Laos

The adjective most often applied to Laos is FORGOTTEN. Although there are a few grand, but relatively unheard of attractions, those visitors who are drawn by the laid-back lifestyle and the opportunity to knock back a few cold Beerlao while watching the sunsets on the Mekong will simply explain the attraction by revealing that the true meaning of "Lao PDR" is Lao - Please Don't Rush. Laos people describe the place as the “Land of a million Elephants” and one of the last places to see Indochina. There are up to 500 wild elephants in Laos, although more than double that number are in captivity.

Laos is squeezed between vastly larger neighbours. The mountainous and landlocked country shares borders with Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south, Thailand to the west, and Myanmar and China to the north. It is also one of the poorest nations in South-East Asia.

The Mekong River and its 15 tributaries make up a total of 2,400 km of waterways, but only about one third of these are navigable. 70% of the country is mountainous. In the south, the Annamite Mountains reach 2,600m in height. The Khammouanne plateau in the core of the range’s mass of limestone karst. At the south of the range is the Bolaven Plateau. The north of Laos is made of steep sloped mountain ranges with the highest mountain in the country at 2820m in Xiang Khouang province. Over half of Laos is forest.

Understand the Culture

Laos is officially Buddhist, and the national symbol, the gilded stupa of Pha That Luang, has replaced the hammer and sickle. There is still a good deal of animism mixed in, particularly in the baasii ceremony, conducted to bind the 32 guardian spirits to the participant's body before a long journey or other significant undertaking.

Lao custom dictates that women must wear the distinctive phaa sin, a long, patterned skirt, although tribal groups often have their own clothing. The conical Vietnamese-style hat is also a common sight. These day’s men dress Western style and only don the phaa biang sash on ceremonial occasions.

Dress respectfully, long trousers, sleeved shirts, when visiting temples and take your shoes off before entering temple buildings.

Things in Laos happen slowly and rarely as scheduled. Keep your cool, as venting your anger will make everybody involved lose face.

Climate Conditions

Laos has three distinct seasons. The hot season is from March to May, when temperatures can soar as high as 38°C. The slightly cooler wet season is from May to October, when temperatures are around 30°C, tropical downpours are frequent, and the Mekong floods. The dry season from November to March, which has low rainfall and temperatures as low as 15°C, or even to zero in the mountains at night, is "high season", when the most tourists are in the country.

Understanding the Geography

Cities

• Vientiane - sleepy capital on the banks of the Mekong River
• Huay Xai - on the border with Thailand
• Luang Prabang - a UNESCO World Heritage City known for its numerous temples
• Luang Namtha - capital of the north, known for it’s trekking.
• Muang Xay - also known as Oudomxay, the capital of the multiethnic province of Oudomxay
• Pakbeng - halfway point on the overnight slow boat between Huay Xai & Luang Prabang
• Pakse - gateway to the Wat Phu ruins
• Savannakhet - on the border with Thailand