Laos - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 655

MEDICAL SERVICES
There are plenty of pharmacies in the centre of town.

Provincial Hospital ( 071-254025; Ban Naxang; doctor's consultation 100,000K) OK for minor
problems but for any serious illnesses consider flying to Bangkok or returning to Vien-
tiane and neighbouring hospitals across the Thai border. Note that the hospital in Luang
Prabang charges double for consultations at weekends or anytime after 4pm.

MONEY

BCEL (Th Sisavangvong; 8.30am-3.30pm Mon-Sat) Changes major currencies in cash or trav-
ellers cheques, has a 24-hour ATM and offers cash advances against Visa and MasterCard.

Minipost Booth (Th Sisavangvong; 7.45am-8.30pm, cash advances 9am-3pm) Changes most ma-
jor currencies at fair rates and is open daily. After 6pm it's easy to miss, hidden behind
market stalls.

POST

8.30am-3.30pm Mon-Fri, to noon Sat) Phone calls and Western Post Office (Th Chao Fa Ngum;

Union facilities.

TELEPHONE
Most internet cafes in town have Skype and can offer international calls at 2000K per
minute or less.
The Minipost Booth ( Click here ) sells mobile-phone SIM cards.

TOURIST INFORMATION

Provincial Tourism Department ( www.tourismlaos.com ; Th Sisavangvong; 8am-4pm Mon-Fri) Gen-
eral information on festivals, ethnic groups, maps and leaflets, plus information on buses
and boats. Staff speak limited English.

Getting There & Away

AIR
Around 4km from the city centre, Luang Prabang International Airport ( 071-212 173) is de-
cidedly modest, though big expansion plans are afoot. For Bangkok (from US$190, 100
minutes), Bangkok Airways MAP ( www.bangkokair.com ) and Lao Airlines ( 071-212 172;
www.laoairlines.com ; Th Pha Mahapatsaman) both fly twice daily. Lao Airlines also serves Vien-
tiane (US$101, several daily), Pakse (US$182, daily), Chiang Mai (US$150, daily), Hanoi
(US$155, daily) and Siem Reap (US$195, daily). Vietnam Airlines ( 071-213 049;