Vientiane

Thailand Located on the western side of the Indochina Peninsula, Thailand is bordered by Myanmar (Burma), Laos, Cambodia, and the Andaman Sea. The city of Bangkok is Thailand's capital and is known as the "Venice of the East" due to its canals. In addition, there are numerous Buddhist temples throughout the city. The Grand Palace lies in the central portion of Bangkok and includes the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, and the Temple of the Dawn. The city is also home to the Wat Pho Temple, which houses several statues and hosts a school for traditional Thai massage. Cambodia Located just across the Mekong

Vientiane Demographics The population of Vientiane is relatively young with a median age of 25 years. A majority of residents, 50.3%, are under the age of 25 while just 6% are 65 years of age or older. Like most Laotian cities, there are more female residents than males, with the ratio being 1,031 males per every 1,000 females. Ethnicity and Language The ethnic makeup of Vientiane is quite diverse, with the dominant group being Lao at 62.4%. The next largest group is Thai, which accounts for 10.8% of the population, followed by Khmu at 8.1%, and the Hmong at 7.4

 

 

 

 

The tax applies to buildings, or to the site that a building occupies. Real estate which contains one structure only is taxed as if it were an entire parcel of land. Properties which are temporarily uninhabited are not subject to taxation in Laos; if a residence is uninhabited for more than twelve months, however, the property owner must report its present state to the tax agency and may be asked to pay taxes on it. The government also levies a separate tax on city administrative services.

Stay Safe The biggest threat to most tourists is road accidents. It is easy to distinguish "holdup" vehicles by the fact that these are the ones with the black license plates. The Lao drivers tend to drive very fast and pass vehicles at high speed. Two fatalities per day on average is typical. Lao drivers often appear suicidal and don't pay attention to what they are doing. Pedestrians should be aware that if they step out in front of a vehicle the driver will apply their brakes very forcefully. Generally, those people who do not have a driving license in Laos cannot obtain one in Vientiane (Laos cannot issue international driving permits to non-residents as it is a land locked country).

14. Kandy, Sri Lanka Kandyan dancers in the ancient royal palace | © Shakirk/WikiCommons Kandy is a city in Sri Lanka that serves as its main cultural, economic, and religious center. As of the census of 2012, this city had a population of 164,535. Kandy is the third-largest city in Sri Lanka, after the capital city Colombo and the southern city of Galle. Kandy has an average income of $2,741, which is slightly lower than the national average of $5,374. However, because of the unique culture of the Kandy city, it offers a higher quality of life to its residents than other parts of Sri Lanka

Obtaining a visa on arrival for US$30/40 (or "viring visa" for US$20/25 for approved visas for EU citizens) is possible at Wattay Airport, the Friendship Bridge and Tha Naleng Train Station. Bring a photo and watch the border officials carefully as they fill out the form. Don't forget to also have the form stamped inside your passport at the Immigration Department in town. As several hundred tourists and new visa-holders line up at the Friendship Bridge every day, the bureaucrats do get overwhelmed at times. But they are used to it. The important thing is to have your form stamped right away by one of the immigration officers and then to fill out the arrival form at the counter (

The neighborhoods that are known for being the most upscale in Vientiane are: The embassy districts of Vientiane include the following neighborhoods: In 2012, the city's mayor, Boualaphone Souvannavong, estimated that the city contained more than 5,000 illegal structures. He stated that the structures would need to be demolished, and that there was no budget to do so. Vientiane has large informal markets, called "xīníng shì" (新

Laotian Style House Wood is also used to make the traditional boat houses. Laotian style houseboats range in size from a few meters long to more than 10 meters (about 30 ft). The boathouses are used as homes, and they are moored at the edges of canals and rivers. They are the only true ‘houseboats’ that remain in the region. Other countries have used boathouses for transport, water taxis, and pleasure craft, but nowadays these days only remain in Laos. In addition to their practical purpose, boat houses are a common tourist attraction for both visitors to Vientiane and those on holiday to Laos. The high but slender structures of boat houses reflect the high levels of skill