's Day; 22 March, People's Party Day; April, Pii Mai Lao (traditional Lao New Year); 1 May, Labour Day; May, Bun Bang Fai, Rocket Festival; 1 June, Children's Day; 13 August, Lao Issara, Free Laos Day; August, Haw Khao Padap Dinh, Day of Remembrance of the Dead; 2 December, Independence Day; December/January, Bun Pha Wet (birth of Prince Vessantara, the penultimate reincarnation of the Buddha).

OPENING HOURS: Post offices: Mon-Fri 8.00-17.00, Sat 8.00-16.00, Sun 8.00-12.00. - Banks: Mon-Fri 8.00-12.00, 14.00-15.00; Shops: Mon-Sat 09.00-17.00.

CLIMATE: The climate of Laos is tropical across most of the lowland areas and subtropical in the far north and in the mountains; it is also governed by the monsoons: the winter monsoon, which brings fine weather and slightly cooler nights from November to February, and the summer monsoon, which brings humid air and rain from May until early or mid-October. The monsoon is fairly irregular and does not always arrive at the same time, nor is it always of the same intensity.

Table of monthly max/min temperatures (in °C)

Rainy days (at least 1 mm of rain)/monthly rainfall in mm

Embassy and Consulates
There is no Italian Embassy in the country. The Italian Embassy in Thailand is responsible. For any on-the-spot assistance to Italian nationals in an emergency, they may contact the French Embassy.

Italian Embassy in BANGKOK
CRC Tower, All Seasons Place
40th floor (Consular Chancery on the 27th floor)
87 Wireless Road
Lumphini, Pathumwan
Bangkok 10330
Dialling code from Italy 0066
Tel. (0)2 250 4970 Switchboard
Fax: (0)2 250 4988 Consular Office
Mobile, active only for out-of-hours emergencies: 0066 (0) 818256103
E-mail: ambasciata.bangkok@esteri.it
consolare.bangkok@esteri.it
Home page: www.ambbangkok.esteri.it

French Embassy
Avenue Sethatirath - BP 6 – Vientiane
Tel: [856] (21) 21 52 53 - 21 52 57 (to 59)
Fax: [856] (21) 21 52 50
Web: http://www.ambafrance-laos.org/

CONSULATES
Consular Correspondent for Laos
Giorgio Zenucchi
Thadeua Rd, KM 4, CP 10960
Tel & Fax: +856 21 353442
Mobile: +856 20 55511385