Laos Tourist Traps

  EVEN IN THE HOSTEL RECEPTION!!!
by DennyP
 
  • EVEN IN THE HOSTEL RECEPTION!!!
      EVEN IN THE HOSTEL RECEPTION!!!
    by DennyP
  • Martin's Bar, Luang Prabang, Lao.
      Martin's Bar, Luang Prabang, Lao.
    by planxty
  • Xplore-Asia bus
      Xplore-Asia bus "to the border"
    by Fakfak
  • Rip-off Taxi with driver
      Rip-off Taxi with driver
    by Fakfak
  •   Tourist Traps
    by euzkadi
 
Save up to 50% off Hotels Everyday
Expedia.com Photos, Reviews and the Guaranteed Lowest Prices
Great Prices, Great Rooms
hotels.com We Know Hotels Inside And Out. Click or call now: 1-800-914-6835

Sponsored Links

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Whiskey Village Silk Scam

by whybee

We took a trip up the Meekong to the Pak Ou Caves a truly beautiful and revered destination while staying in Luang Prabang.However... after thinking we were supporting the locals through buying their 'home weaved' silk. While they have silk looms there and the stall owners can showcase how to weave silk, it's in our opinion and of a professional silk weaver's warnings that the soft flowing silks sold there are indeed not from Luang Prabang. In fact, they're probably not even from Laos and are likely purchased in bulk from China and machine woven. Each stall has exactly the same scarves, and exactly the same patterns to perfection complete with a tag.The going price for these is $140,000 KIP which is about $17 US. Now, if each scarf takes 3 days to make as claimed, and approximately 4-10 boat loads of tourists visits. How are they making enough scarves while trying to sell them to each...

if you're going to Lao...

by pandanoi

keep an open mind. People are trying to move up. Some people tend to want fast money, so that's when tourists get ripped off. If you want to avoid that as much as possible, don't look like a tourist. lol. But if you insist on staying in Lane Xang Hotel or Don Chan Palace...expect to be prey. yeah it's sad, but accept it. if you're not fit to handle yourself in Laos, maybe it isn't the place for you. Trying to find some monumental buildings like they have in Europe? There's nothing really like that in Lao. Yeah there are temples, and they might not seem as grand or as interresting as something you've seen in another country, but that is a place of worship for the people....so respect that, and i guess try to appreciate it. If you're offered drugs or whatever, much to your distaste, just say no and forget about it. don't let it ruin your trip. i find it best to to take a lazy walk around...

Children of Laos

by stedeb

Not sure that htis is a warning or trap. There are lots of children in Loas that flock to the tourists when they arrive at food stops etc many of them have even smaller children in their care. They are ususlly begging and will hang around while you eat. We never gave them money but we often handed out fruit which they seemed grateful for. At some places they were waiting for our coke/fanta cans so they could have them not sure if they recieve money for the cans or what. We tried to give a small amount to all of the kids we saw but of course you cant give to everyone and at times we had to take back our fruit when some of the bigger kids took from the smaller but it was not a major issue we just gave it back to the smaller kids usually the "thief" looked pretty sheepish.We generally kept a stash of fruit in the van and gave it out ot the kids when we saw them. None ever asked for money...

Tip Photo
say NO to VIETIANE-HANOI bus!!

by perryvoon

say NO toward it!! the bus condition was suck and u need to stay several hours in the border of Laos - Cao Treo to wait for the opening of the office!!typically this bus ticket can be purchased in every agency and guesthouse in VIETIANE... it can cost u 16 - 18 US dollar and end up with a nightmare!so, just say No to this bus service! for border crossin to VIETNAM, the best way is travel to SAVANNAKHET n purchase the tourist bus service from there to HUE... for m, this one is better...

Slow Boat "Insurance" Scam

by haveatisue

If you take the slow boat from that goes from the northern part of Thailand to Luang-prabong some of the operators will try to get you to pay a 50 bahtt fee for "insurance" They even have a semi-offical looking form that you have to fill out. It's a scam. Don't be the one to pay the money. Be the leader to stand up an proclaim it a scam. They aren't going to kick off the whole boat of angry tourists.

Tip Photo
Weekend Border Charge

by largerama

Having just come through the border from Lak Xao into Vietnam, there was a sign saying that as it was the weekend, there was a charge of 1 USD for stamping the passport to exit the country. Of course this was repeated by the Vietnamese to enter. So total extra cost because its a weekend is 2 USD. Not much I know but worth knowing!! Smile and pay!! Dont go on a weekend or try another border crossing where it may not happen.

The Zoo

by Garfield56

Night Time at the Zoo..... It's not all that great , since you can not photograph what you see. It was also a very long line, and really you are not seeing anything up close and personal that you could not do during day time. We took local bus , and it was a LONG way to travel , for something you can see at any Zoo.

Vang Vieng

by El_Rubio

Luang Prabang is some 11 hours by bus north of Vientiane. To split this ride up in two parts many tourists make a stopover in Vang Vieng. This is a small village surrounded by sceinic mountains and could be a really nice place to stay. BUT this little village has in a short time become a horrible tourist ghetto. This is really a place where one would whish that the authorities said stop and limited the rapid expansion of new bungalow ghettos. Worst of it all though, is the river which is full of fat americans riding tubes shouting "yeeeah cooool!" So if you can, avoid this place and head north as quick as possible.

Tip Photo
not nearly the thieves of Thailand

by richiecdisc

If you want to travel from Northern Thailand into Laos via boat, there are things you have to be careful of. First off, do not buy your tickets in Thailand as they are very overpriced. The best thing to do is go into Laos before buying your ticket and do not buy it at the border either, despite what the apparent border guards tell you. The cheapest way to buy the ticket is to buy it at the boat itself. If you know you are going all the way to Luang Prabang, buy the two-day ticket but make sure it is marked for LP. If you are not sure, just buy the ticket to Pak Beng. You may pay a bit more for the second journey but you are more flexible and do not have to deal with the possibility of getting the one day ticket for the two day fare.

Tip Photo
Scam

by Maximilian21

Before you tak your slow boat to Luang a man might suggest that he help you organise a guesthouse before you arrive in pak beng . He will probabaly say that there are only limited guest houses and many toursts and will ask for 5 dollars and he will organise it for you. this is rubish as there are always vacancies and the guesthouses on average cost only $1 a night. heaps of people got conned and this dude made heaps of money of those tourists.

Tourist Attractions in Laos

Top 3 Hotels in Laos

La Residence Phou Vao  Luang Prabang

 4 Reviews and 278 Opinions  TOUGH MANAGEMENT While this facility may be nice, I know the management is tough and does not have... 

 Hotels in Luang Prabang

Settha Palace Hotel  Vientiane

 5 Reviews and 132 Opinions  Settha Palace is a small luxury family owned hotel.It has its importance as a historical example of... 

 Hotels in Vientiane

Ban Sabai Riverside Bungalow  Vang Vieng

 84 Opinions

 Hotels in Vang Vieng

163 Hotels in Laos
 
Explore the World
Travel Destinations
Travel Highlights

The Place

Reviews and photos of Laos attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Laos sightseeing.

Experience Laos
Tourist Traps: Cities in Laos
  1. Luang Prabang Tourist Traps
  2. Vientiane Tourist Traps
  3. Vang Vieng Tourist Traps
  4. Pakse Tourist Traps
  5. Ban Pak Beng Tourist Traps
  6. Xam Nua Tourist Traps

More Cities in Laos

 

Popular Regions in Laos

Khoueng Viangchan Tourist Traps  Khoueng Louangphrabang Tourist Traps  Khoueng Champasak Tourist Traps  Khoueng Savannakhet Tourist Traps  Khoueng Xiangkhoang Tourist Traps  Khoueng Houaphan Tourist Traps  Khoueng Xaignabouli Tourist Traps  Khoueng Oudomxai Tourist Traps  Khoueng Khammouan Tourist Traps 

More Regions in Laos

Questions and Answers

trusmibatik profile photo

Q:  do any VT have any experience with the VIP overnight sleeper bus from Vientiane to Luang Prabang??? is it reasonably... 

singnomore profile photo

A: I took the VIP bus from Luang Prabang to Vientienne in 2010. There is a toilet on the bus. I was on the upper deck and the airconditioner was very weak. So it was a VHB... 

Read 3 Replies

postQuestion_button

Click here for best deals for

Plenty of choices
agoda.com Save up to 75%, Don't miss! Live support, Instant confirmation.
Save money, Book now !
Booking.com Excellent choice, Low rates
Great Prices, Great Rooms
hotels.com We Know Hotels Inside And Out. Click or call now: 1-800-914-6835
Save up to 50% off Hotels Everyday
Expedia.com Photos, Reviews and the Guaranteed Lowest Prices

Sponsored Links