The famous 4,000 Islands region of Laos unfolds at the tail of
the Mekong River in the far south of the country, lapping over into
Cambodia. The area is renowned for its spectacular waterfalls,
tranquil village life and unspoiled natural beauty. It is also home
to the rare but only occasionally sighted pink Irrawaddy dolphin.
The two most popular islands are Don Khong, the largest and most
developed, and backpacker-magnet Don Det. Prices for accommodation
and food are some of the the cheapest in Asia. The area is also
used as an entrance point to Cambodia, and buses frequently make
the one-hour journey to the border. An unmissable place to visit in
Laos for young travellers, or those travelling on a tight
budget.
Lao is the official language, but some English and French
are spoken.
The Lao Kip (LAK) is the legal currency unit, currently
available in denominations of 1, 000, 5, 000, 10, 000, 20, 000 and
50, 000 kip. US Dollars, Euros and Thai Baht are also accepted in
many places and are more convenient to carry than large stacks of
the local currency. Banks, hotels, and jewellery shops all offer
currency exchange services. For everyday expenses, carry a mix of
US dollars and kip. For larger items, or when the exchange rate
works in your favour, use US dollars. For local transport, street
food stalls and minor purchases, it is best to use kip. When in
rural areas, ensure you carry a supply of small notes as change can
be hard to come by. Major credit cards such as Visa and MasterCard
are accepted at most international hotels, many shops and
restaurants, and a few tourist-orientated establishments in Luang
Prabang and Vientiane - but in other parts of the country assume
that only cash is accepted. Travellers cheques can be cashed at
most banks in Vientiane and other major towns. Banks are open
Monday to Friday from 8am to 12pm, and then again from 2pm to 3pm.
In Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Pakse and other major towns, ATMs are
available from which money can be withdrawn. Note that ATMs
distribute only Lao kip, with a maximum of around 1, 000, 000 kip per
transaction.