Laos - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 348

Tubing on the Nam Song in Vang Vieng
(see p.364) is still the most popular
watersport in Laos, as much for the bars
along the route as for the afternoon spent
floating along the river.

country; charges range from around
5000-10,000K an hour. In tourist areas
especially, free wi-fi is widespread.

5

CRIME AND SAFETY
Laos is a relatively safe country for
travellers. For the most part, if you keep
your wits about you, you shouldn't have
any problems. heft - especially among
travellers - is likely to be your greatest
worry (aside from UXO, see box, p.379).
If you have anything stolen, you'll need
to get the police to write up a report for
your insurance; bring along a translator
if you can.

CAVING AND ROCK CLIMBING
Caving and rock climbing are best at Vang
Vieng, where Laos's first bolted cliff face
has several routes available for all abilities.
With so many limestone karsts, Laos
offers plenty of opportunities for caving,
from Vang Vieng to the area just east of
hakhek in South Central Laos. For any
caving excursion, remember to take a
head torch and some good footwear.

UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE
he Second Indochina War left Laos with
a legacy of bombs , land mines and mortar
shells that will haunt the country for
decades to come, despite the efforts of
de-mining organizations. Round,
tennis-ball-sized anti-personnel bomblets,
known as “bombies”, are the most
common type of unexploded ordnance
(UXO). Larger bombs, ranging in size
from 100kg to 1000kg, also abound.
Although most towns and tourist sites
are free of UXO, 25 percent of villages
remain contaminated. As accidents often
occur while people are tending their
fields, the risk faced by the average visitor
is extremely limited. Nonetheless, the
number-one rule is: don't be a trailblazer.
When in rural areas, always stay on
well-worn paths, even when passing
through a village, and don't pick up
or kick at anything if you don't know
what it is.

COMMUNICATIONS
Most mobile phones and smartphones
bought in recent years can be used in
Laos, though call, text and data charges
will be high, so if you're planning on
using your phone it's worth buying a
local SIM card. hese are readily available
from shops and markets, and for around
35,000K you'll be able to buy a package
with enough data to last you several
weeks of daily use. Local network Unitel
has excellent 3G coverage in even
mid-sized towns. Top-up cards can be
purchased in villages across Laos that
have even the most basic shop - just look
for the flag displaying the network's
name. Regional codes are given
throughout the chapter: the “0” must be
dialled before all long-distance calls.
Internet cafés are found all over the

LAOS ONLINE
W ecotourismlaos.com An informative

website by the Lao National Tourism
Administration that features helpful tips
on exploring Laos's national parks.
W

DRUGS
It is illegal to smoke ganja and opium in
Laos, although these and other drugs
(including magic mushrooms) are still
available in some places. Tourists who use
illegal drugs risk substantial “fines” if
caught by police, who do not need a
warrant to search you or your room.
Wide-scale government crackdowns on
drug tourism have been effective, especially
in Vang Vieng, but other areas such as the
touristy islands of Si Phan Don have found
ways to sell drugs openly.

laoembassy.com Website of the Lao
embassy to the United States features
tourist info and the latest visa regulations.
W laos-guide-999.com Good, locally
made website with information on
transport, visas and Lao culture.
W vientianetimes.com News,
accommodation listings and links to
hundreds of other websites on Laos.