Hi,
I am in P.D.R. Lao, as it is called by the nationals who inform me there is no ' s ' in the name of their Country.
Visa
Visa on arrival is very easy and costs $35 USD. for one month single entry.It is quick, easy and efficient. Cash only and no facility to exchange money, so make sure you have it ready with two photos. I was apprehensive about all this till I saw how smooth it operates. We were the only jet aircraft on the runway, may be the only aircraft, with the exception of two Lao airline prop planes and an antiquated baggage handling service.
Hotel.
The Chanthapanya Hotel is OK, rooms are clean and basic and staff extremely cute and friendly but having now seen the rooms and location of others, I would definitely recommend the rooms at the Lao Orchid Hotel. The rooms alone warrant the great reveiew I think it deserves and if you can afford it, pay the extra and get a suite at $70. If you like a pool, stay at Chanthapanya on the second floor if possible. Going rate is $47 there, but don't rush down for breakfast!! mind you, it's cheap enough outside the hotel and available in good quality coffee shops. The best hotel and newest I have seen is the Salana, but don't know about bringing back to the hotel, and use Agoda to book and get the room at ┬г43 ++
Bars
The GQ bar is nearby to the Lao Orchid Hotel. There is a bit of coercing taking place by certain active members of GR based in Laos, who are running businesses here, and inviting you to meet up with them. It is all an attempt to control your places to visit and spending habits, so be warned, as if they get their way you will spend your time only in their bars or friends bars. GQ is popular, the owner Lay friendly but it needs money spending on toilets and sound system and an upgrade. He is aware of this, and I told him anyway. Quite a few locals get in there.
CCC bar is a posher version of GQ, friendly staff but I noticed a lot of the boys visiting walk around with a bit of a nose in the air and a superior attemp at attitude. They are more the plucked eyebrow and shiny face brigade who have never done a days work in their life. I found it to be that way on my visit. The place is clean and tidy with a lip sync show. Crap show for me but some may like it. I have been looking at the drinks menu (and this is a nice bar), $1.25 a bottle of beer (78p) and nothing much above $2.00! Even in the hotel bars,drink prices are cheap and cheerful!
Dom Cham Palace has a booming Hollywood style disco operating. It is a poor relation to the Thai Hollywood but draws a crowd and is certainly popular. Many freelancers trying their luck.
Bor pen yang bar
A rooftop nice beer palace on the front by the river overlooking Thailand with good staff, great music and mixed clientele. I love it.
A few myths to dispel. Everything does not close at midnight, there is action and activity in Vientiane until 4.00am and some bars are open till about 2.00 am at the moment. I don't say this is legal but they are doing it and no one seems to mind. I have met up with an Englsh guy from Thailand and we have had a ball exploring bars.
The best bar with an outside beer garden and back room karaoke and well out of the way an off the beaten track with fresh student guys and we were told, had not been visited by Foreigners before, was called Happy bar. They do not advertise at all and it is not frequented at all by westerners, I was told it was for Lao nationals as a rule, although we were made extremely welcome! A bottle of JW Red with mixers, loads of attention and good fun company was 1,000 baht.
They did charge 500 baht per off, but I think they just plucked this figure out of the air as I cannot see Lao nationals paying it. I also cannot give an address so you'll have to find a local prepared to take you!! It is down a dirt track and within a compound, and for sure I would not find it in daylight. The off fee was offset by the cheap bar prices!!
I would say it is best to change your money into local currency as the accept USD but give you a poor exchange rate. Tuk tuks are far more expensive than Thailand, and the attitude of some of them would be better placed with those rogues operating taxis in Phuket. There are also a lot of these guys trying to sell ganja.
These Lao guys are not as hungry as the MB in Thailand and certainly more laid back. You can catch their poor attempts at conning a lot easier too. I have found a lot of them with acceptable and even good English spoken. There seems to be lots of student guys around but it is the capital after all.
Bar prices are very acceptable everywhere you go as is good food. I will keep you updated as we go but won't be glued to my keyboard.
It is a very different experience. Hotel receptionists are usually asleep and don't even notice trade being dragged back nor lift their heads from their slumber.
It is also apparent and a refreshing change not to see any Police at all around the streets, no cops on motorbikes or in pick ups.
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Originally Posted by a447
