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Laos Warnings or Dangers

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Laos Warnings or Dangers

by LAOWAI

Laos travel tips posted by real travelers and Laos locals.

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Laos Warnings or Dangers

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	Always Ask For Permission Tip Rating:

Updated By bkoon on May 16, 2005

Laos Page by bkoon

Village People

by bkoon

Always ask for permission if you intend to take photographs of the Lao People. They are generally camera-shy and if you do not ask for their permission, they get upset and unhappy.

TIP : Always SMILE (and be sincere) when you ask for permission and be their friend.

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	Especially for Asian Women Tip Rating:

Updated By bkoon on June 7, 2005

Laos Page by bkoon

Loads of People in the
Mini-Bus

by bkoon

Ladies beware. Especially Asian ladies. In Laos, I somehow still feel that Asian women traveling alone is still not entirely safe as many see you as a “weaker” being. Be aware of your surroundings and avoid dark places. In buses, try to sit next to a woman as my experience was that the men (esp in the North and mostly Chinese men, not the Laos people though), either deliberately or accidentally, tend to sit really close and try to be “touchy”. Open your mouth if you are unhappy. For instance, verbally tell them “to behave” politely if you feel uneasiness or sense anything strange.

No skimpy dressing.

Laos is generally safe for women travellers.

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	Slowboats Versus Speedboats Tip Rating:

By bkoon on June 7, 2005

Laos Page by bkoon

Boats

by bkoon

Boat travel is common in Laos as there are so many rivers. I traveled both by speedboat and slowboat when I was there.

There are many postings and tips suggesting that speedboat travel can be dangerous. Yes, indeed, it could lead to some danger, more than traveling by the slowboats. To me, it was quite a thrill having to travel by speedboat from Muang Khua to Muang Ngoi, especially when the boat hit the rapid waters along the way. My boatman was waering his helmet. He did offered but… nah… On a positive note, it saves you a lot of time.

Being slow doesn’t mean traveling by slowboats is guaranteed safe too.

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	fast boat Tip Rating:

By xaver on October 9, 2003

Laos Page by xaver

slow boat

by xaver

I always used a slow boat for my excursions, and, during my wandering along the Mekong I had the chance to see some fast boats, they look like small water motobike, they are incredibly fast, noisy and disturbing, you have to wear your safe jaket and your helmet, and for sure, you won't even understand that you are in a river, missing the sounds, the colours and all the scenes that a slow boat let you enjoy.
as far as I could understand, fast boats are not that safe as well.

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	Opium Tip Rating:

By Maximilian21 on March 7, 2005

Laos Page by Maximilian21

by Maximilian21

In some parts of Laos Opium is preety rife.
Every man and his dog will ask you if you want some. I had an incredible but little sad experience where this cute little 8 years old girl came up to me an said "saibadee", i smilled at her then she reached into her pocket and pulled out some opium and aksed if i wanted some. I said no thanks so she went back to play with her friends.

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	Happy shakes Tip Rating:

Updated By Maximilian21 on March 7, 2005

Laos Page by Maximilian21

In vang vieng i had a few happy shakes. At the time they did very little but i was preety sick that night. Violently sick actually. There ususally cool and give an ok buzz but mine was a quite unhappy shake. I fealt really paranoid for the next few days.

It tasted preety nice though and you can also try "happy pizza". Most bars sell them which is strange considering that the governments stance on drugs is "officially" tough

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	Toilets Tip Rating:

Updated By SirRichard on September 8, 2003

Laos Page by SirRichard

The hole and the jar

by SirRichard

In most of the hotels and public places you will find this kind of toilets consisting in just a hole on the ground.
A good alternative if you are not very happy with these or not used to them is to go into some luxury hotel and use their "western" toilets.
Oh, and bring your toilet paper too, water is used to clean after in most of them!

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	The Rain in Vientiane Tip Rating:

By calcaf38 on January 1, 2005

Laos Page by calcaf38

by calcaf38

Unless you visit at the peak of the dry season, be ready for some dramatic rain in Vientiane. Even with an umbrella, you'll be soaked to the waist, and the streets have mudstreams going down. But it's very atmospheric, if not especially refreshing.

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	Beer Lao Tip Rating:

Updated By jmmorgan on June 9, 2003

Laos Page by jmmorgan

Phoutaxi

by jmmorgan

Is seriously addictive.
As a fan of English beers I usually dislike all foreign lager. This one is good though. Seriously good. Not really a lager at all. Quite bitter and not too fizzy. A couple of cold ones goes down quite nicely. The only thing to drink in Laos unless you are tee total

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	pickpockets and camera snatchers Tip Rating:

By call_me_rhia on November 10, 2002

Laos Page by call_me_rhia

mind your camera

by call_me_rhia

Laosmay look absolutely safe to you but thieves do exist, so always keep yout valuables upon you. Someone I was travelling with for a few days had her expensive camera stolen while we were having dinner (this was in Luang Prabang) but while reading newpapers I found that that there were similar cases in Vang Vieng and Vientiane, too.
Should this happen to you, know that it's not to the police that you should go, but to the Immigration Office. It also helps if you have a local witness (who can also help you with the translation)

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More Laos Tips

Overview	Hotels and Accommodations Tips: 144 - Photos: 136
Things To Do Tips: 334 - Photos: 583	Nightlife Tips: 41 - Photos: 26
Transportation Tips: 157 - Photos: 148	Restaurants Tips: 145 - Photos: 129
Shopping Tips: 19 - Photos: 17	Off the Beaten Path Tips: 101 - Photos: 113
Tourist Traps Tips: 38 - Photos: 20	Warnings or Dangers Tips: 55 - Photos: 31
Local Customs Tips: 90 - Photos: 78	Packing Lists Tips: 32 - Photos: 21
Sports Travel Tips: 3 - Photos: 2	General Tips Tips: 195 - Photos: 163

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