Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
It's worth bearing in mind that, as in the rest of Asia, showing anger in Laos is rather futile
- it'll more likely be met with amusement or the swift departure of the person you're talking
to, in order to save face.
Social invitations
Lao people are very
hospitable
and will often go out of their way to help visitors. Especially
in rural areas, you may find people inviting you to join them for a meal or to celebrate a birth
or marriage. This is a real privilege, and even if you don't wish to stay for long, it's polite to
join them and to accept at least one drink if it's offered to you. More than anything, it gives
you a chance to experience local life, and gives Lao people a good impression of the tourists
who come to their country, and an opportunity to learn more about the world.
Sexual attitudes
Public displays of affection - even just hugging - are considered tasteless by the Lao and are
likely to cause offence. Though the gay scene remains very underground in Laos, gay trav-
ellers are unlikely to be threatened or hassled. Sexual relations between an unmarried Lao
national and a Westerner are officially illegal in Laos - in Vientiane especially, the law pro-
hibiting Lao nationals from sharing hotel rooms with foreigners is sometimes enforced.
CRIME AND PERSONAL SAFETY
Laos is a relatively safe country for travellers, although certain areas remain off-
limits because of unexploded ordnance left over from decades of warfare. As a visitor,
however, you're an obvious target for thieves (who may include your fellow travellers),
so do take necessary precautions.
Carry your passport and other valuables in zipped pockets (or a money belt, if you prefer) and
don't leave anything important lying about in your room, particularly when staying in rural
bungalows. A few hotels have safes which you may want to use, although you should keep
in mind that you never know who has access to the safe. A
padlock
and chain, or a cable
lock, is useful for doors and windows at inexpensive guesthouses and budget hotels and for
securing your pack on buses, where you're often separated from your belongings (especially
important on VIP buses aimed at tourists, where theft is more common). It's also a good idea
to keep a reserve of cash, photocopies of the relevant pages of your passport, insurance de-
tails and maybe an “emergency” credit card separate from the rest of your valuables.
As tranquil as Laos can seem, petty theft and serious crimes do happen throughout the coun-
try - even on seemingly deserted country roads. Despite improvements in the past few years,
petty crime is more common in
Vang Vieng
than just about anywhere else in Laos, with
drunk tourists often leaving themselves open to theft and robbery. Although crime rates in
