Vientiane Travel Forum

My friends and I are planning a trip to Laos but we heard that it is not very safe in Laos. Can anyone who has been to Laos confirm if Laos is as dangerous as we have heard? And are there any safety precautions we can take if we do go there? Thanks a million!

Laos is 99% safe. Vientiane is the biggest city and street crime there is rare. I walked alone late at night there and never felt unsafe, despite hardly any street lighting.
Three years ago, some rebels attacked a local bus on Rt 13 that had a few tourists on it, but that was an isolated incident. Political violence is uncommon these days.
A shirtless older Lao guy was walking down the main street in Luang Prabang with a machete in his hand in broad daylight. He walked up to tables of tourists holding out his free hand for money, but nobody gave him any and he didn't seem to care.
If you have any money taken from you, it's far more likely to be by stealth than aggression. There are a few scammers about who will try to get you to defray their costs for "school", but just be smart about that kind of stuff. Laos is a very safe country, much more so than Cambodia. If the Lao people kill you, it'll be with kindness.

Steve

We have just returned from Laos - and would definitely agree with the above post, that it is a safe place to visit. We felt no need for particular precautions there - but only visited Luang Prabang, and Pak Beng (enroute via the river back to Thailand). It hasn't been too infected by tourism yet! A great place to visit - and we will definitely go back.

I traveled to Laos solo and I found it very safe. Just take the precautions necessary for a place where there are people : )

Last October we were in Luang Prabang and Vientiane and we felt very safe all the time
Just take the normal precautions

I went in December last year and felt very safe. People are friendly and helpful and if you take the usual precautions:

Don't wear flash jewellery
Wear a moneybelt
Don't hang around bus stations in the middle of the night
Watch you bag when in restaurants or on public transport

You will be fine. Have a great time, its a fab place.

I just dont want to say that How much safe in Laos!
i think that Laos is the most safe country in the south east asia, safe more than thailand .
in the big city like vientiane, savanakhet or even luangprabang u can walk alone on the street, no one will rob u.
no one try to rob ur wallet or stuff when u in the bus or public place.
Laotian believe in Buddish,Rob, Kill and anything that unbenifit for people we dont do. because, we ll go to the hell if u do that.
we are very kind to help each other or help tourism..

but no place is safe in the world! ud better take care of urself..
we have ancient word: hen ngeun Na dam, Hen kham Na sao
it means: dont show ur treasure stuff out,( like money, treasure thing)
because it might be attacted for people who are not good person..
i hope u understood!
good luck

loas was great, and very frindly safe etc. always be suspecious as you would be any where in the world. but its no worries

warning...dont through logan berrys at the monkeys cause they are quite belligerent and will chase you!

I had a very positive experience of Laos, so much so I am going back in two weeks. The people are so lovely and Vientiane was very quiet and peaceful. Just be careful as you normally would, but I felt more at risk in London!

I have only had one disturbing incident in Laos, on a minibus trip from VT to LP in early 2005.

About two hours before reaching LP we ran into some hilltribe guys with AK47s and scarves over their heads, standing in the middle of the road forcing us to stop. I was riding shotgun, with a driver that didn`t speak english and a few american girls in the back. The driver looked real nervous when we stopped. So one of the two hilltribe guys is standing about 2m in front of the car, pointing his machine rifle at me for what felt like five minutes but was probably one, then aims up to the sky and fires two single shots. Next thing I know we`re on the road again, and I never really understood what it was all about.

I flew back a few days later :)

What an experience , I am glad that you are ok back at home
You can celebrate a Merry Christmas

I second that! What a scary experience. When we took our boat trip along the Mekong from LP to Huay Xai, our boat broke down, and we ended up dumped along the river, a long distance from the border in the dark. That was nerve wracking enough!!