Laos, Vientiane

[ch1ldofthemoon]

I went to Laos,early December 2006. Arrived by train from Bangkok at Nong Khai,tuk-tuk to the border.$30 for visa and another tuk-tuk to Vientienne. I stayed at the Phonepaseuth Guesthouse,near the fountain,in Vientienne. Think it was $6 a night.Rooms were clean and comfortable.
Nightlife is virtually non-existant,and all the bars closed before midnite. Went to a big hotel called the Lane-Xang for a heavy drinking session one night....3 farangs drinking jack-sprite or vodka-coke,also had filet mignon steak for dinner while there,bought all the staff a drink(about 12 of them).Session started at about 9pm and we left at 3a.m.Total bill for the drinks/meal was 1200 Baht !!
Was approached by a few ladies,hanging out near the fountain.Asking price was 500 Baht for the night.Most were a bit rough (if your a good looker,why stay in Backpacker Heaven,when Thailands not far away?).
I did take one lady back to my guesthouse,no problem at all taking her to my room.Reception just checked the ladies I.D.
Overall,I hated the place,lots of building work going on,especially new pavements,but it was cheap. Three of us went for a `proper` massage,one and half hours oil massage cost $4 for three people(about 46 Baht each).
Left after 3 days and flew upto Chiang Mai instead....best thing I ever did!

[Frankenstein]

Got the name of the massage place for $4?

[baldrick]

what are the duty free allowances for Laos for booze and ciggys (tobacco in grams )?

[ch1ldofthemoon]

^^ sorry,I cant remember the name of the massage parlour

[waah]

I had a wicked time in Vientianne about 8 months ago, until about 11pm, just when I was warmed up for the night when the bar shut... I don't think it will be so long before the govt realise that if they let some more places open late, they will make a shitload more tourist dollars!

[MeMock]

Whats a V shop?

[waah]

^ Like a Sewen, or a Flesh mart/Famiwy mart

[Frankenstein]

I had a wicked time in Vientianne about 8 months ago, until about 11pm, just when I was warmed up for the night when the bar shut... I don't think it will be so long before the govt realise that if they let some more places open late, they will make a shitload more tourist dollars!

You have to find the right people - there are a few after hours places which the police seem to turn a blind eye to. I got talking to a local expat who took me around to two of these last time i was there.

[waah]

^Thanks for the tip, where is the best expat hang out, I just kind of meandered around the area along the Mekong, and ended up chatting to other tourists, not expats!

[Frankenstein]

Well, I went back to the same place I was last time where I met these expats who took me around, but that place had turn into something of a freelance hooker hangout. That's fine if you're looking for that type of thing, personally I wasn't...

I noticed lots more rude, fat, perpetually pissed sexpat slobs around town this time too. Anyways, the bar is the one right next to the fountain, i.e. in the middle of the tourist district. Called Kobjai Deu if I am not mistaken.

[pomeloseed]

I always enjoyed Vientiane, the several times I went - though haven't been recently. There's some 'whoring' to be found if you go to the river road and take a right - just after the road loses its tarmac. Never had a problem bringing a gal to my guest house room, but I did get popped once driving her home afterwards: around midnight we turned right on a large 4 lane road with zero traffic. we went about 25 meters and she told me to stop. She jumped off and trotted down an alley. Concurrently, two cops showed up and told me politely that I had gone the wrong way down a one-way street (nearly impossible to see the sign). After haggling for about fifteen minutes, they dropped the fine from $30 to $15.

I also like taking a rented motorbike out to do a big 4 or 5 hour arc out in the countriside. If you have a good sense of direction, you can't really get lost, and the locals along the way are invariably cheery - a very pleasant change from Thailand.

[sunderlandstephen]

Have heard it`s a no-no 2 fratanize with Laos girls? What `s their attitude if i take Thai gf 2 Laos

[ch1ldofthemoon]

I was in Laos with my thai gf for ten days,last december. She loved Laos and the Laos`s loved her.
She told me that Chaing Mai Thai was virtually the same as Laos.So buying / ordering stuff was easy. We`d go into restaurants and she`d head straight for the kitchen....typical thai thing
She loved the food,hot`n`spicy,how she likes it....unlike Cambodian food,which she said was `bland`.
I think have a Thai with you,is a blessing...

[Frankenstein]

Have heard it`s a no-no 2 fratanize with Laos girls? What `s their attitude if i take Thai gf 2 Laos

Shouldn't be problem unless she is lacking in basic social skills.

[peterpan]

I gotta go in 2 weeks for a non imm O Marriage, anyone got any info on exactly whats required ?

[Marmite the Dog]

I gotta go in 2 weeks for a non imm O Marriage, anyone got any info on exactly whats required ?

This might be helpful.

The Royal Thai Consulate of Hull

[peterpan]

Thnx Marmers but from what I have been told so far its quite different getting one in Lao than in Brisbane where I normally get my type O marriage and have been doing so for over a decade. So imagine the Hull one would be similar to Brisbane, but quite different to Lao.

[qwerty]

I just got an O in Vientaine. Here's what I had:

1. A copy of my passport. I copied every page, just to be on the safe side.
2. A copy (and the original) of our Marriage Certificate.
3. A copy of my wife's ID card and Tabian Baan.
4. My wife (not a copy!)
5. 2,000 baht. (they wanted baht, not Kip or $'s)

What I should have brought, but forgot, was an umbrella! You have to stand in the sun for abut 2 hours x 2!

[sunderlandstephen]

for the border? or thai immigration? or for the town in general?

The closing times for restaurants, bars, clubs is still generally 11:30 or 12 but there is a bowling ally in town that is open till 4-5am, when in town you can ask any tuk tuk driver to take you to "bowling" and they will know.

Thanks that`s handy to know

[sunderlandstephen]

forget about whoring, bring your meal with you

Have heard girls frequent the bowling ally,did you try there.Reply when you can.Thanks

[sunderlandstephen]

forget about whoring, bring your meal with you

What`s the pitfalls of meeting up with Thai girlfriend in Laos .I`m going via Bangkok,her from Udon Thanni.
What you susspended for,if you don`t mind me asking.This assuming your susspension lifted.

[peterpan]

I just got an O in Vientaine. Here's what I had:

1. A copy of my passport. I copied every page, just to be on the safe side.
2. A copy (and the original) of our Marriage Certificate.
3. A copy of my wife's ID card and Tabian Baan.
4. My wife (not a copy!)
5. 2,000 baht. (they wanted baht, not Kip or $'s)

What I should have brought, but forgot, was an umbrella! You have to stand in the sun for abut 2 hours x 2!

I did the same, all of the above in addition my kids births certs and their Tabian Baan,

The wait wasn't that long actually, felt like two hours but really only about 30 Mins and they had provided a tent over the waiting area. maybe another 40 Mins wait in the comfort of the AC in the main building.
An umbrella wouldn't go amiss tho'.
Aside from me, there were some dodgy looking characters there, TEFL'ers and the like.

A lot of guys brought their SD's along as well, dunno why, there were some great looking girls around in Vientiane. I wished I had taken my camera, one guys, girl had a "Live to fuck" underneath it "Pattaya" tattoo on her shoulder.

A good idea is to bring some water along with you, and have a piss before you go, no facilities at all.

[The Gentleman Scamp]

Anyway, has anybody else been to Laos lately? I would definitely recommend it as place to go to get away from it all for a couple days.

I agree completely.

If you decide to go to Laos make sure you bring dollars for the visa as it is more costly to pay in baht (about $10 more). For US citizens the cost is $35 or 1500 baht (you calculate the difference) and between $30 and $40 for most other European countries. All together my 3 night trip cost about 7000 baht including 1500 for Laos visa and 1000 baht for Thai tourist visa ( make sure all your papers are in perfect order when applying for non-imm visa, they are very particular).

I think it only works out that way if you are American and have US dollars lying around anyway. You can definately do three nights for less than 7,000 without staying in some flophouse.

Despite all that is going on the atmosphere is very "sabai" and given the friendliness of the locals I would think Laos would be called the land of smiles.

It is on Beer Lao ads.

Is there any nightlife in Vientaine, if so how do I find it ??

Not much, but the Samlo bar is a great night out if you get it in a busy night, for some reason Monday's are busier than Saturdays - luck of the draw I guess. It's on the main rd side of the fountain a few yards up. Pub Crawl Asia Soppy Nightlife Beer Drinking Laos Vientiane Samlo Pub

it's illegal in Laos to have a woman in your room if you are not married...

It is???

[peterpan]

If you are a wine buff there is a great cellar on Thanon Samsenthai, Its only one shop house wide but very deep, lined with bottles from floor to ceiling. Brilliant

I stopped in for a few glasses, of a selection of Cab savs They have a limited snack selection, smoked Salmon etc. Ph is 856 21217700
Worth a visit if your in Vientiane.