Laos: Overview
The Lao People´s Democratic Republic, is landlocked by for countries: Myanmar to the northwest; China to the north; Vietnam to the east; Cambodia to the south, and Thailand to the west. The inhabitants and the official language of this country - that was once called Lan Xang (land of a million elephants)– are called "lao" or "Laotian." Besides the official language, French, English and some dialects –similar to Thai language- are spoken in the Republic.
Climate
Laos has a tropical climate with two seasons -very well differenced because of the Monsoon-, the rainy season (May-September) and the dry season (October-April). The annual average temperature rounds 28ºC and in April it can increase to 38ºC. However, in the mountain areas it descends to 14ªC during winter (December-February), when some frosts may take place. As in many tropical countries the best time to travel to Laos is the end of autumn or during winter, since in this time of the year the rains have stopped and the temperaturas are softer.
Some advices
To get into Laos it is necessary to have a passport valid for six months minimum and an authorizing letter from the embassy of Laos, needed to obtain the entrance visa -valid for 30 days; can be extended- when you arrive in the country. As for sanitary issues, although there are no obligatory vaxines, it is necessary to take some precautions against malaria, to use sun screen and mosquitos repellent and to drink only bottled water. On the other hand, it is important to know that credit cards nor traveller’s checks are accepted. The used currencies are the new kip, the dolar and the bath thai; you can exchange them at banks, official foreign exchange offices and hotels. Finally, it is not common to tip, but you can do it as a sign of efficiency, gratitude and friendship.
Where to go
Not a long time ago this beautiful country has been discovered as a great destination for many tourists who, charmed by its culture, its religion and its history, visit it every year. These are only some of the places that you cannot forget on your trip to Laos.
The capital, Vientiane, is a small city built under French influence beside the Mekong river that offers beautiful wats (Buddhist temples) as Wat Si Saket, Wat Xieng Khuan and Wat Ho Phra Keo –turned into a religious museum-; the great estupa of Pha That Luang and the National Museum, home of Pra Bang, an old image of Buddha.
Another chosen city is Luang Prabang, located in a peninsula between the Mekong and the Nam Kahn. In this city full with old temples, ruins and beautiful landscapes tourists can visit the National Museum, the Ancient Royal Palace; the monastery of Wat Xieng Thong; the cascades of Kuang Si and the Pak Ou Caves, full with Buddha statues and sculptures carved in the rocky walls.
A little more than 400 km. from Vientiane is the county of Xieng Khuag which has very interesting destinations like Plain of Pitchers -amazing pitchers craved in the rock almost 3000 years ago-; the healing thermal spring in Muong Kham and Hmong Village, where visitors can witness how some traditional activities are done and enjoy the weekly marcket on Sundays.
About 500 kms. to the south of the capital of Laos is the county of Savannakhet, a city of great port and mercantile importance. Here travelers can visit Wat Ighang, one of the most important religious centers in the country, and the Dinosaurs Exhibition Room in Khanthabuly.
Another good destination in Laos is the small city of Champasack, located beside the Mekong and in the frontier with Thailand. This city offers interesting places to visit like Wat Amath, where treasures from the Stone Age are kept; the magnificent temple complex Wat Phou Champasack and its ruins and Si Phan Do (Four thousand islands) in the Mekong, where you can enjoy rapids, cascades, beautiful islands and the Liphi waterfalls, located in the largest of those islands. To the east of Don Khon you can see the incredible Khon Phapheng Waterfalls.
Festivals and activities
Most of Laos festivals are related to agriculture, the four seasons and Buddhism. Some of the best options to enjoy during a trip to this country are Boun Pi Mai, (Lunar New Year) – in the middle of April - when the whole country rests from every day activities to celebrate, make house cleanings and purifications with scented water and offerings in the wats; and Bun Bang Fai (rocket festival) in May, an irreverent pre-Buddhist celebration, with processions, music, massive marriages and dances ended with a bamboo rockets launching to ask the skies for rains. Bun Nam (water festival) is carried out in Vientiane in October. In that same city during a week in November the That Luang Festival (full moon festival) takes place, there you will enjoy an important repertoire of rockets, candlelits, processions and music. Finally, in Luang Prabang and Savannakhet you can see highly competitive boats races.
