Laos

Laos: Flooding Hits Wide Area, Including Vientiane and Luang Prabang

Date: August 13th, 2008 |

The Mekong River has flooded many areas of the country, including parts of the capital Vientiane and Luang Prabang. The river has reached levels not seen since 1966, considered the worst flood year in more than a century. Vast tracts of agricultural land have been inundated and flooding in Vientiane is the highest it has [read more]

Laos: Fighting in Vang Vieng

Date: May 30th, 2007 |

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The U.S. Embassy in Laos reported news of sporadic fighting between government forces and rebels in the area of Vang Vieng in northern Vientiane province, and warned against ground travel north from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang. U.S. Embassy personnel are prohibited from taking personal journeys in the area on Route 13 and contiguous roads. [read more]

Pacific Rim: Taiwan Earthquake Damages Undersea Cables

Date: January 3rd, 2007 |

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A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck near Taiwan Dec. 26 and damaged undersea telecommunications cables, affecting internet, banking and telephone services around the Pacific Rim. Much of the service has been restored but repairs to the cables are expected to take as long as a month. Internet access may be slow or unavailable in so [read more]

Laos

Date: July 12th, 2004 |

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Several bombings in the past year in Vientiane and other cities and armed attacks on routes 13 and 7 earlier this year have made travel in Laos potentially dangerous. Bombings are unpredictable, and as much as possible travelers should remain alert in public places. Travel by road between Vang Vieng and Luang Phrabang and on [read more]

Laos

Date: September 2nd, 2003 |

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New attacks on buses occurred recently, this time in northern Laos in and around Sam Neua, the capital of Huaphan province. These attacks follow incidents earlier in August in the Vang Vieng-Kasi area, especially along Route 13, and suggest that the threat of attacks is not diminishing. The Lao government has been known to shut [read more]

Laos: First Railroad Set to Open

Date: April 10th, 2008 |

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Laos is about to get its first railway, a humble 2.17-mile line crossing from the Thailand-Laos Friendship Bridge toward the capital Vientiane. It may be short but it will connect landlocked Laos with seaports in Thailand and elsewhere in Southeast Asia. Many plans are afoot with France and China to expand the railway through central [read more]

Laos: Fighting Endangers Highway from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang

Date: February 28th, 2007 |

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The U.S. Embassy has received reports from several sources of fighting between Lao government forces and one or more unidentified groups in the area of Vang Vieng in northern Vientiane province. Embassy officials recommend avoiding surface travel north from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, and prohibit travel by Embassy personnel to Luang Prabang along Route [read more]

Laos

Date: October 26th, 2004 |

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The U.S. Embassy has received information that during the ASEAN summit conference in Vientiane Nov. 25-30, insurgents may attempt to detonate bombs in Vientiane and several provinces, including Bolikhamxai, Khammouan, Savannakhet, Salavan and Champassak. The embassy has no information about specific targets or methods, and also warns that travel within the country during this period [read more]

Laos

Date: January 7th, 2004 |

No Comments

The U.S. Embassy in Vientiane does not permit personnel to travel overland in the Vang Vieng-Kasi region because of sporadic violent attacks on vehicles in the area over the last several months. Many of these attacks have occurred on Route 13 between Vang Vieng and Luang Phrabang, but others have happened on Route 7 from [read more]

Laos

Date: August 12th, 2003 |

No Comments

The U.S. State Department recommends avoiding road travel between Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang, and travel or other activities in the areas surrounding Vang Vieng. Buses and bus stations have been attacked in these areas as well as in Vientiane in the past several weeks, especially along route 13, the main road to Luang Prabang. [read more]