Travel Information From Belgium to Laos

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Routine Vaccines

Make sure you are up-to-date on all routine vaccines before every trip. Some of these vaccines include

• Chickenpox (Varicella)
• Diptheria-Tetanus-Pertussis
• Flu (Influenza)
• Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)
• Polio
• Shingles

COVID-19

All eligible travelers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines.

Hepatitis A

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers one year old or older going to Laos.
Infants 6 to 11 months old should also be vaccinated against Hepatitis A. The dose does not count toward the routine 2-dose series.
Travelers allergic to a vaccine component or who are younger than 6 months should receive a single dose of immune globulin, which provides effective protection for up to 2 months depending on dosage given.
Unvaccinated travelers who are over 40 years old, immunocompromised, or have chronic medical conditions planning to depart to a risk area in less than 2 weeks should get the initial dose of vaccine and at the same appointment receive immune globulin.

Hepatitis B

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers of all ages to Laos.

Japanese Encephalitis

Recommended for travelers who
• Are moving to an area with Japanese encephalitis to live
• Spend long periods of time, such as a month or more, in areas with Japanese encephalitis
• Frequently travel to areas with Japanese encephalitis
Consider vaccination for travelers
• Spending less than a month in areas with Japanese encephalitis but will be doing activities that increase risk of infection, such as visiting rural areas, hiking or camping, or staying in places without air conditioning, screens, or bed nets
• Going to areas with Japanese encephalitis who are uncertain of their activities or how long they will be there
Not recommended for travelers planning short-term travel to urban areas or travel to areas with no clear Japanese encephalitis season.

Malaria

CDC recommends that travelers going to certain areas of Laos take prescription medicine to prevent malaria. Depending on the medicine you take, you will need to start taking this medicine multiple days before your trip, as well as during and after your trip. Talk to your doctor about which malaria medication you should take.

Infants 6 to 11 months old traveling internationally should get 1 dose of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine before travel. This dose does not count as part of the routine childhood vaccination series.

Rabies

Rabid dogs are commonly found in Laos. If you are bitten or scratched by a dog or other mammal while in Laos, there may be limited or no rabies treatment available.
Consider rabies vaccination before your trip if your activities mean you will be around dogs or wildlife.
Travelers more likely to encounter rabid animals include
• Campers, adventure travelers, or cave explorers (spelunkers)
• Veterinarians, animal handlers, field biologists, or laboratory workers handling animal specimens
• Visitors to rural areas
Since children are more likely to be bitten or scratched by a dog or other animals, consider rabies vaccination for children traveling to Laos.

Typhoid

Recommended for most travelers, especially those staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas.

You will need 6 months validity remaining on your passport from the date of entry.

Local Phrases Language : Lao

Local Phrases :

Greetings

Hello = sabaidi
Good morning = sa bai di ton sao
Good afternoon = sa bai di ton suaai
Goodbye = sabaidi
Nice to meet you = nyin di thi dai hu chak chao

Conversational

How are you? = sa bai di bo
I am good thank you = khonysabaidi khobchai
What’s your name? = chao su jang
My name is … = su khong khonyaemn
Do you speak English? = chao vao pha sa ang kid dai bo
I don’t speak … = khonybo vao
How do you say… in … = chao vao aenuadai nai
I don’t understand = khony bokhaochai

Basics

Yes = aemnaelv
No = bo
Please = kaluna
Thank you = khob chai
You’re welcome = than nyinditonhab
Excuse me = kho a phai
Wait = lotha
Hurry up = vai aen
Go away = pai kai
Let’s go to = pai thi
I want to go to … = khonyyak pai
A little bit = nony nung
A lot = rai

Shopping & Eating Out

Restaurant = hanoahan
Do you have? … = chao mi bo
Not too spicy = bo phed koenpai
It was delicious = man aesb
The bill, please = bansi laikan kaluna
How much? = theoa dai
Very expensive = aephng rai
Can you reduce the price? = chao samad rud lakha daibo
Please can I have a beer? = kaluna khony samad dumbia daibo

Transportation & Directions

Taxi = thaeksi
Car = lod
Bus = lodme
Right = khuaa
Left = sai
Straight = kong
Stop here = yudyuthini

Places

Downtown = tuameuong
Street = thanon
Hotel = ohngaehm
Museum = phi phi thaphan
Mall = sunkankha
Market = tarad
Hospital = ohngmo
Doctor = thanmo
Police = toaluad
Post office = hong kan pai sa ni
Bank = thanakhan

Time & Dates

What time is it? = veladai
Today = mu ni
Tomorrow = muun
The day after tomorrow = mu hu
Yesterday = muuaanni
When? = meu dai

Emergencies

Where is the toilet? = hong noa yu sai
Help me, please = suany khony aed
Call an ambulance = othha lod suksoen
I don’t feel goo = khony bohusuk sabai

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Vientiane

Vientiane, Laos' national capital, mixes French-colonial architecture with Buddhist temples such as the golden, 16th-century Pha That Luang, which is a national symbol. Along broad boulevards and tree-lined streets are many notable shrines including Wat Si Saket, which features thousands of Buddha images, and Wat Si Muang, built atop a Hindu shrine.

Customs Allowances : Click Here

Border Scams

Laos is a beautiful country and is easy to get into. Visas are issued on arrival and the process is very straightforward, taking only a few minutes. There are scam "visa offices" which drivers may take you to in order to get your visa, but they aren't necessary as it's easy enough to fill out the paperwork yourself at the official border office. This scam is common at the Friendship Bridge between Thailand and Laos.

You may get asked to do a health check, which is another way to fleece you of some of your holiday dollars. These were originally in place to prevent against the spread of the avian flu epidemic in Asia, which has long past.
There are many tours that will facilitate crossing into Laos. These can be expensive and don't provide much more information than what can be found online. After you cross the border, people will try to sell you tours to Luang Prabang; these are expensive and largely unnecessary. Avoid changing money at the border as rates aren't great.

International Driving Permit 1949 is required

• The most common religion in Lao People's Democratic Republic is Buddhism
• Don't wear skimpy or low bikini and tight clothes.
• Don’t forget the standard Lao greeting is ”Sabaideebore” (How are you?), usually done with both hands pressed together in prayer in front of your body and accompanied with a slight bow or nod. Younger should always bow first. Some men will also shake hands.
• Don't touch strangers and locals.
• Don’t touch anyone’s head - it’s considered rude.
• Don’t touch others during conversations, especially opposite sex.
• Don’t necessarily beckon someone with palm upwards - it may be considered rude. Hold your hand palm downwards with the fingers pointing towards the ground and sway them loosely.
• Don’t forget Lao law prohibits sexual contact between foreign citizens and Lao nationals, except the two parties have been married.
• Don't pronounce it wrong - Laos is pronounced as "Lao", without "s" sound.
• Don't forget to negotiate taxi fare before you ride unless the taximeter is on.
• Don’t forget the rainy season usually lasts from May to November.
• Don’t be a victim of mosquito-borne diseases - protect yourself against bites by mosquitoes.
• Don’t leave the designated and commonly used pathways near the border with Vietnam - there still might be some unexploded mines and ordinances after Indochinese war.
• Don’t forget to remove your shoes before entering someone’s home or Buddhist temple.

Do I need travel insurance to travel to Lao People's Democratic Republic?

Travel insurance is very important when traveling overseas. We strongly recommend that you take out cover to travel to Laos. You can usually take out single trip or annual multi-trip cover to give you peace of mind should anything happen.

It can be a better and cheaper option to take annual multi-trip cover as it usually covers any number of trips taken in one year with a maximum of up to around 60 days away per trip.

We work with the top names in the industry and have already pre-selected the easiest, cheapest and best quality travel insurance on the market to save you time and money trying to find the best cover.

Travel insurance typically covers the following; however, you can tailor a policy to suit your needs depending on where you are traveling to, your activities and how long you are away.

• Medical Expenses
  Medical treatment can be extremely costly and add up very quickly, and include Overnight stays in hospital, minor or major surgery, accident and emergency treatment, drugs, COVID-19 treatment, journey home if you cannot use the original ticket, dental treatment, and many more unexpected expenses.
• Baggage and personal belongings
  If your baggage is lost, stolen, damaged or delayed it is extremely frustrating. If you must buy new clothes, toiletry products or personal belongings it can be very expensive and time consuming.
• Cancellation
  Sometimes due to unforeseen circumstances you may need to cancel your trip. This could be due to several reasons such as illness, injury, a bereavement or many other scenarios. Usually airlines, tour operators and hotels have large cancellation fees, so buying travel insurance that covers this is recommended.

Health Care

Healthcare of Lao People's Democratic Republic is ranked 115th in the world. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) has ambitious and laudable goals for universal health coverage, with a view to increasing health outcomes especially for the most vulnerable in society.

Health Risk

Caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira.

Caused by wading, swimming, bathing, or washing in contaminated water body.

Caused by Mosquito bite.

Occurs from insect bites, including mosquitoes.

Occurs from mosquito bite.

Occurs from being around, touching, or working with infected poultry.

Less commonly, being around someone sick with hantavirus.

Caused from an infected and contagious person coughing, speaking, or singing.