* Passport and Visa
All nationalities are required to have visa before getting into Laos. Visa is usually delivered by Lao Embassies who require the original passport and 2 photos for two full working days in order to stamp the visa. If Visa is arranged by Jewel Tours upon the client request, the personal data (full name, passport number with date of issuance and expiry, date and place of birth, nationality) must be supplied to us at least 14 days before arrival to Laos. Visas can also be obtained upon arrival in Laos at three places: Wattay Airport in Vientiane, Luang Prabang Airport and at the Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge in Vientiane. The visa fee is US$30 per person with the following supporting documents: return air ticket or entry visa to a third country, correspondence or contact with a local person or organization, confirmation letter of reserved accommodation. However, the procedure of getting visa will be changed from time to time.
 
* Customs
The regulations are now relaxed for travelers arriving by air at Wattay airport in Vientiane. Passengers should have completed immigration and customs declaration forms during the flights and must submit these on arrival.
 
* Currency
The local currency is the KIP. The exchange rate at the time of updating is approximately 9,800 KIP to one US. Dollar. Travelers can make an exchange either at licensed exchange shops in the major cities or at your hotel. While paying in Laos. Traveler cheques and other currencies than U.S Dollars are only accepted by major banks. It is best to carry US Dollar bills in small denominations.
 
* Climate
Laos can be visited throughout the year. The dry or cool season begins end of October and lasts until end of February. It is necessary to take along a pullover or jacket during the cool season as nights can be very cool, especially in the mountainous areas such as Luang Prabang, the plain of jars, Saravane and Houeixai. The hot season lasts from March to June and light cotton and hats are recommended. The rainy season starts in June and ends in October. For visitors travelling between end of March and beginning of April, please note in the mountainous areas where the slash and burn cultivation remained, the weather may be worse caused by smokes and domestic flights might be delayed or cancelled.
 
* Health requirements
No vaccinations are presently required. If travelling to remote or border areas, travelers should check with their doctor or travel immunization clinic regarding the advisability of inoculation against Typhoid, hepatitis, tetanus and Japanese encephalitis.
 
* International flights
The direct flights to Vientiane are available from Bangkok, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Phnom Penh, Kunming, Chiang Mai (via Luang Prabang ). By air : Presently, Vientiane is the only legal point of disembarkation in Laos for air passengers. At the present time, Bangkok is the most common gateway for entry to Vientiane, although it is possible to come from Hanoi, Phnom Penh, Ho Chi Minh City, Yangon, Kunming (CHINA), Chiang Mai, Singapore and Kualalumpur as per schedules show below: Airport arrival : Arrivals at Wattay airport, Vientiane are generally rather casual event. Carry-on bags are not surely inspected if that all you have brought. For checked baggage when claimed at counter ,sometimes passengers are required to declare if they had antiques and silver item brought with.
 
* Overland
The other way to get into Laos is by land from  Vietnam, China, Thailand. Tourists can pass the border at the following entry points:  From Nongkhai (Thailand ) by crossing Mekong River by shuttle bus; From Chiangkhong (Thailand) by crossing Mekong River by ferry to Houeixey;  From Southern China (Yuna ) to Luang Namtha province via Boten check point.  From Mukdahan (Thailand ) and from Quang Tri (Vietnam ) to Savanakhet; From Ubol Rachathani (Thailand ) to Pasker; From Vinh (Vietnam) via Keo Neua check point to Km 20 , Khamkeuth district Borikhamxay province, then on to Vientiane by bus.
 
* Language
The official language of Lao RPD is Lao. It is spoken in different parts of the country. The Vientiane dialect is understood throughout the country. In spite of the colonial past, French remains the second official language. English is in common use among business sectors and young generations.
 
* Public holidays
            January 1 : International New Years Day
            Mar 8 :       International Women Day
            May 1 :      Labour Day
            Oct 14 :     Boat Racing Festival in Vientiane
            Dec 2 :       Laos National Day
 
* Tipping
Tipping is not obligatory in Laos, but is nonetheless widely practiced in hotels and restaurants in addition to the service charges shown on bills. (Porters, 500 -  1,000 Kip per bag.)
 
* Airport tax
Airport tax is US$ 1,0 per passenger on domestic flights and US$ 10 per passenger on international flights.
 
* Time zone
Laos time is 7 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). It lies in the same time zone as its neighbors Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.