Passport valid for at least six months by all nationals. Visa can obtained from Lao Embassies and Consulates abroad. In addition, visa can also be obtained on arrival at the international Checkpoint. The entry visas are obtainable from the nearest Laos Embassy, a travel agent or upon arrival. The validity of tourist visas is about one month and could be extended.
Visa on arrival into Laos:
– Stamped at international airport: Vientaine, Luang Prabang, Paske
– Procedures: No need to have visa approval letter in advance (as in Vietnam). Upon arrival at the airport, clients will fill in the Immigration Form (given by the Immigration Officer) at the airport, paste their passport size photos and pay US$ 30 to US$ 42 (depending on nationalities) as stamping fee directly to the immigration officer there
Note: The price is subject to change and varies between nationals

Nationalities that are not required to have visa to Laos:
– Nationals of Japan, South Korea, Russia, and Switzerland for stays of up to 15 days;
– Nationals of Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippine, Thailand, Cambodia and Singapore for stays of up to 30 days

The following Passport Holders of Nationality listed are required to obtain the Pre-arranged VISA to Laos

Laos Visa Extension
If you want to stay longer in Laos but your visa is about to expire, it is possible to extend your visa at the immigration office in Vientiane. The extension fee is around US$2 per day if you apply before the expiry date and US$10 per day for the days you over stayed if you applied after the expiry date.

Below is the contact address of Vientiane Immigration Office:
Add: Lane Xang Avenue, Vientiane (behind the Joint Development Bank (JDB) on Lane Xang Avenue, opposite the Morning Market)
Opening time: Monday-Friday, from 8:00-16:00 (closed 12:00 to 13:00 & on Friday Afternoon).

Requirements
• Passport
• One passport type photo
• Service fee of US$3
• Application fee of 3,000 kip per person
• Visa extension fee : $2 per day if you have valid visa, $10 per day if your visa is already expired (overstayed days)

*All fees are recent cost and subject to change

Procedure: fill out the application form then submit together with your passport and pay fees.
If you are in Vientiane, you can take a public bus to the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge. Then you complete the immigration procedures on the Lao side; the take the shuttle bus to the Thai immigration point and enter Thailand. Once again, get the shuttle bus and then arrive at the Lao side, where you can apply for a Laos Visa on Arrival.
Your passport must have at least 6 months of remaining validity and a blank page for a visa stamp and don’t forget to take enough cash (US dollars) for the visa fee and two passport sized photos.

Prepare for getting in
Currency: 1 US$ = 8063,87 LAK (in December 2014).
Exchange: Banks, licensed offices, and hotels. Credit cards/traveler Cheques are not widely accepted. Cash US dollars and Thai baht universally accepted. Small denominations are very useful.
Local Time: GMT +7
Business Hours: Office hours: 0800-1200 and 1300-1700, Monday to Friday.
Getting There by Air
The national airline of Laos is Lao Airlines (QV) (www.laoairlines.com). There are no direct flights from the USA or Europe; flights are mainly via Bangkok, China, Vietnam or Cambodia.

Main Airports
Wattay International Airport
City/Region: Vientiane
Airport Code: VTE
Location: 3km (2miles) from Vientiane.
Ground Transport: Taxis are available to take visitors to the city center (15 minute drive)
Facilities: Banks, restaurants, duty-free, post office and shops.

Luang Prabang International Airport
City/Region: Luang Prabang
Airport Code: LPQ
Location: 4km (3miles) from Luang Prabang.
Ground Transport: Taxis are available to take visitors to the city center (20 minute drive)
Facilities: Banks, restaurants, duty-free, post office and shops.

Pakse International Airport
City/Region: Pakse-Champasak
Airport Code: PKZ
Location: 10km (9miles) from Pakse City
Ground Transport: Taxis are available to take visitors to the city center (30 minute drive)
Facilities: Banks, restaurants, duty-free, post office and shops.

Getting There by Water
It is possible to travel from the Thai border to Luang Prabang by speedboat, slow boat or by a deluxe one-day boat. The slow boat takes about two days and usually involves an overnight stay in Pakbeng. The speedboat goes from Houaixay on the Laos border to Luang Prabang in around six hours.

Getting There by Road
It is possible to enter Laos from Thailand, China, Vietnam and Cambodia

Laos – China
– Mohan – Botene , Yunnan to Luang Namtha Province.(Visa on arrival)
– Xiangkok riverport on Mekong River in Luang Namtha Province.(No visa on arrival permit)

Laos – Thailand
– Chiangkhong – Houixay, Chiang Rai to Bokeo Province.(Visa on arrival)
– Nakaxeng – Nameua, Loei to Sayabouly Province.(Visa on arrival)
– Nongkhay – Friendship Bridge , Nongkhay-Vientiane Capital.(Visa on arrival)
– Bungkan – Pakxan, Nongkhay-Bolikhamxay Province.(No visa on arrival permit)
– Nakorn Phanom – Thakhaek, Nakorn Phanom-Khammouane Province.(Visa on arrival)
– Moukdahan – Savannakhet, crossing the Mekong River. (Visa on arrival)
– Chongmek – Vangtao, Ubon Ratchathani to Champasack Province.(Visa on arrival)

Laos – Vietnam
– Tay Trang – Sobhoun, Dien Bien Lai Chau to Phongsaly Province.(No visa on arrival permit)
– Nameo (Cau Treo) – Banleui, Thanh Hoa to Huaphanh Province.(No visa on arrival permit)
– Namkan – Namkan, Nghe An to Xieng Khouang Province. (Visa on arrival)
– Keoneua – Nampao (Lak Sao), Ha Tinh to Bolikhamxay Province.(Visa on arrival)
– Napao – Chalo, Quangbinh to Khammouane Province (No visa on arrival permit)
– Laobao – Dansavanh, Quang tri to Savannakhet Province (Visa on arrival)
– Kon Tum – Bo Y, Kon Tukm to Attapeau Province (Visa on arrival)

Laos – Cambodia
– Dong Calor – Veun Kham, Cambodia to Champasak Province (No visa on arrival permit)

Laos has a monsoon climate of a dry and a wet season. The rainy season starts from May to October, when the climate is hot and wet along with an average Temperature around 28oC. The cool dry season is from November through February. The background temperature is stable around 15oC in early morning and at night, 25oC at noon. The mountainous areas can be very cold with the temperature decreases to 5oC especially in the North of Laos
From March to April, the weather becomes hotter and drier with the peak temperature can be up to 40oC…
Best time to go
– The best time to visit Laos is between November and April.
– The hot season from March to May is very dry and certain river trips are not possible.

Vientiane’s climate chart

Luang Prabang’s climate chart

Pakse’s climate chart

See more at: http://www.climatemps.com/

Public Holidays in 2017:
January 01, 2017: International New Year 2017
March 08, 2017: International Women’s Day
April 14, 15, 16, 2017: Lao New Year Days
May 01, 2017: International Labor Day
July 20, 2017: Lao Women Union’s Day
October 05,06, 2017: Boun Ock Phansa & Boat Racing Festival Day
November 03, 2017: That Luang Festival Day
December 02, 2017: Lao National Day
Event calendar 2017:
Laos celebrates many annual festivals called “Boun” in Lao Language which are particularly enjoyable and

beautiful signifying traditional aspects of Lao lifestyle. Most festivals are connected with religion and the yearly rice farming cycle. The timing of the festivals is calculates according to the Buddhist lunar calendar, thus changed every year.

Laotian food is based on fish, beef, pork, poultry and especially herbs. The food is very spicy and hot, which blend of Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese in flavor and presentation. The famous ingredients for almost dishes are herb, chili and fish sauce.

National specialties
• Sticky rice (best eaten with fingers).
• Laap (minced meat, fish or vegetables tossed in lime juice, garlic, onions, powdered rice and chillies, accompanied by sticky rice).
• Kai (Water weed from the Mekong River – a Luang Prabang specialty)

• Tam Maak Hung
Another Lao invention is tam maak hung, the spicy green papaya salad known as som tam in Thailand, but which the Lao like to dress with fermented crab and a chunky, intense fish sauce called pa daek, resulting in a stronger flavor than the milder, sweeter Thai style.
• Sindad
This is the typical of Grill & hot pot in Laos style. With a special pot – half grill, half boiled and a laid of tantalizing cuts of well-marinated tenderloin, ribs, pork, shrimp and fresh seafood around, the waiter will fire up the grill and leave you to cook selections to your liking. Meanwhile, they will leave a steaming hotpot to simmer its delights. You can enjoy with a choice of Beer Laos or wine on every restaurant near Mekong River Bank.

• Oh Lam
Oh lam is a stew mainly made from vegetables: beans, eggplants, gourds, black mushrooms, then seasoned with lemongrass, chili, and coriander and finally thickened with sticky rice. Ho or Oh is loosely translated as “to put in”, which implies that this stew is a hodge podge of

whatever ingredients are on hand. But the key ingredient is sa kan, a bitter root herb.
• Mok Pa
This special dish is very famous in Luang Prabang, which contains sticky rice, lemon grass, onion, dill, basil leaves, chili and garlic mixed with chicken or fish. Mixed meat and ingredients together and wrapped with banana leave before steam.

National drinks
• Lao lao (rice whisky) is popular and there are two brands available (White Champa and Dark Champa)
• Beer Lao.