Time Zone

Visitors to Laos must obtain a visa from one of the Laotian diplomatic missions or online unless they come from one of the visa-exempt countries or qualify for a visa on arrival. All visitors must hold a passport valid for 6 months. Citizens of Cambodia, Indonesia, Russia, Singapore, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, and South Korea enjoy visa-free access to Laos for a maximum of 30 days; citizens of Japan, Luxembourg, and Switzerland can visit Laos visa-free for a maximum of 15 days; citizens of Brunei and Myanmar can visit Laos visa-free for 14 days. Visitors of other nationalities may obtain a visa on arrival valid for 30 days for a fee at most of the 27 ports of entry to the country, except for Napao-Chalo (Vietnam), Subhun (China), Pakxan-Bueng Kan (Thailand), and Xieng Kok river port (Myanmar). All other citizens must obtain a visa before arrival from a Laotian diplomatic mission. Please check the following list of whether the e-Visa service is available in your country. Please find the link below:

Planning your trip to the 'city of the Golden Buddha Phra Bang' from November to March means that you'll have the chance to experience the city with relatively dry and chill weather. However, these months are known as the peak season, meaning that the area will be overcrowded and accommodation rates doubled. This is also the period to hit several important festivals and events: Pimay, Lao new year and Boun That Luang held respectively in April and October are among the most fascinating ones. An alternative to this would be visiting Luang Prabang during the rainy season (May to September) when the main chunk of tourists leaves and the weather is still pleasant enough to enjoy the city (despite the afternoon showers).

GMT+7

The Lao language is the official language of Laos, also spoken in northeastern Thailand. As a former French protectorate, French is still well-liked and appreciated by high-profile individuals, such as diplomats. English is also very common with younger generations. Other minority languages are spoken by the different ethnicities of Laos.

Bicycle is an eco-friendly way to discover Luang Prabang's wonders. Sabaidee LuangPrabang Travel features a wide range of bikes to choose from. Prices vary based on the number of days and bike types (e.g. 1-7 days will cost around 6 USD for a mountain bike and around 2.5 USD for a regular bike). ID, passport, and cash are required to rent a bike or book your bike tour.

To live Luang Prabang to the fullest, hop on a boat and experience the most scenic and picturesque way to marvel at the city's mind-blowing scenery. The main aquatic thoroughfares are the Mekong River, Nam Ou, Nam Khan, Nam Tha, Nam Ngum and Se Kong. Boats of different sizes navigate jewel-blue streams through lush vegetation. The Mekong River is the most important route and navigable year-around. You can get from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang on the so-called 'slowboat' on a two-day journey. The fare is around 250,000K (30 USD) and it is the cheapest option. If patience is not your friend, there is also the speedboat which is slightly more expensive but takes you to Luang Prabang in 6 hours. To make it more comfortable for travellers, Mekong Cruises and Mekong River Cruises organise multi-day cruises, providing the best service on board. Contact them at the websites below for detailed information.

Medical care in Luang Prabang has improved significantly over the last few years, but the lack of medical facilities remains a major problem in the whole area. Some of the most reputable hospitals in the area of the Luang Prabang are Attapeu Province Hospital and Khammouane Province Hospital with French- and English-speaking staff ready to help travellers in need and a 24-hour emergency service, including ambulances. Most of the time, patients with more serious injuries are transferred by road or air to Thailand. As for pharmacies, please avoid purchasing medicines from markets since counterfeit pharmaceuticals are a common problem. Here's a shortlist of reputable pharmacies in the area: - Bouaphan Pharmacy (English-speaking staff) Sakkaline Rd., Luang Prabang - Phakan's clinic (English-speaking staff and efficient service) Laos

Set in close proximity to the night market, the main post office – La Poste – opens Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4 pm and 5 pm to 8 pm. It provides services such as phone calls, DHL and Western Union facilities. Stamps can be purchased at corner shops.

+586 is Laos' country code that will allow you to call from abroad 71 is Luang Prabang's area code +586 71 is followed by a 6-digit phone number (e.g. +586 71 xxx xxx)

There are five different power plug and sockets types, A, B, C, E, and F. The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. See what electric plugs look like on the image slider and find out whether you need a travel adaptor.