Briefly about the state of laos. State system and symbolism. Holidays and events

I first came to Laos being an experienced traveler and, to be honest, not particularly counting on some stunning discoveries. In a way, I was right. Laos is an indicative and traditional Southeast Asia, reminiscent of Cambodia and at the same time. And at the same time, this is a completely independent world with its own special charm.

I thought a lot about what is the very highlight of Laos, what is the reason for its extraordinary attractiveness. My personal conclusion, which does not pretend to be objective, is that the secret of Laos is in its extraordinary sincerity, simple charm and phenomenal goodwill. This is what you feel everywhere, in every corner of the country.

And one more thing: knocking down natural beauty countries. Everything is here: waterfalls, rivers, caves. Laos, in my opinion, is more than worth a visit. It is a place of great beauty and kindness.

Visa and border crossing

Visa-free entry

If you are planning a trip up to 15 days, you do not need a visa to Laos. When crossing the border, you just need to present a passport, the validity of which must be at least 6 months after arrival in the country. Sometimes an officer may ask return ticket or a hotel reservation, but neither I nor anyone else in line at the airport was ever asked for anything extra.

Visa at the consulate

If you are going to Laos for a period of 16 days to a month, you need to apply for a visa at the consulate in advance.

Required documents for applying for a visa at the consulate:

• passport valid for at least 6 months,
• 2 completed questionnaires in English,
• 2 photos, black and white or color, 4x6 cm.

A regular visa is issued in 3 days, an urgent visa in 1 day. Consular fee for issuing a regular visa - 20 USD, for urgent clearance- 40 USD.
A visa is issued for a period of 16 days to 1 month and is valid for entry into the country for 90 days from the date of issue.

Customs regulations in Laos

Everything is pretty standard. Allowed duty-free import:

• 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco,
• 1 liter of strong alcohol and 2 liters of wine,
• 250 ml. toilet water and 50 ml. spirits,
• camera or video camera
• movie camera,
• record player,
• radio,
• sports equipment and tent,
• baby carriage.

Prohibited for import:

• weapon,
• explosive, poisonous and flammable substances,
• drugs.

There are no restrictions on the import of foreign currency, however, cash in the amount of more than $ 2,000 must be declared. The import of Lao currency into the country is prohibited, so do not change money in advance.

How to get there

Airplane is the only way to get from Russia to Laos.

Tourist regions

Laos is usually divided into northern, central and southern parts. Each of them, in turn, is divided into regions, which are called "khwengi" in the local language. There are 16 khwengs in total in Laos.

Northern Laos

The north of Laos, despite its sad history (wars, bombings), is the most touristic part of the country. Firstly, the landscape here is of amazing beauty: mountains and hills. Secondly, it seems to me that it is in the north that one feels the "self" of Laos, its amazing soul. For many years, the northern regions were isolated from the rest of the country and, probably, therefore, they retained their original spirit and ancient architecture. It is in the north that one can find mysterious caves, tribes speaking unknown languages, and untouched, purest nature. I recommend to visit the following northern kwaengs:

• Luang Prabang- in my opinion, the region number one for travelers. You can go here with a large company and everyone will find an attraction for themselves. I recommend that nature lovers immediately go to the stunning Kuang Si waterfalls with turquoise water in the lagoon. History buffs can make a river pilgrimage to the most interesting Buddhist caves of Pak Ou at the confluence of the Mekong and Ou rivers. Lovers of cities and walks should spend a few days in the capital of the region with the same name, with beautiful colonial architecture and quiet streets.

• Xiangkhuang- Khweng, famous for only one place of power, but what a place! Not far from administrative center region, the city of Phonsavan, there is the mysterious Valley of Jars - an incredible place in terms of energy, where hundreds of ancient stone jugs of unknown origin are spread over a vast territory. If you are at least somewhat interested in archeology, history and simply unusual phenomena in the world, you should by no means miss the Valley of Pitchers!

• Phongsali is located in the far north of the country. Travelers don't get there very often. I was only once, literally a couple of days, and was delighted with the ancient villages, tea gardens, real original tribes that carefully preserve their culture. If you want to see a truly unexplored part of the country, with primordial traditions, Phongsali is hard to find better.

• Sayyabuli- the subject of eternal disputes between Laos and Thailand. It is here, in the Paklay region, that the Elephant Festival takes place every February. Unfortunately, I never came across it, but many of my travel acquaintances told me that it was something fantastic: carnivals, music concerts, fireworks, performances, the selection of the elephant of the year, elephant coronations.

• Bocau- the smallest province in the north, known primarily for its minerals: precious and semi-precious stones. For travelers, information is useful that the capital of Khwenga, the city of Huaisai, is a popular border checkpoint leading to the neighboring one.

Central Laos

The center of the country is also quite famous among travelers, if only because it is here that the capital and the backpacker village of Vang Vieng are located. I will single out the following central khwengi for visiting:

• - the capital region, which is difficult to bypass. This is the main transport hub of the country. All roads lead here. Just above the capital is the center of all active entertainment Vang Vieng, which I recommend for visiting all lovers of rafting, hiking, hiking and other sports activities.

• Savannakhet is a nice and rather touristy region. Its eponymous capital is the country's second most populated city, which is known for its colonial architecture, but I personally love the interesting mixture of Lao and Vietnamese culture. There are many local agencies in Savannakhet that offer eco-treks in the forests lasting one, two or three days. I went on a hike under the funny name "In the Footsteps of Dinosaurs", and I really liked it: clean air, true Lao lunches on fresh air, a fun local guide.

Southern Laos

If northern Laos seems to me to be exceptionally original, then the south, on the contrary, attracts with a curious mixture of cultures and traditions. It is literally surrounded on all sides by colorful neighboring countries: Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. In addition, the nature here is very diverse: plains prevail in the western part, mountains in the eastern part. In general, it is for nature, in my opinion, that one should go to Southern Laos. This is the real focus of waterfalls, rivers and forests.

• Champasak- definitely the main tourist region of the south. After all, it is here that the most significant part of the Bolaven Plateau is located - a gigantic territory consisting of waterfalls, jungles, inland rivers and tea villages. I rode the Plateau for several days on a motorbike, and this is one of the unforgettable Lao experiences. Of interest, in my opinion, is the capital of the province of Pakse. In fact, the main city of the South is a peaceful and quiet village. But I, for one, really like to walk along its measured, once Franco-colonial streets.

• Saravan- these are magnificent mountains, waterfalls, interesting ethnic villages. Not the most explored part of Laos, but at the same time, not without tourism infrastructure. For lovers of cities, elegant walks along the embankment and beautiful cafes there is nothing to do here. But for real connoisseurs of wildlife and tribes, I highly recommend Saravan!

Top cities

Here I want to immediately note that Laos is a country famous, first of all, for its natural resources. There are few cities in Laos. Yes, and those that are - although very pretty, but small and comprehensible in a day or two each.

Vientiane

It is customary to scold the capital of Laos on what the light stands: the architecture is inexpressive, the colonial buildings are in a dilapidated state, the city's Mekong River looks like a dirty canal. To tell the truth, it is.

And yet I want to protect Vientiane. Yes, it looks more like a village than a city, much less a capital. Roosters walk along the dirty streets, in the evenings the population sits on plastic chairs and watches TV taken out of the cafe. Even before midnight, life stops and everyone goes to bed. There are lines on every corner for lottery tickets, which is almost always a sure sign of a poor country. But this is all at the same time the charm of the capital of Laos, its simple charm. There are no signs of globalization here. Even McDonald's.

In Vientiane, in my opinion, you can have a great time for 2-3 days, if you do not place capital hopes on it. This is a nice and simple, provincial town in its energy with its joys.

I highly recommend renting a bike. They are rented on the embankment and the neighborhoods closest to it. The price is ridiculous - about 2 USD per day. The traffic in the city is calm, you can move around it at your own pace. I recommend taking a map with Buddhist monasteries marked on it and going to them. They are very pretty in their own right and are found on the greenest, quietest, cozy streets Vientiane.

Luang Prabang

A charming town in northern Laos that I highly recommend visiting. There are many reasons for that. The first is temples. There are 32 monasteries for fifty thousand people. They are really very beautiful, even luxurious: with golden roofs, colored glass mosaics, amazing ornaments. What I liked very much is that you don’t have to look for monasteries on purpose, you don’t have to travel from one part of the city to another. You can just walk, and they themselves come across on the way.

In general, in Luang Prabang, in my opinion, you should not draw up any routes. You just need to leave the hotel at dawn and all the most interesting things will find you. On my first visit, I spontaneously went to the city at six in the morning to breathe in the cool air and immediately saw the ceremony of feeding the monks with rice. Later it turned out that this is a fairly well-known local tradition in which you can participate.

Luang Prabang, in my opinion, is an incredibly charming city in Laos. It is clean, calm, there are many wonderful narrow streets with colonial houses, a good evening market, a well-equipped embankment of the great Mekong River.

I must warn you: Luang Prabang has a phenomenal tourist crowd. Much more than in the rest of the country. This is not a lost, almost unknown paradise place. On the contrary, the real center of tourism in Laos. And yet, it's really nice to be here even a day, even a month.

Vang Vieng

According to my observations, in almost every poor country with good climate there is a village chosen by backpackers (travelers with backpacks). Whether it is, or Southeast Asia, the recent history of such villages is about the same. They are always in very picturesque places. At some point, hippies discover them, live there peacefully for a while. Then, little by little, European youth wandering on holidays begins to arrive. Bars, guest houses, travel agencies, scooter and bicycle rentals are opening. The hippies find a new place, the village is included in the list of fun hangouts in all alternative guidebooks and almost completely switched to tourist service. Vang Vieng is the Laotian version of the backpacker mecca.

I’ll start my short story about him with the fact that Vang Vieng has really beautiful nature. From the window of each guest house you can see the stunning mountains of Laos, along which different trekking options are laid. In general, Vang Vieng offers a whole range of active entertainment: rafting, tubing, kayaking, cave exploration, bungee jumping, hot air ballooning.

I first tried tubing and it's really worth it! No special skills are required there. I was placed in a car cell and sent for two hours down the Nam Song River to observe the wonderful surrounding landscapes.

In the evenings in Vang Vieng, everyone watches the Friends series, such a tradition here, and drinks in numerous bars. My opinion about Vang Vieng is twofold. On the one hand, this is a place where you are a tourist among tourists and do not feel the true breath of the country. On the other hand, there are really many exciting leisure options in the bosom of a stunning beautiful nature. At least for her sake, Vang Vieng definitely deserves a couple of days.

Pakse

This is the city of Laos, which has many proud statuses: the Center of the South, the Transport Heart of the country. Perhaps this is true, but, according to my impressions, Pakse is a quiet, calm town with a measured life. I walked around it in its entirety in three hours. The streets are quite clean, there are several French-style colonial houses.

Attractions, to be honest, can be counted in one, two, three. I advise you to see beautiful Buddhist temples: Wat Luang (in the historical center of the city), Wat Phabat (closer to the outskirts). If you have time, you can visit the Champasak Province History Museum (its capital is Pakse).

By the evening of the first day, I seem to have seen everything in Pakse that is quite natural for this town. Pakse is famous all over Asia historical center, but with its surroundings, with national parks, coffee and tea plantations, the ruins of ancient temples. You can take inexpensive local excursions to them or go around everything on your own on a motorbike.

Tyampatsak

Very, very peaceful and quiet town on the banks of the Mekong River. He is so calm that the barking of a dog or the signal of a car seemed to me an event in him.

Nevertheless, the language does not dare to call Tyampatsak a completely lost, unknown province. There are tourists in it, there are hotels, the main street with charming colonial architecture, shops and pleasant waterfront cafes.

And yet the secret why Champatsak attracts travelers lies not in the city itself, but in its suburbs.

Just 8 kilometers from Champatsak is Wat Phu - the only temple of the Khmer era in Laos that has survived. I got to Wat Phu by tuk-tuk, but along the way I saw Europeans on mopeds and bicycles.

Wat Phu itself is not at all a big and rather modest temple, but I remember the road to it very much: mountains, lakes, large stone steps. So, I can safely recommend Champatsak to visit. Especially for connoisseurs of history, nature and silence.

Savannakhet

In brochures with tours of Laos, Savannakhet is called the “Pearl of Southern Laos” or “Southern Luang Prabang”. I wouldn't speak so loudly.

Savannakhet is a charming city, but more with a sweet village flavor than some pretentious pretensions. However, French dominates in the center colonial style, with parks and wide boulevards. But on the outskirts you can find real Asia, with narrow streets and chaotic trade.

The main thing that caught my eye in Savannakhet was a huge number of Vietnamese. It seems that there are more of them than Laotians. All synthetic crops are interesting. Therefore, I quite liked Savannakhet as an example of a mixture of two traditions and peoples.

Islands

There is no sea in Laos, and this is one of the main reasons why tourism in Laos is much less developed than in neighboring countries. South-East Asia. But in the very south of Laos there are river islands, which have long been chosen by tourists from all over the world. In the local language, they are called Si Pha Don, which means “4000 islands”.

Of course, I didn’t visit all 4000, but I’ll tell you about those that I managed to visit. In fact, there are not even a dozen inhabited islands in Laos. Those that exist are located on the Mekong River and have all the necessary tourist infrastructure.

To be honest, you should not expect something extraordinary and special from the islands of Laos. They are more likely to relax and rest during the trip, rather than to get a rich and varied experience.

I spent all my days there in a similar way: I lived in a bungalow, watched the reddish water of the great Mekong from a hammock, looked at palm trees and sailing boats, in the evenings I sat in a cafe and admired the sunset. Actually, everyone lives there: quietly, peacefully and happily.

• Don Det- my favorite of the islands of Laos. Perhaps the reason lies in the fact that I visited it very first. Anyway, the place is very pretty. I came to Don Det from Pakse, three hours by bus and then by ferry. Besides me, there were 10 other passengers on the boat. You don’t need to book accommodation on Don Dete in advance, I found everything on the spot. The choice is huge: every house on the island is a guesthouse, a shop or a cafe. European tourists a lot, but there is also a chance to observe the local way of life. The Laotians in this region work from morning to night for rice fields, but cheerfully, to the music and with a smile. On Don Det you can rent a bicycle, it costs a dollar a day, and the pleasure is great. On the first day, I traveled all over the island far and wide. The next one, I drove to the neighboring island of Don Khon.

• Don Khon- connected to Don Det by an old stone French bridge. Tourism in Laos is already sufficiently developed, so they charge about 3 USD to cross the bridge. Don Khon is very similar to Don Det, but it seemed to me that it offers more active entertainment: a trip to waterfalls, kayaking, boat trips to dolphins.

• Don Khong- This is the largest island of Laos (18 km long and 8 km wide). As many as 55 thousand people live on it. While in the capital of Laos - 210 thousand. Don Khong has the reputation of a respectable island. They say that penniless travelers come to Don Det and neighboring Don Khon, and connoisseurs of comfort with money come to Don Khong. I was on Don Khong for only a couple of days and did not notice any special pathos there: the same slowly flowing days, where the main event is sunset. Maybe just a little cleaner and more expensive. The main villages on the island, where you can come at least for a day, at least for a year, are the trading Muang Saen on west bank and slow Muang Khong on the east.

Top attractions

• Triumphal Arch Patusai- this is the first attraction of Laos, which I once saw in the country. And I don't think I'm alone. For it is the crown of the central avenue of the capital Langsang. The area around the arch is an extremely pretty, pleasant and well-groomed place, with palm trees and a fountain. There are always a lot of tourists there, but what can you do: all excursions in the capital of Laos begin from the Patusai arch. This is a building of a completely European type, dedicated to the soldiers who died in the struggle for the independence of Laos from France. What is noteworthy: the Patusai arch was built with the money of the French government. I advise you to go up to the observation deck at the top of the arch, from there you can see beautiful view to Vientiane. You can also make a touristic, but pleasant gesture: buy a bird in a cage in the shop below, make a wish at the top and release it. It seems to be nothing special, but after that I had a very pleasant and bright feeling. In the evenings, the arch and surrounding trees are lit up like Christmas trees. Asia has always been partial to garlands.

• Buddha Park This is a kind of sculpture park. It contains the most diverse and sometimes very atypical Buddha statues. The park fascinated me. This is the real center of Laos culture. On the same territory, you can see dozens of interpretations of a single image and once again realize how diverse and great the human imagination and ways of its embodiment. In addition, in the park you can see the heroes of Indian mythology, which is actually a huge rarity for Laos. As the park staff explained to me, the author of the idea was a supporter of a special religious direction that combines Hinduism and Buddhism. The park is quite small in size, I walked around it in an hour. Most importantly, do not miss among the sculptures a three-story ball with windows resembling a pumpkin. You can go inside and go up to the observation deck. Inside the pumpkin is also very interesting, but I will not reveal all the secrets. More important point: you need to plan a visit to the park during the daytime, at 4 days it closes.

• Temple Pha That Luang- a place that, in my opinion, must be visited, if only because it is depicted on the coat of arms of the country. But this, of course, is not the main reason. Pha That Luang seemed to me one of the most beautiful Buddhist stupas in all of Laos. The structure consists of three levels and resembles a golden pyramid. I arrived on a sunny day and the stupa shimmered beautifully against the blue sky. The entrance turned out to be paid, but symbolic - about 0.3 USD. I advise you to carefully check the opening hours, main character Laos is closed in the evenings.

• Kuang Si Waterfall This is a place of amazing beauty, a real paradise. The most important thing that I remember: the extraordinary turquoise color of the water in the lagoon, where all the streams flow. Something like Pamukkale in Turkey. Around the waterfall - forest and silence. Trees grow right out of the water. Kuang Si is the perfect day out.

• Valley of pitchers(near Phonsavan) - in my opinion, one of the most mystical places in the country. Just imagine: a huge field dotted with thousands of stone blocks in the form of pitchers. Moreover, this is not some kind of tourist speculation. Indeed, each stone has clear proportions of a jug. Historians have not established the exact origin and purpose of the jugs. It is said that these could have been burial urns, containers for making rice wine or storing water. If you are interested ancient history and its mysteries, the Valley of Pitchers is the number one place to visit. And for ordinary fans of walking in strange and ambiguous places, this is a great option for the day.

• Bolaven Plateau(Pakse neighborhood) - in my opinion, these are the largest and most impressive landscapes in the whole country. I traveled around the plateau on a motorbike for about three days and could not be surprised. Beyond the dense jungle beautiful waterfalls and rivers, along the way there are coffee and tea plantations, endless fields and pastures, villages with friendly locals and delicious coffee.

• Pak Ou Caves- a very interesting and unusual place, in my opinion. 2 stone caves on the river, filled with a variety of Buddha figurines brought here by pilgrims and residents nearby city Luang Prabang. There are about 4,000 of them here - from 10 cm to three meters high! Candles and incense are lit everywhere. local guide he said that monks used to live in the caves, and the king himself came to pray a couple of times. The highlight of Pak Ou is that it can only be reached by boat.

Weather

In Laos, the division of the year into two seasons is quite typical for Southeast Asia: dry (November-April) and rainy (May-October). I always try to travel around the country in December-January. Although this is the peak of the tourist season, it is the most pleasant months in terms of weather. During the day the temperature is 25-27 degrees, at night 15-17.

Once I came to Laos in April and it was a real nightmare. The heat reached 40 degrees. The same in May. In the rainy summer months, you can also travel, but not in mountainous areas. The already disgusting roads are very washed out. All transport costs.

Once again, the golden climatic Lao months: December and January. If possible, plan your trip during this time.

Money

The monetary unit of Laos is called kip and is designated as LAK.
The kip is not a very strong and popular currency. It is impossible to change it somewhere other than Laos. Yes, and in Laos it is difficult to carry out, for example, a reverse exchange: from bales to dollars. Therefore, I advise you to change money little by little.

Dollars are very popular in Laos. It makes sense to go to the country only with them, the euro is poorly known here. Today, for one dollar you will get 8166 Lao kip. Keep in mind that when exchanging large bills (50 and 100), the exchange rate is slightly better.

You can change currency at all banks, exchange offices, hotels in Laos. Banks are usually open from Monday to Friday (from 8:00 to 17:00). Exchange offices are open every day, but the rate there is worse.

If you came to Laos from neighboring Thailand, do not rush to change money. Thai baht is also in use here, especially in tourist areas and resorts in Laos.

Visa, American Express and MasterCard plastic cards are not very common in the country and are accepted only in large hotels in Laos, restaurants and shops. ATMs are available exclusively in large cities, resorts of Laos and the tourist area. From the point of view of conversion, in all of Asia it is more profitable to pay with a Visa card. MasterCard is more suitable for traveling within Europe.

Moving around the country

I just want to warn you that transport connection developed in Laos is rather weak. Worse than in most Southeast Asian countries. There are many options for moving between cities, but you should not expect a fixed schedule, comfort and clear ticket prices. The main thing is to treat everything with humor.

Airplane

All is well in Laos domestic airlines: There are 52 airports in the country and a solid national airline Lao Airlines. But, to be honest, I, like all my acquaintances acquired during the trip, did not fly by local planes. Firstly, they are much more expensive than buses and ferries. Yes, and somehow there is no desire to fly planes around Laos. Too picturesque country, do not want to miss the wonderful views from the window.

Train

You can forget about trains in Laos. There are no internal railways in the country.

Bus

According to my observations, this is the most common way to move around the country. Buses run between all important villages and cities of Laos. These can be options familiar to us (with a roof and chairs) or completely exotic options: open trucks with benches in the back.

I traveled in two types of covered buses: with seats and with sleeping berths. I can say for sure that the usual seated version, although it seems less comfortable at first, but in the end I liked it much more.

The so-called sleeper bus has only double shelves, and they are very narrow (about a meter wide). If you are traveling alone, you will have to sleep in close quarters with a complete stranger. In populous Asia, there are special concepts of personal space, and this kind of neighborhood seems absolutely normal.

• The roads in Laos are mountainous, sometimes not paved. Get ready for what can be very rocking. I always took a bottle of water with me, into which I squeezed lime juice without sparing. Helps a lot.
• Buses are often incredibly cold. The "sleepers" have a thin cover, but it does not help much. Take everything warm that you have into the salon. I carried wide tape everywhere and glued the air conditioner over me. This is the only salvation.
• When buying a ticket, be sure to specify whether meals are included in the trip. Often this is a delicious local noodle soup, which can be very pleasing on the road.
• You can safely buy tickets at travel agency rather than at the train station. The difference is minimal, you will spend much less time and effort.
• Keep in mind that in Laos you can carry absolutely everything on the bus. Locals travel with roosters, chickens, tons of vegetables and fruits. It didn't annoy me at all, but rather amused me.

Ferry

There are a lot of large rivers in Laos, not only the great Mekong. Therefore, ferries are one of the top types of public transport. Usually, speedboats also run along the ferry routes. They are faster, more compact, more comfortable and, accordingly, more expensive.

I took a speedboat from Vientiane to Luang Prabang. Besides me, there were 6 other passengers on the boat. We started early in the morning and sailed around 11 o'clock. The ticket cost 20 USD one way. I got very sick. Since then, I swore off moving on water and traveled all over the country on buses and a moped.

Moped and bike

In Laos, renting mopeds and bicycles is extremely popular. You can take them in almost every city and go around all the neighborhoods on your own. This is very convenient, because most of the country's attractions are of a natural nature. You can’t reach them on foot from the city, it’s difficult to drive by car (the roads are narrow), a moped is a great option. When renting, you will be asked to leave a passport or money as a deposit and they will definitely ask for your rights.

Automobile

You can rent a car in the main cities of Laos: Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Pakse. But this service is very poorly developed and no one uses it. Let me remind you that more than half of the roads in Laos do not have an asphalt surface. In addition, car rental is quite expensive - from 50 USD. It is more economical to take a daily taxi.

Taxi

Taxis in Laos can be hired both for a separate trip and for the whole day (about 20 USD). There are no fixed prices, so be sure to negotiate before getting into the car. In my experience, the charge per kilometer is usually half a dollar. There is also a local variety of motorcycle taxi - "jambos". These are three-wheeled motorcycles with a roof and benches. You won't get far on them, but for short trips - an authentic and fun option.

Connection

There are many pay phones on the streets of Laos. Most often I saw them near banks, shops and on the main city avenues. However, I can't recommend them for calls. It turns out very expensive. The machines operate on a card system. Phone cards cost 3-6 USD and are enough for just a little bit. Once I ran out of a card already during the beeps, even before the connection. You can call from post offices, but this is not very profitable either: from 2 USD per minute.

There is only one way out: buy a local SIM card in any communication store. It's very easy, the choice of SIM cards is large. You only need to have your passport with you. The main local cellular operators are Lao Telecommunications and Millicom Lao. If desired, you can connect 3G. The quality of the connection depends on the location. In cities (especially in the capital) excellent, in mountain regions may be hard to hear.

Oddly enough, everything is fine with wi-fi in Laos. It is provided free of charge in almost all hotels in Laos, even very inexpensive ones. You can also access the network from virtually every cafe, especially in tourist regions. I want to warn you that the speed of the Internet ranges from unbearably low to quite decent. Everything depends on luck.

Language and communication

Laos has a very interesting situation with languages. Official language in the country - Lao, or Lao. It is similar to Thai and has many internal variations (about 5 dialects and 70 dialects). If you don't speak Thai or Vietnamese, it's impossible to understand even the slightest bit of Lao. I didn’t remember anything except the greeting “Sabaidi”.

Helps a lot when traveling around the country French. After all, Laos is the former French colony. I don't speak French, but I was good at English. The population of Laos understands it well throughout the tourist area.

10 phrases you need to know:

• Yes - wow.
• No - Bo.
• Hello Sabide.
• How are you doing? – Thiau sabaidi bo?
• What is your name? “Thiao sy nyang?”
• My name is Khoy sy.
• Good morning Sabaidi tonsau.
• Good afternoon - Sabaidi tonbai.
• Please (please) - Kaluna.
• Thank you - Khop thai.

Features of the mentality

It is difficult for me to give a clear definition of the Lao mentality of the people of Laos. I will say this: it is obvious that originally they are incredibly kind, hospitable, open, gentle and calm people.

But wars, colonization and poverty left their mark. Corruption is rampant in the country. For every piece of paper and service, the inhabitants of Laos extort money. This, of course, spoils the impression.

Still, it's nice to be in the country. There is a feeling of some great wisdom naturally emanating from people. And no social cataclysms can stop her.

Food and drink

Lao cuisine is very similar to Thai and Vietnamese. If you have already been to the neighboring countries of Laos, then many dishes will surely seem very familiar to you. The basis of the diet of local residents is rice. It is consumed on its own, as well as a side dish and dessert. I especially liked the Laotian rice stewed in coconut milk with fruit.

The population of Laos loves spices, all local cuisine is spicy and fragrant, with pepper, garlic, mint, lemongrass, basil. Despite the fact that the country has a warm climate, locals eat a lot of meat and soups. Laotians cook delicious noodles, fried and boiled.

Of the drinks, the main one is the famous Lao coffee (delicious!). I would put green tea in second place. Among alcoholic drinks, the best thing to order in the heat is the local BeerLao beer. Tastier than beer, to be honest, I have not tried it in Asia. Rice vodka is also popular. I bought excellent French wine in stores!

shopping

I always bring incredibly beautiful fabrics from Laos, local spices, interesting stone figurines for gifts and lots and lots of coffee. I don't remember ever shopping in stores. Laos is not. There are no huge shopping malls here. All the best can be found in the numerous markets or by chance on the street.

Vacation with children

What to hide, Laos is an extremely unpopular country for families with children. There is no sea here, the roads are bad, the infrastructure is poor, there are few good hotels, sanitation suffers.

If you still decide to go to Laos with a child, you should consider some features of the country:

• The locals love children. Not just love, but adore. Strangers on the streets will come up to you to pat your baby on the head, give him candy, a toy, or just play.
• The main thing when traveling with a child is safety issues. Here you need to keep in mind the specific traffic situation in the country: the rules traffic and there is virtually no asphalt surface, most often there are no belts in cars. To be honest, I would not risk moving around a lot within the country with a small child. It is better to spend your entire vacation in one city. I would recommend Luang Prabang. It is the most tidy, clean and comfortable.
• As for health, before the trip, it is necessary to make the baby the necessary vaccinations. During the trip, avoid mosquito bites by all possible means (using ointments, nets, sprays). It was in Laos that a mosquito infected a friend of mine with dengue fever. This happened during the rainy season, when the danger is especially high. However, caution does not hurt at any time of the year.
• There are no problems with food for children, in my opinion. Of course, the national food is too spicy. But in the tourist zone, Western cuisine familiar to us is massively represented.

What can be interesting for children in Laos? Certainly not colonial architecture, temples or museums. Number one of the possible children's Lao entertainment, I would put the Elephant Festival in Sainyabuli. True, it is held only three days a year, usually in mid-February. But suddenly lucky!

I have not seen water parks in Laos, only public pools. There are quite a lot of playgrounds in cities, most often they are located along rivers, on embankments.

Summing up, of all the countries in the world, I would definitely not recommend choosing Laos for a vacation with a child. But if that's the case, there's no need to worry. Laos is a poor, but kind and peaceful country in which everything will definitely be fine.

Safety

Laos gives the impression of a poor, but very safe country. Nothing bad has ever happened to me in several long trips around Laos. However, there are certain rules to follow:

• Take good care of your personal belongings. Laos in last years has become a very popular country for tourism. This, as usual, caused an increase in petty theft. Be especially vigilant in crowded places: near historical monuments, markets and embankments.
• Drink only bottled water.
• Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly.
• Check the map for possible minefields (marked with red flags) and categorically avoid visiting them. Basically, they are located in the eastern part of the country. Like Cambodia, the minefields in Laos are from the Vietnam War.
• Do not use drugs, despite their popularity in the country. I will not hide the fact that Laos is a cult drug tourism destination in Southeast Asia. The locals smoke weed on every corner. In almost any cafe from under the floor you can buy whatever your heart desires. The police seem to turn a blind eye to everything. But you don't have to look up to the locals. Tourists have their own rules. For the purchase and use of drugs, you can not only pay serious fines, but also go to jail.

5 things to do in this country

1. Try the famous glutinous rice.
2. Rent a bike in Vientiane.
3. Buy gifts under starry sky at the night market.
4. Drink local beer in the heat, coffee in the shade of the evening coolness.
5. Feed the monks at sunrise in Luang Prabang.

Nearby countries

Laos borders five countries: Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, China. There are no railways in Laos, so the most common way to travel from Laos to neighboring countries is by bus.

I will share my experience. I traveled from the capital of Laos to the Vietnamese city of Vinh by sleeping bus. The ticket costs 12 USD, travel time is 16 hours. Moreover, for a significant part of this time, the bus simply stands at the border, at night it is closed.

We left at 18.00, reached the border around midnight, where we slept in a standing bus until the morning. At seven, the guide woke everyone up and sent them to the border guards to put stamps. In total, it took about two hours to cross the border, and we drove the same amount to destination. In general, nothing complicated. It seemed to me the most uncomfortable to sleep on the narrow shelves of the bus, they are still designed for the Asian body type.

Laos is really incredibly conveniently located for traveling in Southeast Asia. Therefore, I strongly advise you not to be limited only to them, but to visit neighboring countries. Moreover, you do not need a visa if you are not going to stay there for a long time.

Laos is a neighboring country bordering the Kingdom of Thailand, today we will talk a little about it.

Laos- a state in Southeast Asia that does not have access to the sea. It borders with countries such as Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and China.

Laos- not a rich country, but you can’t call it completely poor either. The population of Laos largely adheres to the religion "Buddhism". Despite religious views, it seemed to me that people are not as kind as Thais.

Capital of Laos

The capital of Laos is the city of Vientiane. Many locals love and are proud of their capital, despite the fact that its infrastructure is completely undeveloped. It is largely inferior to the capitals of other countries - Moscow, Bangkok, Singapore, etc. Almost undeveloped here public transport, just a couple of large shopping centers that have a cinema and a bowling alley. There is a lot of garbage on the main embankment of the city, on which local authorities Apparently it doesn't matter.

There is at least 1 cinema in the city, in the ITEC shopping center (TC), but films are shown either not very popular or with a lag of 1-3 years. There is bowling, which seemed to me quite cheap, 25 - 30 baht per game.

ITEC is located outside the city. This may be the biggest shopping center in the city, but even it is empty. It closes at 17-18 hours, which is quite wild for capital cities. I saw a couple of small shopping centers in the city, but they are so small that it is not a language to call it a shopping center.

In such centers you can buy copies of iPhone 4.5 5S, Nokia, Blackberry and many other brands. For example, the price for a copy of the iPhone 4 was 900 baht, so they are also traded.

In the capital, you can buy DVD, VCD discs with films or music, the price is from 10 to 30 baht (rubles), a penny, but again, the problem is with new products.

There is no public transport in the city, mostly local tuk-tuks, the prices of which are much higher than Thai ones. Therefore, it is more profitable to rent a bicycle, since the town is not big and it is difficult to get lost in it. The main thing is to find a map and understand it a little. In this way, I traveled all over the capital several times.

Bicycle rental in Laos 10,000 kip= 40 baht per day, but some give only for a day, while you need to give your passport as a deposit, which is not very pleasant.

Laos Visa

Visa to Laos for Russian citizens is not required, on arrival stamped for 15 days. This period in the country can be found without any problems.

Currency of Laos or monetary unit of Laos

The official currency of Laos is the KIP. Kip is in the thousands, so in Laos you are a millionaire. 🙂

• The exchange rate of Laos against the ruble for 2016: 1 ruble = 116 kip
• The kip exchange rate in relation to the Thai baht for 2016: 1 baht = 231 kip

Baht is accepted in Laos, so you can safely take Thai money.

Currency exchange can be found in all corners of the city, and there are ATMs everywhere.

Laos money

Money in Laos comes in the following denominations:

• 500 kip = 2 baht (~4 rubles)
• 1000 kip = 4 baht (~8 rubles)
• 2000 kip = 8 baht (~16 rubles)
• 5000 kip = 20 baht (~40 rubles)
• 10,000 kip = 40 baht (~80 rubles)
• 20,000 kip = 80 baht (~160 rubles)
• 50,000 kip = 200 baht (~400 rubles)
• 100,000 kip = 400 baht (~800 rubles)

It seems there are no others, but I could be wrong, I hope you correct me. I rounded the course to make it easier to count.

The main attractions and entertainment in Laos are located in its cities and villages, so I will consider them separately in other articles. There are waterfalls, museums, temples, caves, hot air ballooning and more.

Laos prices

Prices in Laos for food are much higher than in Thailand, for example, if in Thailand a bowl of soup in local establishments costs 30 baht, then here it is at least 60 baht. The fare is also more expensive, less than 20,000 kip = 80 baht, you are unlikely to be lucky, even if it is 100 meters.

The average price for rental housing is from 500 baht per room.

The price of gasoline in Laos for 1 liter is approximately 45 baht (90 rubles).

Laos Time

The time in Laos is the same as in Thailand, if in Thailand it is 18:00 then in Laos it is also 18:00. Differences from Moscow time in summer by 3 hours, in winter by 4 hours. For example, if it's 22:00 in Laos, then it's 18:00 in Moscow.

Laos photo

Here are some pictures from different parts of this country.

Cities of Laos

I will mark only those places where I have been myself. I will describe each city later in more detail with their sights and interesting places.

List of cities and villages:

• Vientiane is the capital of Laos, a good place to stop for a couple of days.
• Luang Prabang is the ancient capital of Laos, a wonderful city, time stops here, many temples, waterfalls, museums, you can spend a couple of days.
• Vang Vieng is for lovers of adrenaline, entertainment and drive. Youth town, here you can come off with a bang, a lot of European youth!

I have not been to other places, so I can not say anything.

Weather and climate in Laos

Laos has a hot climate, which is very much like Thailand, but due to the lack of a sea, the heat is more difficult to bear. The average temperature during the day is + 35, at night +30.

You can find additional information on this country on Wikipedia https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9B%D0%B0%D0%BE%D1%81.

Well, something like that, if there is something else, I will definitely write.

Briefly about the country of Laos. In general, among the peoples of the country of Laos and Thailand, i.e. Lao and Thai have a lot in common. Let's start with the fact that they used to be part of one state in the territory of the modern south of China. After they began to shift south to modern Cambodia - the kingdom of the Khmers.
At first they lived peacefully among the locals. Even the founder of the first Lao state, Fa Ngum, was the viceroy of the Khmer king. He later proclaimed the independent kingdom of Lan Xang. The state grew rapidly and annexed new territories. Luang Prabang was the first capital of Laos, followed by Vientiane. But, as often happens, after the death of the great ruler, the kingdom fell apart and fell under the rule of Siam (the ancient name of Thailand).
After the French came here and Laos became one of the colonies of France in Indochina. And only in 1953 the independent kingdom of Laos was again proclaimed. But then the communists came, the USSR came to their aid and 20 years later proclaimed the creation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. And after 40 years, I appeared in the country of Laos and will tell you how people live here now.

The country of Laos has never been popular place destination for travelers. Not entirely fair, but most are attracted by the islands of Thailand, the temples of Cambodia, the nature of Vietnam and the tribes of Indonesia. The Lao are very complex about the fact that they have no access to the sea. One of the employees of the ministry told me that when the delegation of Laos comes to neighboring country, then they definitely choose a trip to the sea. Regardless of what alternative they are offered.
However, in terms of natural heritage and its relief, the north of the country of Laos will easily give odds to many countries of Indochina. I especially remember one crossing, when I was driving for several hours in fog and dullness and suddenly the car drove out of the clouds. I thought this only happens when flying in an airplane, but it turns out that car trips in Laos can have the same effect.

History of the country of Laos

The country of Laos in its short history constantly passed from one ruler to another, gaining independence only for a short time.
Khmers (now Cambodia), Burma (now Myanmar), Siam (now Thailand), and after Vietnam and the French with their colonial ambitions. The French came to power in 1904. They ruled Laos remotely from Hanoi.
And then the Vietnam War began and the Americans bombed half of the country of Laos, trying to overcome the Vietnamese. The United States used the methods of non-contact warfare, when the enemy simply cannot respond. The first wave was in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the second - in the country of Laos and Vietnam, the third - in Yugoslavia and Iraq. Everything is interconnected in this world. So far, all over Laos, markets sell spoons and thousands more souvenirs made of aluminum, which the Laotians took from downed American planes.

As a person with a higher economic education, I could not help but explore the question of what keeps the economy of the country of Laos.
When the Communists allowed private enterprise in the country of Laos, the economy grew a little. Almost 80% of the population is employed in agriculture. Accordingly, rice, sweet potatoes, tea, buffaloes, piglets and chickens are exported. There are a few processing plants and even a stock exchange here. But there are, however, only two companies: the state bank and the energy company.
A lot of Laotians import goods, 70% of exports from Thailand. Therefore, part of this all ends up in the pockets of Laotian customs officers, and in terms of their well-being they can even be compared with officials.
And of course, drugs, opium, etc. In the north, at the junction of the countries of Laos, Myanmar and Thailand is the "Golden Triangle". Through it, as the locals say, a huge drug traffic flows, primarily opium is traded. In some restaurants in Laos, they can even bring you a special magical menu. It's sad, but that's the way it is.

Country Laos: population

In fact, the country of Laos is a small country in terms of population, only 6 million. The density is half that of China, with only 27 inhabitants per square kilometer. That's just the relief of Laos made its own adjustments to their resettlement. If earlier they all settled near the Mekong River, now another important transport artery has appeared - a highway from China to the capital, Vientiane, and from there to Thailand. Two-thirds of the population lives on the Mekong, and the remaining one-third near this road.
The entire northern half of the country of Laos is covered with mountains. Therefore, it is not possible to ride these roads quickly, but the views are fabulous. They couldn’t make a direct autobahn with tunnels in the mountains, as in China, but most likely they didn’t have enough money, and it’s even more likely that someone stole it.
On the banks of the Mekong, the Lao massively grow rice. But they eat rice differently than in China. They steam it for a long time until it becomes sticky. Then they take it with their hands, roll it around and eat it like bread with everything else. Most often, something resembling a salad of vegetables, which are abundant here, or fish that is caught in the Mekong. But gradually the fish resources of the Mekong begin to deplete due to the growth of fishing, population and hydroelectric power plants.

The Mekong River on the border of the country of Laos and Thailand

The main river of Indochina is the Mekong. It originates in Tibet, and then through the country of Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, the river flows into the Ocean.
In Thai and Lao languages, which are as similar as Russian and Belarusian, this river is called Me Nam Khong. In translation Me Nam Khong is the Mother of Waters Ganges. And although the Mekong is in no way connected with the Indian river Ganges, at the religious level the connection is significant. Indeed, in the past, most of Indochina was part of the Khmer empire (present-day Cambodia), who professed Hinduism. And in Hinduism, the Mother of the Rivers Ganges has a special place.
Now almost the entire Lao-Thai border runs along the Mekong. This means that you should not swim far from the Laos side, so as not to be caught illegally crossing the border. On the other hand, also interesting adventure succeed.

Taboo in Laos

The country of Laos has its own system of taboos and prohibitions, which you quickly get used to, many are intuitive. Otherwise, you will get a reprehensible look, a remark, or you will end up in jail.
One should not insult Buddha statues in any way, even if a couple of stones remain from the statue. Do not point your foot at people or statues. Do not touch the head of small children. Women are also forbidden to touch the monks or pass them something from hand to hand. It is customary to eat food with your hands, you need to take pictures of locals with permission.
Sometimes you can find small posters that teach tourists how to behave. There's a lot going on here, from having to take off your shoes when you enter a Laotian's house, to asking you not to take drugs and not to sleep with Lao women and underage summer girls. Apparently, for some, this is not obvious.

Country Laos and elephants

At one time in the past, the country of Laos was called "Lansang" or "Land of a Million Elephants". Since ancient times, these animals have been used in Indochina for a variety of jobs - logging, clearing fields, when conducting military operations, traveling through the impenetrable jungle, transporting goods and sacred relics. And the country of Laos itself used to supply trained elephants to all neighboring countries.
But today Laos is no longer the country of a million elephants. It's all about the Vietnam War. Then the famous "Ho Chi Minh Trail" passed through the country of Laos. Weapons, provisions, medicines, people were transferred to the partisans in the south along it. The jungle was excellent cover for the trail. The Americans knew about this and sprayed poisons and herbicides over the jungle without stopping, mercilessly bombed the trail: they dropped about three million tons of bombs, i.e. half a ton for each Laotian. All this, of course, affected the ecology of Laos, and the number of elephants decreased tenfold.

Since the border between Thailand and the country of Laos runs along the Mekong River, Indochinese elephants easily cross the river and enter Thailand without visas. Thus, they can easily travel throughout Indochina in general, despite the fact that this species is much weaker and smaller than African elephants.
Now the Indochinese species, by the way, is degenerating, since it has existed for many millennia and does not have time to adapt.
Although elephants are peaceful animals, they used to be indispensable in wars. For the time being, there was no tank equipment, their role was played by elephants, which crushed the enemy’s combat formation. Even in the 20th century, Japanese troops used elephants to march on India, since nothing can compare with them in terms of patency in the local forests.
During the Vietnam War, elephants were killed by American pilots. Then they were replaced by local smugglers, because the profits from the sale of elephants in developed countries are huge. Here's how things are.

Laos(Laos. ປະເທດລາວ, Lau), full title - Lao People's Democratic Republic(Laos. ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ listen)) is a state in with a capital. In the west it borders with, in the east - with, in the south - with, in the north - with the province, in the north-west - with.

Story

Laos as a state originates in the 14th century, when the country was called Lan Sang Hom Khao ("Land of a million elephants and a white umbrella"). The Mon and Khmer tribes settled in Laos and formed their own states before the invasion of the Tai and Lao tribes from the north, who were driven south from South China by the Mongols. From the 12th century, Thai states (muangs) were formed in Laos, inhabited by the Tai and Lao tribes. From the XIV century on the territory of modern Laos, the state of Lan Xang was formed, from which it is customary to count the history of Laos. Since that time, there has been a separation of the Tai and Lao tribes; there are disputes between Thai and Lao historians about the identification of the Lao tribes.

After the decline of the Lan Xang state, Laos fell under the dependence of Siam in the 18th century, and in 1893, according to an agreement between and Siam, it went to, becoming part of the colonial territory of French Indochina.

During the Second World War, Laos was occupied by the Japanese, and in 1949 gained independence in the form of a kingdom led by King Sisawang Wong.

Internal conflicts in the late 1950s led the country to the beginning civil war, in which North Vietnam and then intervened. During this period, the Lao People's Liberation Army (Pathet Lao), supported by North Vietnam, controlled large area in the east of the country. fighting in Laos were directly related to the Vietnam War, since a significant part of the Ho Chi Minh Trail passed through the country, along which North Vietnam transferred its troops to the south. During the war, 250-260 million bombs were dropped on Laos. Newspaper " The New York Times wrote: "At least two million tons of bombs were dropped from 1964 to 1973, almost a ton for every Laotian." The bombings caused great damage to the civilian population, nature and economy of the country.

After the end of the Vietnam War, the United States ceased military activities in Indochina. The fighting in Laos ended in February 1973 with the signing of the Vientiane Agreement. Violating the agreement, the Pathet Lao forces launched an offensive in the spring of 1975 and occupied Vientiane in August. Within a few months, the structure of the coalition government was maintained, Pathet Lao pursued a moderate policy, but in December 1975, she took full power in the country into her own hands. On December 2, 1975, King Savang Wathana was forced to abdicate. The government was headed by the General Secretary of the People's Revolutionary Party of Laos, Kayson Phomvihan, who became the de facto ruler of the country. With the support of the USSR, it was formed Lao People's Democratic Republic. Already in 1975, the Lao authorities proclaimed the transition to the socialist path of development. Central planning was introduced in the country, collectivization and nationalization were launched. The theoretical basis for the transformations was the thesis of Kason Fomvikhan, put forward in 1972, about the transition to socialism "bypassing the capitalist stage." However, already in the early 1980s, the Lao PDR authorities began to change their policy.

In 1986, the transition to a "new economic mechanism" was announced (" chin taakan may”), and in 1988 the Investment Promotion Act and the Foreign Investment Law were passed. Contents of the policy chin taakan may» was determined by three points: privatization and restructuring of the public sector, the encouragement of foreign investment and the transition to a market under state control. Further transformations in Laos were similar to Doi Moi's policy in Vietnam and Deng Xiaoping's reforms. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the collective farms were actually dissolved: the peasant individual farm received the right to long-term (sometimes lifelong) use of the cultivated land, the right to inherit and pledge it. Active stimulation of small and medium-sized businesses began. A feature of Laos was the ban on the construction of large industrial facilities introduced during this period (except for those built with foreign investment). A number of enterprises have been privatized. In the early 1990s, it was allowed to create private banks and businesses. In 1990, free economic zones were created in the country. In the future, the policy chin taakan may” was continued - in 2003, the law guaranteed that foreign investment would not be nationalized.

After a short border conflict, friendly relations were established with, and in the 1990s relations were normalized with and relations were established with a number of other countries and international organizations.

Domestic politics

Laos has a one-party system, the country is governed by the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (PRPL) of the communist type. The President of Laos is elected by Parliament for a five-year term. The Government is headed by the Prime Minister of Laos, who is appointed by the President upon approval by the National Assembly. Government policy is determined by the Party through the nine-member Politburo and the 49-member Central Committee.

The new constitution of Laos, which establishes the procedure for elections to the parliament (National Assembly), was adopted in 1991. Despite the one-party system, elections to the Lao parliament are formally held partially on an alternative basis - in the 2016 vote, 211 candidates competed for 149 mandates.

After the death of Kason Phomvikhan, who headed the PRPL for 36 years, and the country for 16 years, that is, until his death, a state regime close to the Chinese was established in Laos, in which the leader of the party and state remains in office for a limited amount of time (maximum for present - 10 years), after which he resigns and is replaced by another member of the leadership of the NRPL.

Foreign policy

After the Pathet Lao coup in December 1975, the foreign policy of Laos can be characterized as opposition to the West. In 1975, Laos had diplomatic relations with only 43 countries.

Laos associated itself with the Soviet bloc and maintained close ties with the USSR; in addition, in 1977 an agreement on friendship and cooperation was signed with, which complicated cooperation with. Over the years, Laos and the pro-Western had a strained relationship that culminated in armed clashes on the borders throughout 1987. After those events, the leaders of the two countries signed a communiqué, which became a signal for the normalization of relations. Since the early 1990s, there has been slow but steady progress in relations, as the Friendship Bridge can be seen as an indicator.

After the collapse of the Soviet bloc and the decrease in support from Vietnam, Laos began to actively develop regional ties. At the same time, the Lao PDR pursues a policy of balancing between three neighbors: Thailand, China and Vietnam. This policy avoids unilateral dependence on any one neighbor, since socialist China and Vietnam are rivals. For example, large groups Lao executives are trained in China and Vietnam. In 2008 alone, 3,638 Laotians studied in Vietnam, and in 2007, 223 citizens of the Lao PDR trained in Vietnam. In fiscal year 2008/09, China's approved direct investment was $239.4 million (32 projects) and Vietnam's $1,349.8 million (38 projects).

The exit from international isolation was accompanied by the development and expansion of relations with countries such as Australia, and. As a result, already in 2005 Laos had diplomatic relations with 122 states. An important feature of the foreign policy of Laos is the active attraction of foreign aid, moreover, from various states. For example, in 2005, it allocated 300 million yen in assistance to the Lao PDR for the purchase of food for flood victims, canceled a debt of 594 million yen, and also transferred several primary schools. in the same year, she donated equipment for schools to Laos, allocated a grant for the construction of a center for drug addicts, and has been giving money since 1993 for the construction and modernization of roads. In addition, Laos received assistance from the UN and FAO. In 2006, the country was declared drug-free.

In 2004, trade relations were normalized with. In fiscal year 2006, the US gave Laos $13.4 million in aid (weapons destruction, health care, education, economic development). In 2004, US President George W. Bush signed into law a bill to expand trade ties with Laos. In February 2005, a bilateral trade agreement came into force. Then there was an increase in the share of Lao exports to the United States, however, relative to other countries, this figure is still small. Bilateral trade in 2006 reached a turnover of $15.7 million, up from $8.9 million in 2003.

Laos joined ASEAN in July 1997 and was admitted to the World Trade Organization in 2013.

At the moment, Laos is a member of such international organizations as: Organization for Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), ASEAN Regional Forum, Asian Development Bank, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Group of 77 (G77), International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Civil Aviation Organization ( ICAO), International Development Association (IDA), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), International Finance Corporation (IFC), International Federation of Blood Donor Organizations, International Labor Organization (ILO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), Intelsat (non-voting), Interpol , International Olympic Committee (IOC), Mekong River Commission, Non-Aligned Movement, Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), United Nations, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), UNESCO, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), World Postal Union (WPU), World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), World Health Organization (WHO), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), World Meteorological Organization, World Tourism Organization.

Population

Population Democratic Republic in 2013 amounted to 6.77 million people; share of the urban population - 33%; population growth rate in 2010-2015 will be 1.3%, life expectancy will be 66 years for men and 69 years for women.

According to the average forecast, the population of the country by 2100 will be 11.6 million people.

A significant part of the population is concentrated along the Mekong River and, in particular, near the capital. The mountainous regions in the north and east of the country are sparsely populated. 95% of the country's population lives along the border with Thailand.

Ethnic composition of the population

Despite the small population, about 70 different tribes and nationalities live in Laos. The entire multinational population of Laos is usually divided into three groups: Lao-Lum, Lao-Teng and Lao-Sung. Each group includes tribes and nationalities united by common ethnolinguistic features, place of settlement and way of life.

• The Lao Lum live on the plains, along large rivers and in cities. These include the main people of the Lao and related mountain Thai (Thai-nya, Thai black, Thai white, Phutthai, Yuan), this group includes 67% of the population.
• The Lao Teng live on the spurs of the hills and in the low mountains, many tribes belong to this category; overall, they make up 22% of the population. They are considered the ancient population of Laos, on holidays the Laotians bring them a symbolic tribute for the right to inhabit their territory. The Lao Teng includes mountain Mons (Khamu, Lamet, Puteng and others) and mountain Khmers (Sui, Alak, Katang, Taoi and others), whose languages ​​belong to the Mon-Khmer family.
• Lao Sung is inhabited by more than high areas above 1000 meters above sea level. These areas are usually distant from cities and rivers and are less accessible. Their share is 10% of the population. These include, in particular, the peoples of Miao (Hmong), Yao (Mien), Lahu, Lisu, Akha.

The largest foreign group is formed by the Vietnamese and the Chinese. There are few Khmers, Indians, Burmese, Japanese and others.

In Laos, the languages ​​​​of the Thai-Kadai (Thai-Lao), Mon-Khmer and Tibeto-Burman groups and the Miao-Yao group are common. According to ethnolinguistic criteria, the population of Laos is divided into 49 ethnic groups and more than 90 subgroups.

Administrative division

Administrative divisions of Laos

Laos is divided into 16 provinces ( kweng), the metropolitan prefecture and the metropolitan municipality. The provinces are divided into 140 districts, consisting of 11,000 communes.

Geography

Physical map of Laos

Laos is landlocked. The territory of Laos is covered with dense forests, the landscape consists of low hills and mountains; the point with the highest elevation is Bia (2830 m). The Mekong River flows along the border of Laos with Thailand and Myanmar, the border with Vietnam is separated by the Truong Son Mountains. Laos is a predominantly mountainous country.

The climate is subequatorial monsoon, characterized by the division of the year into two seasons - the summer rainy monsoon period from May to October and the winter dry period from November to April.

There are no very large cities in Laos, except for the capital. Other relatively large cities are (50 thousand), Savannakhet (since 2005 - Kayson Fomvikhan) (70 thousand) and (90 thousand inhabitants).

Economy

Since 1986, state control over the economy has been loosened in Laos and private enterprise has been allowed. This led to a sharp rise in the economy (from a very low level), but growth is constrained by insufficient infrastructure development (there are no railways, a network highways small). In 2003, the first Free Economic Zone was created in the country. The basis of the economy is agriculture.

GDP per capita in 2014 - $5 thousand (168th place in the world). Below the poverty level - 30.3% of the population (2012). The GDP of the Republic of Laos was $11.7 billion in 2014.

Agriculture (80% of employees, 30% of GDP) - sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, tea, peanuts, rice; buffaloes, pigs, poultry.

Industry (33% of GDP) - mining of copper, tin, gold; logging, hydropower; processing of agricultural products, production of clothing.

Forestry is also developed, a new era of which began with the organization of the cultivation of hevea. In 1994, Chinese investors set up the country's first rubber plantations in Luang Namtha province, and in 2009, 140,626 hectares were officially occupied with hevea. Plantations of other industrial forest crops have also been created - first of all, eucalyptus. In 2009, 396 thousand hectares were occupied under industrial forest crops (hevea, eucalyptus and others). earth.

On January 12, 2011, the country's first stock exchange opened in Laos, where securities of four companies are traded, including the state bank and the electric power company of Laos.

The production of opium and heroin is developed in Laos, mainly in the northern provinces of Phongsali and Huaphan. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), opium poppy cultivation peaked in 1998, when more than 25,000 hectares were under cultivation. After a sharp drop in the mid-2000s, opium production began to grow again, and in 2015, opium poppy was grown on 5.7 thousand hectares. There are no exact data on opium production, according to UNP estimates in 2015 it could be from 84 to 176 tons Southeast Asia Opium Survey 2015 (eng.) (pdf). United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. United Nations. Retrieved June 8, 2016.

Energy

In the 2000s, a sharp increase in electricity generation was noted: from 3,653.7 GWh in 2001 to 12,979.5 GWh in 2011. Most of produced energy is exported - 2871.4 GWh in 2001 and 10668.4 GWh in 2011.

Industry

In the 1990s - 2000s, industries - clothing and construction - developed in Laos. If in 1990 about 800 people were employed in the country's clothing industry, then in 2012 - already more than 30 thousand people (about 20% of the number employed in the industry of Laos). Basically, clothing factories are owned by foreigners (or mixed in terms of capital) and are located mainly in. An important industry is woodworking - more than 25,000 employed people work both for the domestic market and for export. There are also about 20 small factories in the country that assemble household electrical appliances (hair dryers, air conditioners, kitchen appliances, etc.) for the domestic market and parts for external supplies. In 1991-1992, the first motorcycle assembly plants were opened. The mining industry is represented by a copper mining plant and a gold mining plant. In 2007, the mining industry in Laos produced:

• 70 thousand tons of copper;
• 3.5 thousand tons of tin;
• 6.5 tons of gold.

There are two cement plants and about 20 plastics factories.

International trade

Laos exports ($1.4 billion in 2008) - timber, coffee, electricity, tin, copper, gold. Major buyers: (35.4%), (15.5%) and (8.5%).

Imports ($2.3 billion in 2008) - industrial products, fuel, consumer goods. Main suppliers: (68.3%), (10.4%), (5.8%).

Opium smuggling was estimated to have reached $4 million a year in the 1960s.

Transport

In 1983, in Laos, the length of roads was 11,125 km (with asphalt - 766 km). By 2005, the length of roads in the country was 31,205 km (including 4,500 km with asphalt pavement). All provincial centers have access to the main highways. Lao roads are being built with the support of ASEAN and are connected to the roads of China and Vietnam. Three bridges were built across the Mekong in the 1990s - 2000s, connecting Laos and Thailand. In 2008, the first in Lao PDR was launched from Thailand to Laos Railway 3.5 km long.

Religion

The majority of the population professes Theravada Buddhism. Many tribes of the Lao Teng and Lao Sung groups are animists with their own systems of honoring nature spirits and performing rituals. There is a small number of Christians, Muslims and Hindus.

mass media

State radio company - LNR ( Lao National Radio"Lao National Radio") - includes the radio station of the same name, launched in 1960. State broadcaster - LNT ( Lao National Television"Lao National Television"), which includes the channels LNTV1 (launched in 1983) and LNTV3 (launched in 1994).

On January 2, 2001, the Lao government sold the rights to the ccTLD for Laos (.la) to the city of . Citizens and organizations of any country can register .la domains without restrictions.

see also

Laos

Notes

1. World Atlas: Maximum detailed information/ Project leaders: A. N. Bushnev, A. P. Pritvorov. - Moscow: AST, 2017. - S. 56. - 96 p. - ISBN 978-5-17-10261-4.
2. Human Development Report 2013 (unavailable link - story) . United Nations Development Program (March 14, 2013). Retrieved March 14, 2013.
3. Dictionary of geographical names of Laos. - M.: TsNIIGAiK, 1988. - S. 14.
4. Laos on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation 12-10-2011
5. “Fred Branfman, Who Exposed Bombing of Laos, Dies at 72,” William Yardley, The New York Times(October 6, 2014). Retrieved April 30, 2018.
6. Ioanesyan S. I. Lao variant of transition to the market // Asia and Africa today. - 2006. - No. 1. - S. 19
7. Ioanesyan S. I. Lao variant of transition to the market // Asia and Africa today. - 2006. - No. 1. - S. 18
8. Ioanesyan S. I. Lao variant of transition to the market // Asia and Africa today. - 2006. - No. 1. - S. 20
9. TAX INCENTIVES FOR PRIVATE BUSINESS IN THE LEAST DEVELOPED REGION OF SEA (MYANMAR, CAMBODIA, LAOS)
10. Ioanesyan S. I. Lao variant of transition to the market // Asia and Africa today. - 2006. - No. 1. - S. 21
11. Ioanesyan S. I. Lao variant of transition to the market // Asia and Africa today. - 2006. - No. 1. - S. 22
12. Citizens of Laos will elect deputies of the National Assembly
13. Ioanesyan S. I. Laos in 2005 // Southeast Asia: actual problems of development. - 2006. - No. 9. - S. 146
14. Morev LN Laos: in the circle of friends // Southeast Asia: actual problems of development. - 2010. - T. 14. - S. 252
15. Morev LN Laos: in the circle of friends // Southeast Asia: actual problems of development. - 2010. - T. 14. - S. 241
16. Ioanesyan S. I. Laos in 2005 // Southeast Asia: actual problems of development. - 2006. - No. 9. - P. 157
17. Ioanesyan S. I. Laos in 2005 // Southeast Asia: actual problems of development. - 2006. - No. 9. - P. 158
18. Ioanesyan S. I. Laos in 2005 // Southeast Asia: actual problems of development. - 2006. - No. 9. - S. 160, 163
19. Ioanesyan S. I. Laos in 2005 // Southeast Asia: actual problems of development. - 2006. - No. 9. - S. 163-164
20. OMC | Comprendre l'omc - membres
21. World population in 2011 ,
22. World GDP per capita based on PPP for 2014. Total-Rating.ru (2015-04-14). Retrieved June 8, 2016.
23. Trade turnover between Russia and the Republic of Laos for the 1st quarter of 2015. "Exporters of Russia" (October 14, 2015). Retrieved June 8, 2016.
24. Morev L. N. "Laos: among friends"// "Southeast Asia: actual problems of development". - 2010. - T. 14. - S. 245
25. Morev L. N. "Laos: among friends"// "Southeast Asia: actual problems of development". - 2010. - T. 14. - S. 246
26. Opium production in the Golden Triangle increased by almost a quarter in 2013. UN News Center. United Nations (December 19, 2013). Retrieved June 8, 2016.
27. "Plans and prospects for the development of hydropower in Laos" - the topic of a scientific article in economics and economic sciences.
28. Yanchuk A. L. Development and reformation of industry in Laos // Actual problems of economics and management at the enterprises of mechanical engineering, oil and gas industry in the conditions of an innovation-oriented economy. - 2016. - T. 1. - S. 289-290.
29. Yanchuk A. L. Development and reformation of industry in Laos // Actual problems of economics and management at the enterprises of mechanical engineering, oil and gas industry in the conditions of an innovation-oriented economy. - 2016. - T. 1. - S. 290.
30. Yanchuk A. L. Development and reformation of industry in Laos // Actual problems of economics and management at the enterprises of mechanical engineering, oil and gas industry in the conditions of an innovation-oriented economy. - 2016. - T. 1. - S. 291.
31. Yanchuk A. L. Development and reformation of industry in Laos // Actual problems of economics and management at the enterprises of mechanical engineering, oil and gas industry in the conditions of an innovation-oriented economy. - 2016. - T. 1. - S. 291-292.
32. Yanchuk A. L.
33. Yanchuk A. L. Development and reformation of industry in Laos // Actual problems of economics and management at the enterprises of mechanical engineering, oil and gas industry in the conditions of an innovation-oriented economy. - 2016. - T. 1. - S. 292.
34. Morev L. N.
35. Yanchuk A. L. Development and reformation of industry in Laos // Actual problems of economics and management at the enterprises of mechanical engineering, oil and gas industry in the conditions of an innovation-oriented economy. - 2016. - T. 1. - S. 292.
36. Morev L. N. Laos: on the way to the status of a "developing country" // Asia and Africa today. - 2010. - No. 2. - S. 34.
37. Morev L. N.
38. Morev L. N. Laos: on the way to the status of a "developing country" // Asia and Africa today. - 2010. - No. 2. - S. 35.
39. Morev L. N. Laos: on the way to the status of a "developing country" // Asia and Africa today. - 2010. - No. 2. - S. 35.
40. Morev L. N. Laos: on the way to the status of a "developing country" // Asia and Africa today. - 2010. - No. 2. - S. 35.
41. Morev L. N. Laos: on the way to the status of a "developing country" // Asia and Africa today. - 2010. - No. 2. - S. 35.
42. "LOS ANGELES is the world's first city to be awarded its own unique internet address:LA."

Literature

• Laos. Directory / Managing editor V. A. Tyurin. - M.: Nauka, 1980. - S. 263.
• Afonin D.S. - Children of Khunborom. - M., 2000
• Ioanesyan S. I. - Laos in the XX century (economic development). - M., 2003
• Ioanesyan S.I. - Laos: socio-economic development (late XIX - 60s of the XX century). - M., 1972
• Ioanesyan S.I. - Lao People's Democratic Republic. - M., 1979
• Kobelev E. V. - Lao People's Democratic Republic. - M., 1978 (New in life, science, technology. Series "U political map peace", 2)
• Kozhevnikov V. A. - Essays recent history Laos. - M., 1979
• Laos. Directory. - M., 1994
• Mikheev Yu. Ya. - Lao People's Democratic Republic. Directory. - M., 1985
• Morev L. N. - Lao Literature (in the book "Concise Literary Encyclopedia", vol. 4, M., 1967)
• Petrakov VV - Old postcards of exotic Laos. - M., 2006 (ZHUK magazine, No. 02-03 (10-11) July-September 2006)
• Russian-Lao dictionary: 24,000 words and expressions / L. V. Larionova et al.; ed. L. N. Moreva; Institute of Linguistics RAS; Institute of Oriental Studies RAS; Institute for the Study of the Culture of Laos. - M., 2004
• Skvortsov VN - White elephants of luck. - M., 1983
• Stratanovich G. G., Chesnov Y. V. - The peoples of Laos (in the book "Peoples of Southeast Asia". - M., 1966)
• Shchedrov I. M. - Republic on the Mekong. - M., 1983

Links

• Laos at the Open Directory Project Links Directory (dmoz)
• Journey through Laos from south to north
• Head of state and cabinet members
• Laos in the world book of facts. US Central Intelligence Agency.
• Country profile on BBC News
• Laos at UCB Libraries GovPubs
• Laos in Britannica
• Laos at Tageo.com
• Laos National Tourism Administration
• Key forecasts for the development of Laos

Laos is moderately wild, very exotic and more than a poor neighbor of the lucky Vietnam and Thailand. There is no sea here, but there are ancient temples lost in tropical forests, picturesque mountains and an amazing way of life. Tours, maps, visa, photos and reviews - all about Laos.

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The official name of Laos is the Lao People's Democratic Republic (LPDR). This is one of the poorest and at the same time the most mysterious countries in Southeast Asia.

Laos as a state originates in the 14th century, when the country was called Lan-Sang-Khom-Khao - "The country of a million elephants and a white umbrella." Numerous ancient temples, rich cultural traditions, endless tropical forests and picturesque mountain landscapes - that's what attracts tourists here.

National Bureau of Tourism - 222-971

Fire Department - 190, Police - 191, Ambulance - 195

City codes: Vientiane - 21, Luang Prabang - 71, Pakse - 31, Savannakhet - 41.

Climate of Laos

The climate of Laos is subequatorial monsoon. The average temperature in January is +15...+23 °С, in July - +28...+30 °С. There are three seasons: hot humid (May-October), dry cool (November-January) and dry hot (February-April).

In the Mekong Valley in March-April, the temperature can reach +38 ° C, while in the nearby mountain slopes it does not exceed +22 °C. During the rainy season (from May to October), the daily temperature is +24...+29 °C.

Accordingly, the best time to visit the country is from November to February, mountainous areas- from November to July.

Actual information: weather forecast for the main resorts of Laos for the coming days.

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Tourist safety

Laos is a fairly safe country, where, despite long wars, crises and poverty, the population has not hardened, and the level of theft, and even more violent crime, has remained surprisingly low. However, you should take reasonable precautions: do not carry all your cash, expensive jewelry and your passport (a photocopy is enough), but leave them in the hotel safe.

Traveling around the country is almost safe, certain measures should be taken only in the vicinity of the Cambodian border. Zones closed to tourists: near the Route 7 highway, the Saisombun Special Zone, a special administrative region administered by the army; as well as the lands adjacent to Rut-6.

The Valley of Pitchers is a territory in the north of the country, dotted with huge stone jugs of unknown origin, the weight of which reaches several tons.

After the second Indochina war, mined fields and unexploded bombs remained in some areas. Visiting these places without guides is dangerous for life: areas east of Savannakhet, Siang Khouang, Salavan, Khammuan, Sekong, Champasak, Saisombun, Hua Phan, Attapu and Lang Phanang, fields east of Luang Namtha, Phongsali, Bolikhamsai and Vientiane prefectures.

When entering the country, prophylaxis against malaria is recommended. Under no circumstances should tap water or any non-bottled water be used. Products purchased from the market should be carefully processed.

The police strictly monitor the purchase and use of drugs by tourists, who, if caught, are subject to significant fines, up to and including imprisonment.

Laos Hotels

There are many hotels in Laos, and the prices are quite reasonable, but information about most of them can be quite difficult to find on the Internet. Mains voltage 220-230 V, 50 Hz. Plugs usually have flat connectors.

Transport

When traveling in a taxi or any other vehicle type "tuk-tuk", the cost of the service should be agreed in advance, before boarding the cabin.

Money

The monetary unit of the country is the Lao kip (LAK), in 1 kip 100 cents. Current exchange rate: 100 LAK = 0.77 RUB (1 USD = 8575 LAK, 1 EUR = 9748.47 LAK).

There are banknotes in circulation in denominations of 5000, 2000, 1000, 500 and 100 LAK; there are no coins in circulation. In addition, Thai baht and US dollars are accepted everywhere. Banks are open Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 12:00 and from 13:30 to 17:30.

Currency can be exchanged at exchange offices, the airport and banks (it is better to bring US dollars with you, not rubles or EUR, etc.) Exchange offices usually have a better exchange rate, and it is safer to change currency there.

Credit cards are accepted for payment in large banks, metropolitan restaurants, hotels and shops. Traveler's checks can only be cashed at the offices of international banks.

The best photos of Laos

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Shopping and shops in Laos

In the markets and in small shops, it is worth looking for all kinds of handicrafts, fabrics, jewelry and furniture. In such places it is customary to bargain.

Large shops are open from Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 16:00, private shops - from Monday to Saturday from 9:00 to 21:00.

Cuisine and restaurants

Rice, salt, all kinds of spices and sauces are the basis of Lao cuisine. A lot of greens and vegetables are also used here, and meat and fish are subjected to heat treatment, traditional for the region, in oil or on coals. When choosing dishes, it is worth remembering three words to begin with: “khao-yao” (white rice), “khao phat” or “khao-kur” (fried rice) and “khao-nyau” (sticky rice that rolls into balls and falls into the sauce). From the choice of rice, you can already “dance” to the choice of the main dish: meat, fish or poultry.

Expensive hotels and restaurants, as a rule, add 5-10% tips to the bill.

Traveling in Laos

Guides in Laos

Entertainment and attractions of Laos

Vientiane is a pretty town with many remarkable temples and colorful markets.

Luang Prabang (Luang Prabang) - the ancient capital of Laos, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995. The city has many monasteries and temples of the 16-20 centuries, for example, the Wat Sieng Thong Monastery or the "City of Golden Temples" - the most beautiful building of Luang Prabang . Other attractions: the National Museum in the building of the former Royal Palace, the Tat-Chomsi pagoda on the "Holy Hill", the "footprint of the Buddha" Wat Phra-Bath-Ny, the monastery of Wat Visun and many others.

The most popular drink in Laos is mak mai pan, a pulpy fruit juice mixed with ice and sweetened with condensed milk or sugarcane juice.

Pakse is an important trading city of the country, the commercial and transport center of Southern Laos. It is worth visiting the Wat Luang temple on the embankment of the Se Don River, the Provincial Museum, the building of the Chinese community, the large Oriental market, and the fish farm on the Mekong River.

Jah Valley is a wilderness area between Phonsavan and Xieng Huang, where hundreds of stone urns of unknown origin are concentrated, collected in five groups. These huge structures (the largest - 10.6 tons) were carved about 2 thousand years ago.

Tourism in Laos is still in its infancy (although it is developing strongly). Therefore, you can get to many reserves and remarkable places only with an official guide who will help you complete all the documents, get "permits", etc. You can try your luck at the Department of Tourism on your own, it is better not to contact travel agencies on the spot, as they leave for a decent commission.

Holidays and events