As most of Essan is populated by Laotians u get the same food as well.

but a very different mindset!

Well if the Mekong was situated elsewhere and the Brits and French didnt meddle, Issan might have been Lao.

But dont tell a Thai from Issan that I said that!

most of Essan was populated by Laotians that were kidnapped from their villages in Laos in the 1800's

Read the book "history of Thailand" by Chris Baker ( its on torrent.)

Evening strolls in Vientiane.

Luang Prabang.

There's more things I love about Laos but this is good for now....

Why is everyone mentioning beer lao? you can get it in thai 7-11s

Not Beer Lao Gold

Beer Lao dark!

Best beer in Asia - not like the horsep... in LOS

Ok. You guys have convinced me.

Cruisemonkey. Do you have any route maps?

I am up that way in early December and prefer minimal dirt and mud but love mountainous twisted ribbons of bitumen.

Are there any issues taking a Thai registered bike into Laos?

There is a ride through central Laos (Khammouane Province to be exact) called "The Loop" it is about 400 KM i believe and it goes past one of the biggest caves in Southeast Asia (Khonglor cave). It is getting bigger and bigger with the lonely planet group year after year, so do it soon. I have attempted to do it twice but have ended up getting stranded on my own will (it was too much fun) at the "Sabaidee Guesthouse" in Thalang village (about 120 KM into the loop if starting out going East from Thakhek) . Had so much fun, brought my brother the second time. I will go back in early September for my third attempt at it

as for bringing in a bike, I have heard different stories, I cannot confirm either way. If you do end up doing this trip and want some more first hand information feel free to PM me, I really enjoyed the parts I did, so it would be fun to help someone else out.

There is no map for the first trip I mentioned... the 'road' (I use the term loosely) north from Vang (about 75 km west of Vientiane) doesn't even show up on Googe Maps at the closest zoom. There was no 'plan', we just went... north from Vang through Naleng Tai, None Hai, Pakham to Feuang and Done... with a side trip to Sammun, back to Done, then east over to Hin Hoeup to get on the road to Vang Vieng... and up to Kasi, and Phou Khoun. We were going to go to Phonsavan and The Plain of Jars, but got to around Phou Vieng where torrential rain forced us off the road into a restaurant... where we waited half a day, then decided there was not enough time. Turned around and headed back to Vientiane.

There's lots of info. on the 'Thakhek Loop' - just Google it. We did a little 'side trip' from Lak Sao to the Vietnam border up in the mountains. Kong Lor Cave is in the centre of the loop (south east from Nahin). Here's a map -

Such a pity Laos doesn't have a retired ( O-A ) visa like Thailand

There are several unofficial ways to retire in Laos, each of which carries its own set of advantages and disadvantages. The first, most popular, and undoubtedly quickest method for remaining in Laos for the long term is to make use of successive thirty-day tourism visas, each extended to ninety days of validity from inside Laos.

These visas can be applied for back to back as you leave and return to Laos, with no formal limit on quantity of validity of the tourism visas. Thousands of foreigners in Laos reside in the country legally using this method, and an informal ‘visa run’ bus and tour industry has emerged for the sole purpose of serving foreign expatriates.

The problem in laos is that anything that you can get is a dark girl... It seems that the white skin girls do not mess with foreigners yet !

But yes, it's the only place around that is worth living if you want to retire from Thailand !

What's wrong with dark girls? And what's your idea of dark?

Lao girls rules !! And of course the fact that there is NO shit piles laying around....

Of course I would also agree with above mentioned beer Lao..

The girls are just a bit expensive at 3000 baht for short time......NOT that this is my experience but just observing the scene......

How much is that in local 'income'?

A million times the minimum wage?

Great!

So you think they should only ask for, or be paid, minimum wage?

Well, I don't think they are worth 5 times the daily minimum wage for less than an hour of work.

The problem in laos is that anything that you can get is a dark girl... It seems that the white skin girls do not mess with foreigners yet !

But yes, it's the only place around that is worth living if you want to retire from Thailand !

What's wrong with dark girls? And what's your idea of dark?

Lao girls rules !! And of course the fact that there is NO shit piles laying around....

Of course I would also agree with above mentioned beer Lao..

The girls are just a bit expensive at 3000 baht for short time......NOT that this is my experience but just observing the scene......

How much is that in local 'income'?

A million times the minimum wage?

Great!

So you think they should only ask for, or be paid, minimum wage?

Well, I don't think they are worth 5 times the daily minimum wage for less than an hour of work.

You'll find prostitutes the world over will earn substantially more than minimum wage. It's hardly a pleasant job or one with long term earning potential.

The problem in laos is that anything that you can get is a dark girl... It seems that the white skin girls do not mess with foreigners yet !

But yes, it's the only place around that is worth living if you want to retire from Thailand !

What's wrong with dark girls? And what's your idea of dark?

Lao girls rules !! And of course the fact that there is NO shit piles laying around....

Of course I would also agree with above mentioned beer Lao..

The girls are just a bit expensive at 3000 baht for short time......NOT that this is my experience but just observing the scene......

How much is that in local 'income'?

A million times the minimum wage?

Great!

So you think they should only ask for, or be paid, minimum wage?

Well, I don't think they are worth 5 times the daily minimum wage for less than an hour of work.

You'll find prostitutes the world over will earn substantially more than minimum wage. It's hardly a pleasant job or one with long term earning potential.

Why all this world knowledge? Have you been a prossie in your previous life ?

Girls that speak English will try to get 3000baht as most of them have returned from Thailand and are used to getting this amount.

As for white skinned girls, You need to go about 5km from the center of town on T4 road to find these, and you'll pay less than 1000baht. Just ask a tuk tuk to take you to T4.

you must be fat bald and old, I have never seen nor heard of such prices in Asia in 5 years.

It is a polite way of saying they don't want to go with you.

The Lao people are so much friendlier than Thais.

I have never seen scams or been offered drugs.

I love the country

Girls that speak English will try to get 3000baht as most of them have returned from Thailand and are used to getting this amount.

As for white skinned girls, You need to go about 5km from the center of town on T4 road to find these, and you'll pay less than 1000baht. Just ask a tuk tuk to take you to T4.

you must be fat bald and old, I have never seen nor heard of such prices in Asia in 5 years.

It is a polite way of saying they don't want to go with you.

The Lao people are so much friendlier than Thais.

I have never seen scams or been offered drugs.

I love the country

Obviously you've never been to Laos or to T4. I live here so I sholud know. Just another d... who knows nothing!

Such a fantastic country, usually stay in Luang Prabang

in a little guest house overlooking the Mighty Mekong

and all the riverside eateries, Just Heaven.

Care to name the guesthouse and cost? Thanks.

Such a pity Laos doesn't have a retired ( O-A ) visa like Thailand

There are several unofficial ways to retire in Laos, each of which carries its own set of advantages and disadvantages. The first, most popular, and undoubtedly quickest method for remaining in Laos for the long term is to make use of successive thirty-day tourism visas, each extended to ninety days of validity from inside Laos.

These visas can be applied for back to back as you leave and return to Laos, with no formal limit on quantity of validity of the tourism visas. Thousands of foreigners in Laos reside in the country legally using this method, and an informal ‘visa run’ bus and tour industry has emerged for the sole purpose of serving foreign expatriates.

And the other unofficial ways to retire there? Care to expound on them? Thanks.

What's wrong with dark girls? And what's your idea of dark?




Well, I don't think they are worth 5 times the daily minimum wage for less than an hour of work.

You'll find prostitutes the world over will earn substantially more than minimum wage. It's hardly a pleasant job or one with long term earning potential.

"Hardly a pleasant job"...well that's debatable and depends on perspective.

"hardly.......one with long-term earning potential"....i wish you would tell that to them! I ain't noticed any price difference as they get older.

Hi PURUSHANTI,

The place in question is SAYO RIVER GUEST HOUSE

Phone [856-71] 212 484. And as I said is right on

the River. Last time there was priced at US50 per night/

maybe a bit more now

Such a pity Laos doesn't have a retired ( O-A ) visa like Thailand

There are several unofficial ways to retire in Laos, each of which carries its own set of advantages and disadvantages. The first, most popular, and undoubtedly quickest method for remaining in Laos for the long term is to make use of successive thirty-day tourism visas, each extended to ninety days of validity from inside Laos.

These visas can be applied for back to back as you leave and return to Laos, with no formal limit on quantity of validity of the tourism visas. Thousands of foreigners in Laos reside in the country legally using this method, and an informal ‘visa run’ bus and tour industry has emerged for the sole purpose of serving foreign expatriates.

And the other unofficial ways to retire there? Care to expound on them? Thanks.

Go to Google and type in RETIRE IN LAOS and all the information is there.

in all honesty...

Laos will never be a major destination for western ex pats for retiring unless they desire a laid back, quiet, low key life style

lets be honest without judgement here, many falangs don't want to retire in Laos because the nightlife/woman lifestyle just isn't as prevalent there....

you know what I say...

Thank the lord.

I have been bitten by a virus, its called LPDR.

Such a fantastic country, usually stay in Luang Prabang

in a little guest house overlooking the Mighty Mekong

and all the riverside eateries, Just Heaven.

Care to name the guesthouse and cost? Thanks.

i stay at the www.alounsavath.com GH

I pay $25 for room 2 on low season, $50 in high fill up fast.

Great people

breakfast

fantastic views

park right on the street in front

in all honesty...

Laos will never be a major destination for western ex pats for retiring unless they desire a laid back, quiet, low key life style

lets be honest without judgement here, many falangs don't want to retire in Laos because the nightlife/woman lifestyle just isn't as prevalent there....

you know what I say...

Thank the lord.

I have been bitten by a virus, its called LPDR.

not all of us care about nightlife or women, I live in phuket and have not been in a bar in years nor have taken a st

have a gf and am happy

am here cause i love the beach, availability of restaurants, shopping, friends and easy getting things done.

otherwise Laos is very appealing but it is slow

in all honesty...

Laos will never be a major destination for western ex pats for retiring unless they desire a laid back, quiet, low key life style

lets be honest without judgement here, many falangs don't want to retire in Laos because the nightlife/woman lifestyle just isn't as prevalent there....

you know what I say...

Thank the lord.

I have been bitten by a virus, its called LPDR.

There are a few retirees that I know who like the low ley life style and enjoy playing golf.

It's not everyone's place though.

in all honesty...

Laos will never be a major destination for western ex pats for retiring unless they desire a laid back, quiet, low key life style

lets be honest without judgement here, many falangs don't want to retire in Laos because the nightlife/woman lifestyle just isn't as prevalent there....

you know what I say...

Thank the lord.

I have been bitten by a virus, its called LPDR.

No matter what the topic, there are always TV members wanting to convert it to one about sex.

Availability, cost and skin tone of the girls willing to pretend an old fart is not repulsive.

What a life!

I doubt that this was such a big concern in the years BV. ( before viagra) ?

There are some of us retirees out here who have stable relationships with good women and really do not care about "Nightlife/Lifestyle".

I wouod never decide where to retire based on what it cost to have someone pretend they like me..no matter what their skin tone.

P.S. What the hell does your invisible friend " the lord" have to do with any of this and with Laos?

Laos, like Thailand' is a good Buddhist country and your lord is not employed there.

It seems some TV members try to work him into every thread they can as well!

in all honesty...

Laos will never be a major destination for western ex pats for retiring unless they desire a laid back, quiet, low key life style

lets be honest without judgement here, many falangs don't want to retire in Laos because the nightlife/woman lifestyle just isn't as prevalent there....

you know what I say...

Thank the lord.

I have been bitten by a virus, its called LPDR.

Don't kid yourself on. Give it a few years.

Such a pity Laos doesn't have a retired ( O-A ) visa like Thailand

Maybe they will have one ( retired Visa ) when they will have a real international hospital;

For serious accidents or life problems you must go to Thailand .

I haven't been to Lao in something like 7-8 years and quite liked it. I think it's time to visit again. Thanks for your thoughts on Lao.

The architecture French influences and the food. I was surprised at the variety of farang food. Everything's cheap. Rickshaw drivers going anywhere for about the price of a bottle of water.

What I love about Laos? The fact that you lot don't live here

The architecture French influences and the food. I was surprised at the variety of farang food. Everything's cheap. Rickshaw drivers going anywhere for about the price of a bottle of water.

Perhaps rickshaws but motorbike rentals, food and accommodation all higher than Thailand with less infrastructure. They generally source many items from Thailand and mark it up. However, I like Laos but it is not cheap compared to Thailand.

The architecture French influences and the food. I was surprised at the variety of farang food. Everything's cheap. Rickshaw drivers going anywhere for about the price of a bottle of water.

Perhaps rickshaws but motorbike rentals, food and accommodation all higher than Thailand with less infrastructure. They generally source many items from Thailand and mark it up. However, I like Laos but it is not cheap compared to Thailand.

Accommodation is more expensive than in Thailand but you can still find guest houses for 350-450 per night. Western food is very much the same price as restaurants in Thai, Beer and Cigarettes ar much more cheaper than Thailand. Get in the Burbs a bit more and you'll see the difference in pricing.

The architecture French influences and the food. I was surprised at the variety of farang food. Everything's cheap. Rickshaw drivers going anywhere for about the price of a bottle of water.

Perhaps rickshaws but motorbike rentals, food and accommodation all higher than Thailand with less infrastructure. They generally source many items from Thailand and mark it up. However, I like Laos but it is not cheap compared to Thailand.

Accommodation is more expensive than in Thailand but you can still find guest houses for 350-450 per night. Western food is very much the same price as restaurants in Thai, Beer and Cigarettes ar much more cheaper than Thailand. Get in the Burbs a bit more and you'll see the difference in pricing.

Is English language schools available in Laos?

If so, is they more expensive than Thailand or is they much more cheaper?