TELEPHONE
To dial home from Laos, use the international access code
00, followed by the destination country code, area code and number you wish to
dial. Local numbers should be prefixed with 0.
For calls to Laos, the international dial code prefix may
vary depending upon the country from which the call is made, but will be
followed by the Laotian international number +856, followed by the area code
and local number.
The main police emergency number is 1191, which is free
to call, and is suitable for use in all types of emergency. However, police response is patchy in
Laos, and there have been instances of unanswered calls. Additional free to
call numbers are 1195 for fire emergencies and 1190 for an ambulance.
When travelling with Haivenu, you will also always be
provided with an emergency contact number to access our help and assistance.
For mobile handsets, consult your service provider in
advance of departure to activate your handset for use in Laos and seek advice
concerning roaming charges, which are, however, likely to be expensive.
If your phone is unlocked, another option is to buy a SIM
card locally, from one of the several networks, ETL and Unitel being the most
widely used. It should be noted, however, that coverage beyond the cities and
towns is sporadic.
You can also purchase contract free handsets locally,
though you will also need to purchase a SIM card.
INTERNET
Many hotels in Laotian towns and cities provide free wifi
access, along with several and restaurants in tourist areas, as well as
internet cafes and bars who charge for access. It is not recommended to use such
facilities for financial transactions to avoid the possibility of criminals
accessing your most sensitive data.
Land based internet speeds are generally quite slow and
the 3G mobile network is a more effective system in most cases.
ELECTRICITY
The electricity supply in Laos is 230 Volts, at 50 HZ.
A useful visual reference guide to the full range of
international plug and socket varieties can be found at http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/, which describes
the type system in use on this website.
As yet, there is no standardised socket system for
Cambodia, and you will likely encounter different socket systems in hotels all
over the country. The majority of connections are variants of two-pin outlets, some
of which are round-pin (type C and type F), others flat pin blade types (type
A).
There are also some 3 pin sockets in use, the flat blade
type B and the round pin type E.
For this reason it is best either to carry a range of
suitable adapters or invest in one of the new universal adapters with
retractable pins which are adaptable to differing formats, particularly if you
are travelling to more than one country. Usefully, some models also provide
additional USB connections.
It is helpful to consider your likely needs in advance. If
you will need to charge several items such as mobile phones, tablet computers,
cameras etc., it may be worth bringing a multiple, preferably surge protected,
outlet from your own country to avoid having to purchase several adapters, or
to deal with a limited number of wall sockets.
In most cases, if your equipment normally runs on a 110
volt, 60 HZ supply, you will additionally need a portable transformer.
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Although Laos has a traditional
system of weights and measures, the model in everyday use is the international
metric system based on the metre and gram.
POSTAL SERVICES
Laotian postal services are run by Laopost (Enterprise
des Postes Lao). Opening hours are from 08:00-12:00 and 13:00-17:00 on
weekdays, and 08:00-12:00 on Saturdays. For ordinary post the service is
generally reliable, but for high value items, a private carrier such as DHL or
Fedex in Vientiane, although expensive, is the best option.
TIME ZONE
The time zone in Laos is GMT+7, though it should be noted
for calculation purposes that the country does not operate a daylight saving
mechanism.