Comments on: Why I will NEVER go back to Laos – the ugly truth

By: Noel

Noel — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 03:02:06 +0000

It was interesting reading your article. I have just been on a short visit to Vientiane.
While I thought it was very relaxed, I experienced the airport taxi situation. Partly because the ATMs didn’t work, so they were taking Thai Bhart.
The biggest problem was understanding the value of the currency. I went on a tour in a tuk tuk. When it came time to pay, I was giving a huge amount of notes.
The driver said he would come the next morning, as I wanted to go to the Cope Centre Museum. He charged me the same. I gave a load of notes. I also bought the driver cold drinks both times.
Then he said he would take me to the airport. I asked the price, slightly suspicious. I also asked the conversion on $US 1 to Laotian Kip.
I agreed. I asked my hotel manager, and they explained the currency. I hadn’t been paying $US 5, I had been paying $US 50!
I was annoyed how stupid I was, even though I have traveled a lot and should have learned by now!
It is a shame as it left a cloud over my visit. I met many nice people too.

By: Sebastian

Sebastian — Sat, 17 Feb 2024 10:51:03 +0000

In reply to David Kiwi. Sorry to say, but it is the norm. Go to a touristy restaurant/ hostel in Laos and you hear plenty of these stories. Sad but true :-(

By: Sebastian

Sebastian — Sat, 17 Feb 2024 08:55:17 +0000

Hi,
I am here in Laos now for 1 week and encountered scamming really everytime we wanted to go from A to B. I know that you are overcharged as a tourist all over SEA but what they do in Laos is really over the top.
Here some examples:
– When going back from the Buddah Park to Vientiane, a Minibus came at the exact time of departure and convinced people to hop in as he is the official bus, of course for two times the price that the real (green) bus costs.
– In Luang Namtha we booked a bus ticket incl. Tuktuk to the bus station at Zuelas Guesthouse. We had to pay 100.000 kip more, so that the Tuktuk driver departs in time to reach our bus. Other options just could not have been arranged in time.
– The bus driver in Udomxai refused to depart if we did not pay 100.000 kip extra to the ticket we have already bought. Some of the local Lao people were really desprate, as they just did not have the money. The bus driver did not care and kept on waiting for 2 hours until we had enough „bribe“ together so that he could be convinced to depart

Usually I would say it is not about the money but how un-welcome and unsafe I feel, but the extra money we have to pay all the time sums up. We are really anxious before every trip cause you never know what happens and how much it will cost. We were teavelling a lot the last years but we never had scamming at that extent anywhere else.
You see already many guesthouses closed etc. but with that attitude and the word of mouth spreading fast, Laos will suffer from a severe drop in tourist numbers. I will not come back for sure.

By: Allan

Allan — Sat, 17 Feb 2024 06:45:39 +0000

I like it how you wrote. Even having the worst time, you didn’t create a stereotype. I have been traveling in Laos for two weeks and had a different (besides the tuk tuk part haha). But still that doesn’t change what you been through.

By: Sara

Sara — Mon, 01 May 2023 21:33:52 +0000

In reply to dailytravelpill. Because in Myanmar they will get in MAJOR trouble for it. I went there myself and understand what you mean but these guys have never been surrounded by tourists and their law is VERY strict. Your post is helpful although I am ok with getting ripped off for a dollar or two here and there. If you roll with the small scams you can really enjoy your self a lot more without losing much. But I do understand your point and thanks for this post.

By: Ciaran

Ciaran — Sun, 02 Apr 2023 09:12:07 +0000

Thank you so much for this article as it has comforted for how I’m feeling right now. Most of the above points have happened us. Coming from Thailand this has been a massive disappointment.

Luckily we are only here for a week but if I could I would move our flight forward.

By: Ewa

Ewa — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 16:55:34 +0000

Thank You for this article. I support everything, what you wrote. I am in Laos just now (Dec 2022) and I am very disappointed. Everything here is complicated. You can’t buy tickets online. Bus terminals and train stations are far from cities and you have to take a tuk tuk or book private transport. If you want to book a tour, bus, price will be changed few times. when you book accommodation online and price is in $, you will pay in hostel in local currency more than exchange rate. Scooter rental is more expensive than in Thailand and many roads are dangerous. Produkts in most of the shops have no prices printed on them and price depends from a mood of seller. You can’t do trekking on your own because there are many bombs in Lais and they are exploring every year so it’s dangerous. I am going back to Thailand. Laos is not worth all the stress and afford.

By: Sam

Sam — Fri, 04 Nov 2022 11:19:05 +0000

My opinion about the country of Laos and the people of Laos is, if you ever set foot in the country you’re become their product or a victim or scam….everyone is looking out to scam you for their service to you…at motel, bus station, and travel service is the first you will get scam. You will get scam again for every things you buy, food, cloth, and other product. You will end up paid double prices, if you complain it expensive they will tell you sorry, if you don’t buy it okay. They willing to lose your business if you don’t like the price. if you rent a car or motorbike big time scam….there so many way for they to scam you for much more money than you expect to pay. They will keep your passport until you paid them in full request. If you don’t bring a lot of money with you, then don’t ever want to visit Laos. It’s all about scam…for your money. a lot of thrive…in anywhere, keep your money with you at all time. Trust no one. most of everything is so inconvenience, ex specially about food and restaurant. unclean food, over night cook food that already bad still sale you customer regardless….etc so many things to list about negative thing in Laos…but anyone who want to visit, it time to battle, dis comfort zone, you are in the battle zone with the local people. I was born in Laos and grow up in the USA, I came to visit from time to time. I feel the same as other foreign that visit Laos. I think this country and the people are too smart to do good. They are out there to eat you alive….

By: You live and learn . That's life

You live and learn . That's life — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 04:00:51 +0000

You get ripped off here in the States too. Lol. From buying cars from craigslist, to overpaying for doctor/specialist service, to auto repair service, it’s endless. Everywhere has scam.

By: Susanne

Susanne — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 22:35:26 +0000

In reply to Kevin L. I can only agree! I will never go back to Laos! I have traveled and lived in many different countries but never encountered such greedy and corrupt people.