Traveling to Laos any tips or suggestions

Hi , Here is a Good source on Laos Information : " ntroducing Laos After years of war and isolation, Southeast Asia’s most pristine environment, intact cultures and quite possibly the most chilled-out people on earth mean destination Laos is fast earning cult status among travellers. Laos is developing quickly but still has much of the tradition that has disappeared in a frenzy of bulldozers, concrete and reality TV elsewhere in the region. Village life is refreshingly simple and even in Vientiane it’s hard to believe this sort of languid riverfront life exists in a national capital. Then, of course, there is the historic royal city of Luang Prabang, where watching as hundreds of saffron-robed monks move silently among centuries-old monasteries is as romantic a scene as you’ll experience anywhere in Asia. Away from the cities, the rivers that wind dramatically down to the Mekong, the forested mountains of the north, the gothic limestone karsts of central Laos and the 4000 riverine islands of the deep south form one of the most intact ecosystems in Asia. Not surprisingly, this wilderness is drawing travellers looking for nature, adventure or both. Kayaking, rafting, rock-climbing and biking are all available, but it’s the community-based trekking that is most popular because it combines spectacular natural attractions with the chance to experience the ‘real Laos’ with a village homestay – while spending your money where it’s needed most. There is undoubtedly a growing tourist trail in Laos, but that just means there’s plenty of roads off Rte 13 where you can make your own trail. After all, half the fun of travelling here is in the travel itself – the people you meet, chickens you share seats with, wrong turns you take and lào-láo you drink with the smiling family at the end of the road less travelled. B * Bokeo Province * Bolaven Plateau C * Champasak D * Don Det & Don Khon * Don Khong H * Hua Phan Province * Huay Xai L * Luang Nam Tha * Luang Nam Tha Province * Luang Prabang * Luang Prabang Province M * Muang Ngoi Neua * Muang Sing N * Nong Khiaw * Northern Laos P * Pakse * Phonsavan * Plain of Jars S * Sam Neua * Savannakhet * Savannakhet Province * Si Phan Don (Four Thousand Islands) * Southern Laos T * Tadlo U * Udomxai * Udomxai Province V * Vang Vieng * Vieng Xai (Pathet Lao Caves) * Vientiane * Vientiane Province X * Xieng Khuang Province More : " Travel documents Passport The only real prerequisites for entering Laos are a passport with six months’ validity and a visa if you are crossing at one of the few borders where you can’t get a visa on arrival, such as the Cambodian border at Voen Kham. Tickets Unless you’re in a country bordering Laos, your first mission is to find a flight to Bangkok. Luckily there are plenty of flights to the Thai capital, but fares fluctuate sharply. Generally, you’ll pay less but it will take longer if you fly to Bangkok with a stop on the way. For example, if you’re flying from the UK you’ll probably get a better deal with airlines such as Gulf Air, Emirates, Singapore ­Airlines, Garuda or, for those on the breadline, Biman Bangladesh – all of which involve a stop in the airline’s home city – than you would on a direct flight with British Airways or Thai International Airways (THAI). Once you’re in Bangkok, there are trains, planes and buses heading to Laos. Land Border crossings Laos shares land and/or river borders with Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, China and Vietnam. Border details change regularly, so ask around or check the Thorntree (thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/) before setting off. Most crossings involve changing transport at the border, even when you’ve paid for a ‘direct’ bus. Five of the crossings on the western border with Thailand involve quick boat trips across the Mekong. It’s possible to bring your own vehicle into Laos from Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia with the right paperwork and Lao customs don’t object to visitors bringing ­bicycles into the country. In Thailand, trains (www.railway.co.th/english) run to the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge and to Ubon Ratchathani, two to three hours from the Lao border. Unless stated otherwise, Laos issues 30-day tourist visas at crossings that are open to foreigners. Cambodia The border with Cambodia at Voen Kham is open and while it’s possible to get a Cambodian visa on arrival, for now you need to get your Laos visa in advance. There are two border points, one for road crossings and the other for boats to Stung Treng. China You can cross between Yunnan Province in China and Luang Nam Tha Province in Laos at Boten. From Mohan on the Chinese side it’s a two- to three-hour minibus ride to Mengla, the nearest large town. Myanmar Foreigners are not allowed to cross between Laos and Myanmar. However, with a valid visa you could try to cross at Xieng Kok, on the Mekong north of Huay Xai, though success is far from guaranteed. Thailand There are seven crossings to Thailand open to foreigners. Several involve taking a boat across the Mekong, or crossing the river on one of the Friendship bridges. Borders here are listed from north to south. Huay Xai & Chiang Khong Crossing to or from northern Thailand at Huay Xai on the Laos side of the Mekong and Chiang Khong on the Thai side is popular with travellers coming from northern Thailand. This is the starting point for two-day boat trips to Luang Prabang. The Friendship Bridge at Nong Khai (for Vientiane) The Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge is 22km east of Vientiane. There are direct buses between downtown Vientiane and Nong Khai, and regular runs between Nong Khai and Bangkok. Rapid and express trains from Bangkok’s Hualamphong train station run daily to Nong Khai (11 to 14 hours). Overnight trains have sleeper carriages and make a convenient, comfortable and cheap way to get to the border while saving on a hotel room. Berths costs from 488B to 1217B; costs are higher when booked through an agent in Laos. Plans to extend the rail line over the Friendship Bridge and 3km into Laos have been approved, so it might be possible to catch the train from the Laos side sometime in 2008. Paksan & Beung Kan This river crossing between Beung Kan in Thailand and Paksan in Laos, about 120km from Vientiane, is rarely used by travellers. Tha Khaek & Nakhon Phanom Another river crossing takes you from Nakhon Phanom in Thailand to Tha Khaek in Laos. Travellers who use this border are often crossing directly between Thailand and Vietnam. Savannakhet & Mukdahan This is the southernmost river crossing between Thailand and Laos. A bridge across the Mekong River near Savannakhet was opened in late 2006, giving travellers the ­option of a road or river crossing. Vang Tao & Chong Mek This border 44km west of Pakse is a popular and easy entry into southern Laos. Rapid and express trains from Bangkok’s Hualamphong train station run three or four times per day to Ubon Ratchathani (sleeping berths 471B to 1180B, 12 hours, 575km), from where it’s three or four hours to Pakse by local transport, or faster on the Thai-Lao International Bus. Vietnam At the time of writing foreigners could cross between Laos and Vietnam at six different border posts. Laos issues 30-day tourist visas at most of these, but you’ll need to get your Vietnamese visa in advance. The border at Sop Hun in Phongsali Province, just across from Tay Trang (32km west of Dien Bien Phu), has been going to open for years but is still firmly shut. Keep your eyes on the Thorn Tree for the latest. These borders are listed from north to south. Na Maew & Nam Xoi For now, the northernmost crossing is on Rte 6A between Na Maew in Hua Phan Province, Laos, and Nam Xoi in Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam. This crossing can be difficult on both sides, especially given how expensive the infrequent transport on the Vietnam side is. It is, however, the nearest border to Hanoi and the north, so if you’re adventurous and want to avoid backtracking, it’s worth a shot. Na Maew is a relatively short bus ride to/from Sam Neua, where there are buses and planes to other points in Laos. No visas are issued here. Nam Can & Nam Khan This border east of Phonsavan in Xieng Khuang Province sounds better than it actually is. Even though you’re a long way north of the Kaew Neua Pass crossing, the road on the Vietnam side runs so far south (almost to Vinh) before joining north–south Hwy 1 that this border is totally inconvenient. Nam Phao & Cau Treo The spectacular crossing through the Kaew Neua Pass, via the low-key border posts of Nam Phao on the Lao side, and Cau Treo in Vietnam, leads to Vinh and all points north, including Hanoi. Direct buses between Vientiane and Hanoi take this route, but it’s a long, torturously slow and uncomfortable trip. If you can take the pain, buses leave Vientiane’s Northern Bus Station every day for Vinh (US$16, 16 hours) and Hanoi (US$20, 24 hours), and occasionally for Hue (US$17, at least 24 hours), Danang (US$20, at least 24 hours) and even Ho Chi Minh City (US$45, up to 48 hours). Na Phao & Cha Lo Even though this remote border has a nice new highway on the Laos side, we’ve still never met anyone who’s actually crossed here. Transport runs all the way across this border from Tha Khaek to Dong Hoi in Vietnam, and back. However, no visas are available here yet. Dansavanh & Lao Bao Good roads and plentiful transport make the border at Dansavanh (Laos) and Lao Bao, 255km east of Savannakhet, probably the easiest of all crossings to/from Vietnam. If you’re heading to/from Hué, Hoi An or anywhere in central Vietnam, it’s recommended. The downside, however, is that if you want to see all of Vietnam you