Nine Laos Tourism Mistakes That Will Cost You $1m Over The Next 5 Years

By default in lower end establishments, kaafeh lao comes with sugar and condensed milk; black coffee is kaafeh dam, coffee with milk ( although you'll often be given non-dairy creamer) is kaafeh nom. To make sure you aren't fed overpriced Nescafé instead, be sure to ask for kaafeh thung.

Unlike Thai coffees, Lao coffee is not flavoured with ground tamarind seed. It's grown on the Bolaven Plateau in the south; a few prominent brands are Sinouk Coffee and Lao Mountain Coffee. Lao coffee (kaafeh) is recognised to be of very high quality.

River cruises are a popular way to take in Laotian scenery, and options include working your way up or down the Mekong. Hiring in Phonsavan to see the 'Plain of Jars' by yourself is also easy, though a 110cc will struggle on the sandy/rocky 'roads' between the jar sites so drive extremely carefully or upgrade to a 250cc Baja which is designed for such off-road conditions. In this case, check the price of the ride before embarking.

Be careful if asking a songthaew to take you to someplace if there is nobody in the back, the driver might charge you the taxi price. Songthaews are operated extensively as local buses (generally the most economical way to travel shorter distances) and also as taxis; sometimes the same vehicle will be used for both. As of January/February 2015 this is no longer true while buses and minibuses make toilet stops.

Especially women' should be aware that often during lengthy bus or minibus trips there is no opportunity to go to the toilet during breaks, so it may be advisable to wear a wide skirt. Muang Ngoi to Luang Namtha - Minivan: 10 hour trip (Oudomxay); OK road, much travelled by backpackers. These airfields are all rudimentary and flights are cancelled at the drop of a hat if weather is less than perfect.

Lao Airlines also flies 14-passenger Cessnas from Vientiane to Phongsali , Sam Neua and Sainyabuli (Xayabouly) several times a week. Being in transit by air, road or river in Laos Tourist Information, https://www.laostourism.info, can be as rewarding as the destination itself - but allow plenty of leeway in your schedule for the near-inevitable delays, cancellations and breakdowns. Usual route to/from Luang Prabang, easy bus connections to Chiang Rai and points beyond on the Thai side.

Boat crossing no longer available for foreigners. Huay Xai / Chiang Khong : Fourth Friendship Bridge completed in Dec2013. If you are over 65 then a visa extension is free, with a 50,000 kip administration fee at immigration offices and police stations, and saves you a border run!

If you want to extend for longer than two weeks and are near the Thai border, it can be more cost effective to cross the border (entry to Thailand is free for most western nationalities) and return immediately to get a new 30 day Lao visa. The slightly cooler wet season is from May to October, when temperatures are around 30°C, tropical downpours are frequent (especially July-August), and, in some years, the Mekong will flood.