Laos
Facts
Capital: Vientiane
Population: 5.69 Million
Language: Lao (English is the business language of the Lao government)
Currency: New kip
2 Wheels to China Ratings
Food and Drink 3/10
Noddle soup can get a litle boring, and if that is the best dish that Laos has to offer, things are not looking bright. We had loads of standard stir fry/curry dishes with rice, but nothing was really great. If you are pining for Western food, then Vientiane is good and Savannakhet is okay, but that really isn't what it's all about. There were some strange things on the menu in Laos, from fried insects to wild animals such as weasels, so if you are feeling adventurous it would be a good place to eat.
Kat didn't like Beer Lao at all. Richard thought it was alright.
Roads 7/10
A nice surprise. Route 13 is a bit bumpy, but route 9 is well surfaced. The roads are not very wide, but it's not a problem when you are the only vehicle on it for stretches.
Traffic 8/10
Vientiane could not be described as very busy, but there are quite a variety of vehicles on the road, all going at different speeds, none indicating what there next move might be, so while cycling there is enjoyable, you do need to keep you wits about you a bit. There is not much traffic at all on either of the highways we took. The driving however is not the best.
Sights & Scenery 2/10
There are a couple of sights in Vientiane to occupy half a day. Pha That Luang was reasonably impressive, but we'd have been disappointed if we went out of our way to see it. In terms of natural scenery, the route we took was exceedingly dull, boring, and then dull some more. The landscape was very barren, and almost without feature, right untl we got to the Vietnam border, and it was a bit late by then. We did not travel to the mountainous north of the country, which would be a much better option if scenery is what you're after.
People 9/10
They were great, particularly the kids.
Miscellaneous
Accommodation
Quite cheap, though in Vientiane and Savannakhet you'd have to shop around a bit to get a really good deal. Standards were probably a couple of rungs down from Thailand in terms of comfort and cleanliness, but prices only about one. For 5pounds expect hot water and air con, double that in the above towns. As with almost everyone in Laos, staff tend to be very friendly and helpful.
Visas
We got our Visas for Laos in Bangkok. They were valid for 30 days from the day we entered. The cost is $20, but expect to pay a lot more if you use an Agent.