Capital City: Vientiane
Time Zone: Laos follows the Indochina Time Zone GMT + 7.
Currency:The currency in Laos is Lao Kip LAK. At that time of writing, $1AUD converts to 6,016LAK, $1USD converts to 8,688LAK and £1GBP converts to 11,014LAK.
Credit Cards & ATMs:Credit and debit cards are accepted at some places but certainly not all. It is a good idea to carry cash on you at all times in case there are no eftpos facilities. It is also unlikely for local attractions to accept credit and debit cards.
Driving: Always drive on the right side of the road in Laos. Local drivers in Laos can often ignore the lanes and what side of the road to drive on though, so make sure you’re aware of other drivers around you.
Power: In Laos the power plugs and sockets are of type A, B, C, E and F. The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.
Visa Requirements: Australian passport holders visiting Laos require a tourist visa to enter the country. You can apply for a visa before departing Australia from the Embassy of Laos in Canberra by sending in your passport, the visa form (which you can download from the Laos Embassy Website), the visa fee of $45 USD per person and a postage paid pre-addressed envelope for them to send you passport back. The turn around is generally less than 4 business days.
Alternatively, you can purchase a visa on arrival in Laos if you are arriving via the international airport in either Vientaine or Luang Prabang. You will need to bring the consulate fee in USD with you, as well as two passport sized photos for the visa. While many consider this method safer, as you do not have to post your passport, it can result in significant delays at the airport waiting to be processed.