Laos is spread over a total area of 236,800 sq. km. and the thickly forested landscape consists mostly of rugged mountains, with some plains and plateaus. The Mekong River forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand, whereas the mountains of the Annamite Chain form most of the eastern border with Vietnam. Cambodia is to the south, Myanmar (Burma) and China to the northwest. Laos has a rich history stretching back 10,000 Years. At its height, it ruled over present day Laos and much of Thailand. Buddhism permeates every facet of life, changes come slowly, and cities bed down early. The total population of Laos is around 6 million.
Vientiane is the capital and larges city of Laos, with and estimated population of about 200,000. It is a laid back city with a number of interesting wats, Buddhist monasteries and lively markets. Vientiane has around 10 top-end hotels and plenty of guesthouses, most of them moderately expensive or low priced. Most of the accommodation is in central Vientiane. You can eat at cafes, street stalls, beer halls or restaurants.
Luang Prabang is the former capital of Laos and today only has a population of about 16,000, and few concessions to 21th-century living, save for infrequent electricity and a few cars and trucks. Luang Prabang is one of the most serene towns in Southeast Asia, and a must see when visiting Laos. Much of the town, its pagodas and temples are protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Equally fascinating are the Pak Ou caves which can be reached by a 2 hours boat trip upstream from Luang Prabang. The caves shelter numerous Buddha images of varying styles, ages and sizes.
Vat Phou, also a World Heritage site, is a ruined Khmer temple complex in the southern Laos. There was a temple on the site as early as the 5th century, but the surviving structures date from the 11th to 13th centuries. The temple has a unique structure, in which the elements lead to a shrine where a linger was bathed in water from the mountain spring. The Plain of Jars in Xieng Khuang Province is believed to be over 2,000 years old. Huge jars of mysterious origin are arranged in over a dozen different groupings, including several hundred in five major groups. Each jar weights about 6.6 tons and is made from solid stone that does not appear to come from the area. The jars have many different sizes and shapes, they are believed to have been used for burial purpose.
National carrier Lao Airlines, Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways have regular flights to the international airports at Vientiane and Luang Prabang. Tourists can also enter or exit Laos by land from Cambodia, China, Thailand and Vietnam, but not from Myanmar. The most popular tourist crossing is the Friendship Bridge across the Mekong Rive between Nong Khai in Thailand and Vientiane.
Most Asean nationalities and a few others can enter Laos without a visa. All other tourists need a visa in form of a tourist visa issued by a Lao embassy or consulate. A visa on arrival is also available to most people entering the international airports in Vientiane and Luang Prabang, as well as by the Thai Lao Friendship Bridge between Thailand and Laos. When applying for a visa or to obtain a visa on arrival, one passport photo as well as the passport is required.
Laos has three distinct seasons. The hot season is from March to May, when temperatures can reach 40C. The slightly cooler wet season from May to October, when temperatures are around 30C and tropical downpours are frequent. The dry season from November to March, which has low rainfall and temperatures as low as 15C. Most tourists visit Laos during the dry season.
