Laos Warnings Or Dangers

 
by Willettsworld
 
  •   Warnings Or Dangers
    by Willettsworld
  • Sign, Phonsavanh, Lao.
      Sign, Phonsavanh, Lao.
    by planxty
  • Warning sign.
      Warning sign.
    by cachaseiro
  • Potholes in Road Outside Our Hotel
      Potholes in Road Outside Our Hotel
    by Mikebb
  • Broken Cover Over Roadside Drain - Main Street
      Broken Cover Over Roadside Drain - Main...
    by Mikebb
 
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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

mosquito nets

by picek

We won't go into details what you can 'get from' mosquitos and unpleasnties related to the insect - but it's good to have a repellent with you, or handy mosquito net (though - you'll need to pack and construct it each time). Check in the room of your guesthose if they have screens or the net (not all have them, especially cheapest rooms) - or you might gonna be suffering being beaten by them all night (especially if you're near water and vegetation). I think you won't be buying sprays, these things are poison to the lungs as you're inhaling toxic fumes. Either way, the best soultion is mosquito net.Also hats with the net (such as beekeprs have) are very good if you're going to forest. Sometimes there is specail coal available that repel some, but not all mosquitos.Good thing about nets is also, that cockroach cannot go through it (well, if you're staying in cheaper rooms especially in...

Tip Photo
be practical when travelling in Laos

by picek

I often mention in forums that travelling by local/VIP buses or driving in Laos is generally safe but there are some concerns you might want to consider before you do your trip whether by bus or private car. The busiest road in the state is Road 13 which begins at China border and goes deep into South, but most traffic happens between Luang Prabang and Vientiane, then Vientiane to Pakse.The Northern part of the state is mostly mountainous and except of the main rd. (Road 13) and road between Oudomxay - Pakbeng, then Luang Prabang - Botene (at China border, which is also part of Rd. 13), and Botene - Houay Xay ( at Thai border) most other roads are not paved - and I think most people won't be interested into taking them (because there won't be much public transport anyways, plus it is difficult terrain to travel with all the things related included). Lots of accidents happen on the hilly...

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slash and burn is common practice

by picek

In general there's nothing to worry about if you're tourist; the main problems related to slash and burn agriculture hit locals and wilderness. But you will notice it when travelling in dry season because it is just so obvious.When you travel North Laos many of hilly or mountainous areas have been cleared off the forest by giant fires. This is still common practice to gain more land, and then use it for few years to grow crops. Most often after land is exhausted people will leave and clear another patch of land somewhere else. Those parts will be then left to nature, or as in many cases - to be used for plantations (most common rubber and teak). Fire travels fast but it is somewhat controlled. On the other hand that doesn't exclude some fire dangers in case when it went too strong, but again that usually happens in rural and remote areas, again problem for local not tourist (well,...

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Don't let them get away with it.

by planxty

I was not quite sure what category to place this tip in but I thought it best fitted here.This is a tip about a very distasteful subject but I am of the opinion that burying your head in the sand will not make it go away. I have mentioned elsewhere on VT that Lao is the 23rd most impoverished country in the world and, inevitably, poverty brings exploitation, including the foul sexual exploitation of children. I have witnessed it in neighbouring Cambodia, and in India where I made the probably stupid move of showing a pimp the error of his ways, but never in Lao, although I have read that it undeniably goes on.Fortunately, some people seem to be making an effort against this pernicious trade in human misery and there are numerous stickers around Phonsavanh urging you to 'phone the number shown should you have any suspicions about child sex tourists. Oddly, this is the only place in Lao I...

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Be careful of scams and tourist inflation

by DSwede

I would say more systematic headache is the rampant foreigner cost or everything. Granted, it may only be a few dollars here and there, but it adds up quickly over time. And yes, it is still SE Asia, so costs are much less than developed western countries.Knowing the real value and cost is irrelevant if they think you can pay more. Yes, its only a couple dollars, but it has added up to a lot over a 3 week holiday. Take my advise and do not be pressured into a sale and never, never purchase at the first place you find. Search around and get a feel for average price and try to assess what the "real" cost is.I did not factor that foreigners would have to pay minimum 3~4x local prices for things like taxi & tuk-tuk. And in some places, scams charge unsuspecting travelers 50% more than actual costs for things like food and buses. And compared to my friends who traveled Laos previously, they...

Don't get ripped off exchanging money

by TyDoRo

When arriving in Laos from chang kong thailand by crossing the mekong, be very careful when exchanging money into loation kip upon arrival. Make sure you have an idea of the exchange rate and count the money you receive before leaving the currency exchange counter. The two people I was travelling with were shorted about the equivalent of 15USD (alot in SE asia). They were able to get their money back by approaching the counter where the man working was willing to give them the correct amount. It was abvious upon observing this, that the this was his plan in hopes that people would not notice the money missing until later.

Thefts from travellers in Northern Laos

by largerama

In 3 days I witnessed recently, 2 thefts from travellers undoubtedly by locals in Northern Laos. In Muang Kwai, at the boat/bus terminal, a traveller's camera was stolen when he put it down briefly. There were no travellers close enough to have stole it. According to some locals, this has happened before as has the next case: In Muang Ngoi, travellers on their bungalow balcony were talking at night by candlenight with a bag on the floor behind them. Someone, came from underneath the deck (as it's on stilts on a slope) and took the bag without them seeing. In Muang Ngoi, you are advised to keep all belongings in your room at night and door locked. What does that tell you?!!?So, just cos it's friendly Laos doesnt mean it's completely safe.

Choppy water and possible wet stuff

by largerama

If you are travelling by boat up river in Laos, there are patches of white water in many of the rivers. The boats are low in the water and lower when full of tourists plus bags (often). This means that the boats sometimes hit these patches causing water to come on to the boat. Bags do get wet. Protect your stuff with plastic bags at least.

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slow boat from Huayxai

by ccraigen

We chartered a boat from Houayxai to Louang Namtha from a guest house (I could name it, but I think the problem is not limited to this GH). The trip was to take 2 days. On the second morning they told us that they would take us 1 hour further upriver, but that the levels were too low to go right to LN and that we would have to take a bus - at our expense. In LN, we were told this was a common scam. You may want to try to pay some money upfront and pay the rest upon arrival or get some sort of guarantee of arrival.

Hospitals

by trisanna

The medical system in Laos is very primative. It is recommended for you to purchase emergency medical insurance before you come here. I highly recommend this. If you get sick, you do not want to go to the hospital in Laos. Many hospitals don't have access to clean syringes and other medical equipment. If you do get sick in Vientiane, it is recommended to cross the Friendship bridge and go to a hospital in Thailand. For a little money, you can get health insurance and they will evacuate you and send you to Bangkok. If you have children and they are coming with you to Laos, i wouldn't think of going there without this.

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Safety Tips in Laos

Top 3 Hotels in Laos

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163 Hotels in Laos
 
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Warnings Or Dangers: Cities in Laos
  1. Luang Prabang Warnings Or Dangers
  2. Vientiane Warnings Or Dangers
  3. Vang Vieng Warnings Or Dangers
  4. Pakse Warnings Or Dangers
  5. Savannakhet Warnings Or Dangers
  6. Ban Phonsavan Warnings Or Dangers
  7. Ban Pak Beng Warnings Or Dangers
  8. Muang Pakbeng Warnings Or Dangers
  9. Ban Houayxai Warnings Or Dangers
  10. Muang Pak-Lay Warnings Or Dangers
  11. Louang Namtha Warnings Or Dangers

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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... 

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