The Best of Cambodia & Laos

Although levels of HIV/AIDS are, at
present, relatively low in Laos, its incidence
among commercial sex workers is
quite high.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU GET
SICK AWAY FROM HOME
Medical facilities in Laos are very basic.
Most foreigners living in Laos go to Thailand
for treatment for all but the most
trivial of ailments. The Friendship Bridge
connecting Vientiane to Nong Khai in
Thailand, is open from 6am to 10pm. If
there is a real medical emergency then
crossing out of hours is allowed. Many
travelers go to AEK International Hospital
(& +66-42/342-555) or the North Eastern
Wattana General Hospital (& +66-
1/833-4262), both of which are in Udon
Thani about 55km (34 miles) from the
Laos is generally a very safe country in
which to travel, with little reported crime
and fewer of the scams so often found in
other countries in the region. However,
the vast influx of tourists and money over
the last decade has given rise to petty
crime, bag snatchings, hotel burglaries,
and low-level scams. Often these kind of
things will be more opportunistic than
planned and if you are aware of them and
use basic common sense, problems are
fairly easily avoided. Keep an eye on your
things and keep valuables concealed. Keep
an eye on your bags when on bus journeys
and keep valuables under your clothing. If
you ride a bicycle or motorbike in the city,
don’t place anything valuable in the basket—thieves
on bikes have been known to
snatch bags from baskets. Also in Vientiane,
there have been several reports of
women having day packs stolen after
they’ve changed money near the BCEL
bank on the riverfront.
6 SAFETY
border. Both hospitals have English-speaking
staff. For less complex medical procedures,
Nong Khai Wattana Hospital in
Nong Khai, Thailand (& +66-1/833-
4262) is also an option.
Within Laos, the International Medical
Clinic operated by Mahosot Hospital is
situated on the banks of the Mekong on Fa
Ngum Road (& 021/214-022; open 24
hr.). The Australian Embassy also operates
a modern medical clinic. It is situated at
Km 4 on Thadeua Road in Watnak Village.
(& 021/353-840; fax 021/353-841;
open Mon–Fri 8:30am–12:30pm and
1:30–5pm). Most doctors and hospitals in
Laos require payment in cash, regardless of
whether you have health insurance. The
Australian Embassy Clinic accepts both
MasterCard and Visa.
It is also worth noting that sexual relations
between a Lao national and a foreigner
are illegal unless they are married, and marriage
requires special permits. There have
been some reports of deliberate attempts at
entrapment with police involvement. The
fine imposed can be up to $5,000.
Drug use in Laos results in heavy fines
and expulsion at best, and imprisonment
at worst. Drugs are also having a deeply
detrimental effect on local communities,
and you as a tourist can be instrumental by
avoiding them.
Unexploded ordinance is still a major
problem in areas of previous conflict. This
is particularly true around the Plain of Jars
and indeed anywhere that was formerly a
part of the Ho Chi Minh trail. As a general
rule of thumb, stay on established paths
and roads.
Until a decade ago there were cases of
armed attacks on buses, particularly on Rte.
13 from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang.
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PLANNING YOUR TRIP TO LAOS 10
SAFETY