Wayzata World Factbook 1995/World Factbook - 1995 Edition - Wayzata Technology (1995).iso/mac/text/Build/tvltxt/LAOS.TVL

Text File | 1994-12-07 | 4KB | 70 lines

Laos - Consular Information Sheet
August 4, 1994

Country Description:  Laos is a poor country with a communist government
that is pursuing economic reform.  Outside of Vientiane, tourist services
and facilities are relatively undeveloped.

Entry Requirements:  A passport and visa are required.  Travelers should
contact the Embassy of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, 2222 S St.
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, tel. [phone].

Medical Facilities:   Medical facilities and services are limited and do not
meet Western standards.  The blood supply is not screened for HIV or AIDS.
Health services generally must be paid for in cash.  U.S. medical insurance
is not always valid outside the United States.  Supplemental medical
insurance with specific overseas coverage has proven useful.  The
international travelers' hotline at the Centers for Disease Control, tel.
[404] 332-4559, has additional useful health information.

Information on Crime:  Major crime has not been a problem for travelers,
although street crime has increased in the last year.  The loss or theft
abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police
and the U.S. Embassy.  Useful information on guarding valuables and
protecting personal security while traveling abroad is provided in the
Department of State pamphlet, "A Safe Trip Abroad."  It is available from
the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office,
Washington, D.C. 20402.

In-Country Travel: As of April 1994, the Lao Government no longer requires
permits for travel outside Vientiane except for travel in unspecified
"restricted areas."  Frequently visited tourist destinations generally are
safe.  In December 1993, however, one U.S. citizen and four U.S. residents
were killed in a fatal Lao aviation airline crash in Xieng Khouang Province,
where the Plain of Jars is located.  Overland travel in some areas,
particularly in the Highlands, runs the risk of ambush by insurgents or
bandits.

Religious Workers: Religious proselytizing or distributing religious
material is strictly prohibited.  Foreigners caught distributing religious
material may be arrested or deported.

Marriage to a Lao Citizen:  U.S. citizens intending to marry a Lao citizen
must receive approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry
of Interior.  Those who do not receive approval may be arrested or deported.

Photography Restrictions:  Police and military may confiscate the cameras of
persons taking photographs of military installations or vehicles, bridges,
airfields and government buildings.  Confiscated cameras are seldom returned
to the owners.  Photographers of such subjects also may be arrested.

Drug Penalties:  Travelers are subject to the laws and legal practices of
the country in which they travel.  Penalties for possession, use or
trafficking in illegal drugs are strict and convicted offenders can expect
jail sentences and fines.

Registration:  U.S. citizens who register at the U.S. Embassy can obtain
updated information on travel and security within the country.

Embassy Location: The U.S. Embassy is located at Rue Bartholomie, B.P. 114,
in Vientiane; mail can be addressed to AMEMB Box V, APO AP 96546; the
telephone numbers are (856) 21-212581, 212582, 212583; fax [phone].

No. 94-152

This replaces the Consular Information Sheet issued on July 9, 1993 to
include updated information on in-country travel.