Laos
The ancient kingdom of the Million Elephants, which became the People Democratic Republic of Laos in 1975, is now open to tourism. Every year about 1,000,000 travelers cross it's boundaries, which cannot be compared with the vast flow of tourists spreading throughout Thailand. So let's discover the differences and originality which make up the charm of Laos.

Geography
Laos covers some 236,800 Km2 with a north- south length of 1000 Km. The Annalistic mountain range crosses the north-west region while the Mekong river divides Laos with Thailand and Myanmar in the west. Navigable all year round, despites numerous reefs, the Mekong is the heart of the country with most of the arable land being along its banks.

Roads
Laos has 14,000 Km of road, 80% of which are not asphalted. The network, however, has been greatly improved. The North-South route: Luang Prabang-Vientiane-Pakse- Champasak is now of good quality as is the transferal road leading to the Plain. As for as the rest are concerned...well it's Paris to Dakar without TV and camels! An interpid explorers paradise Presently very few road maps are available whilst city maps are rare and uninformative.

Population
Laos is the least populated country in S.E.Asia with only 6,000,000 inhabitants. The population in the south of the country is Relatively sparse, whilst the upper regions claim 80% of the inhabitants.

Government
The republic democratic people party of Laos came to power in 1975. The regime is one of people democracy: a unique party. The executive power is controlled by the president (who currently is Mr Juommaly Xayyasone) and elected by the national assembly for a 5 year period. The president is assisted by the prime minister who, in turn, is in charge of the ministry council. The legislative power, guarantor of the constitution, is held by the national assembly, which consists of 85 representative elected by the people a term of 5 years.

Religion Buddhism
The main religion is Buddhism. The Lao practice Theravada of the "Small vehicle" which spread through Laos between the 14th and 17th centuries. The ideal situation is to reach Nirvana without going through rein Carnation. So for the Lao doing good deeds rather than bad ensures salvation. The monks are held in high esteem and treated with great respect, when entering a religious place.
Please observe the proper rules of dress. Ladies must wear a dress or at least a suitably long skirt and shoulders should be covered. For men, wearing long pants is recommended. Shoes must be removed at the temple entrance. If you have to sit down avoid pointing your feet forward. If your joints allow it, fold your legs beneath you and keep your feet towards your back.

Animist
In Laos, Buddhism and Animism exist side by side. The Lao people believe in "Phi" which means spirit, soul, ghost. Any Laotian will tell you about "Phi" who visits during sleep. They are everywhere; good, bad, mischievous. In trees, animals, houses and people. The SE Asian version of a "genie". To protect themselves and show respect, people build a "genie house", a small altar which placed in a precise spot, in front of the house or in the garden. The "house" is always sheltered from the sun and offerings of food and drinks are made to keep the spirit pacified.

Economy
The national resources of Laos are limited and under exploited. the largest economy is agriculture which provides a living for 80% of the population. The principal crop is rice but corn, tobacco, cotton and coffee are also grown. Livestock is generally concentrated around cattle, buffalo and pigs of which there are over 1,000,000 per head of each.

Climate
May to October is the rainy season. It does not rain constantly but a raincoat or umbrella might be a useful fashion accessory. November to May sees the dry season, bring a hat and sun cream. Winter woollies will be needed in the mornings and evenings during the months of December, January and February especially in the North where temperatures drop between 10 - 15 degree Celsius, polar conditions for Lao people.

Money
The official currency in Laos is Kip. 248 Kip for 1 Thai Baht. 8,515 Kip for 1 US$. 11,474 Kip for 1 Euro. Banknotes of 500, 1000, 2000, 10000, 20000 and 50000 are available, however, the new banknotes of 50000 Kip will fit nicely into the brand new wallet you purchased at the airport. Thai baht and US dollars are freely accepted in big towns, but less so in rural areas. So who will take your Euros? Banks are open from Monday to Friday from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM, as in Europe. Visa withdraw come with a charge of around 3% whilst most credit cards are accepted in high class hotels in a few shops and restaurants in Laos.

Safety
Vientiane and the rest of the country is a safe place, however a little common sense and caution should be applied. For example, do not leave unattended bags around 2 wheeled vehicles. Although minor crimes such as pick pocketing are rare, they can ruin your trip so be vigilante. When you drive a motor cycle, wear a helmet, even if it is hot.

Health
The health situation has improved significantly over the last few years although there is still a lot to do. Problems can be treated in a number of Vientiane hospitals (Mahosot, Setthathrirat and the international clinic) or in hospitals or disspensaries in the provinces. In serious cases or for practical reasons (insurance coverage for instance) you may prefer to be treated in Thailand at Nong Khai, Udon Thani or Khon Kaen which will save you a trip to Bangkok.

Local Time
Laos is 7 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. Thus 12 noon in Vientiane is 1 AM in New York, 5 AM in London and 6 AM in Paris.

Working Hours
Government offices and banks are generally open Monday to Friday from 08:00-11:30 and 13:30-16:00. Shops and private businesses usually are open longer.