Laos Travel Guide

With its lack of paved roads or footpaths (sidewalks) - even when present the latter are often uneven - Laos presents many physical obstacles for people with mobility impairments. Rarely do public buildings feature ramps or other access points for wheelchairs, nor do most hotels make efforts to provide access for the physically disable, the few exceptions being in the top end. Hence you’re pretty much left to your own resources. Public transport is particularly crowded and difficult, even for the fully ambulatory.

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Of the 75 or so nations that have diplomatic relations with Laos, around 25 maintain embassies and consulates in Vientiane. Many of the remainder, for example Canada and the UK, are served by their embassies in Bangkok, Hanoi or Beijing. Opening hour for the embassies of neighboring countries with valid border crossings are given here. Principal consular offices in Vientiane (area code: 021):

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Festivals in Laos are mostly linked to agricultural seasons or Buddhist holidays. The word for festival in Lao is bun. Most of festival dates change according to the lunar calendar, though even these are not set in stone and some festivals are celebrated at different times depending on where you are. All of this makes advance planning difficult. The government tourism website (www.tourismlaos.gov.la) has more details and lists the current year’s dates for the larger celebrations.

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For the most part Lao culture is very tolerant of homo-sexuality. Although lesbianism is often either denied completely or misunderstood. The gay and lesbian scene is not nearly as prominent as in neighboring Thailand, though it’s progressively more open. Strictly speaking, homosexuality is illegal, though we haven’t heard of police busting anyone in recent years. In any case, public displays of affection - whether heterosexual or homosexual - are frowned upon.

Public Holidays
Schools and government offices are closed on these official holidays, and the organs of state move pretty slowly, if at all, during the festivals mentioned on opposite.

International New Year (1 January)

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