Ask WhoIam anything about living in Vientiane, Laos

[WhoIam]

I don't smoke pot anymore, but have talked to a lot of people who do and frequently see kids who are obviously blazed. The worst you have to fear is paying a fine of a couple hundred dollars. Finding pot isn't a problem. Every tuk-tuk driver (and there are a lot) will offer to sell you some. Some are apparently operating with cops though, so your best bet would be to find a local or backbacker with a connection. Despite some government crackdowns, opium is still widely available and is not considered too big of a deal. Unfortunately there are no longer opium dens in Vientiane, but some are apparently still operating in the countryside.

So far the hardest drug I've done is Xanax (which I don't even enjoy that much) but I'm going to see if adderall, vicodin, etc. are available just by walking into a pharmacy. I plan on getting some opium if I can find a reputable source. It was fun the few times it was around in college.

[ski]

check out vangviang and luang prabang if u havn't.

Can you describe a standard day for you in Vientienne?

[WhoIam]

Standard day I wake up in the late morning, shower, and get a $1 breakfast at a local place. I then head to local Starbucks-like place (there are no Western chains in Vientiane) where I buy overpriced coffee and overpriced wi-fi access. With a break for lunch, I'll play until 4 or 5 when the games start getting bad.

Right now I'm playing on FTP but am looking into setting up a local bank account in dollars, playing on Party again, etc. The government blocks some sites but I know that FT and Stars work.

After this I call some friends and try to figure out my plans for the night. This usually involves going out to a bar or club. At this point I'll have a few hours to myself so I might get a massage, watch a movie, or even drink some absinthe while watching the sun set on the Mekong. Sometimes I'll play a second poker session from 8-10 or 11. Usually for dinner I'll "splurge" and get some Indian, Chinese, Italian, French, or other foreign food. Hell, there's even a falafel stand.

People start partying early here because every bar and club officially has to close at around 11. There are a few that stay open later (obviously there's some money passed around) and other late-night options include a few illegal afterhours places, local restaurants in the suburbs, or the surprisingly less common house party.

I'm trying to get some cash saved up before I do any more traveling but I really want to check out Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang.

[slimbob]

I stayed in Vientiane for a couple of nights. I found it a very boring city. for a couple days its ok but not for long time. Laos is a place for people whove seen it all and just want to stay at a quite place. I cant say too much about the girls because I stayed with my gitlfriend at Laos.

[chopchoi]

Any live poker action?

[WhoIam]

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I stayed in Vientiane for a couple of nights. I found it a very boring city. for a couple days its ok but not for long time.

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It seems that way at first. If you're into sightseeing, Vientiane is the wrong city for you. You can see all the major "attractions" in half a day. It's more the atmosphere that appeals to me. It can seem boring until you meet some locals and find out about the bars open late and interesting spots for nightlife.

Vientiane isn't a huge metropolis like Bangkok or NY, but it's probably bigger than you realize. There's a downtown area of a few scare blocks that most tourists never leave. There are a lot of other cool areas like Chinatown, where I'm currently staying. Vientiane is a very polarizing city--people either love it or hate it. If you ever come back, shoot me PM and I'll show you around for a night or two. You may not love it, but I guarantee you'll leave with a better impression.

[WhoIam]

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Any live poker action?

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I'm sure I could find a game if I poked around a bit, but I'd be afraid to play for any meaningful stakes. This is because the only people with this kind of money are[*]expats, some of whom have very shady pasts [*]mafia types [*]high-level government officials
I think the risk of being cheated, physically harmed, or someone flat-out refusing to pay is really high. I heard a telling anecdote about the one casino here (no poker). Some army colonel or general was playing the asian equivalent of blackjack and demanded the dealer give him a new hand. The dealer, of course complied without hesitation.

[Cancuk]

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Cons
Limited freedoms and rights...

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Can you expand on this plz?

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There's no freedom of speech, a one-party system, corruption, etc. They're very laid-back about it, though, and you can generally do what you want other than demand your right to do what you want. If they wanted to, the cops could arrest you for some BS reason to extort money from you and it's not like there's an ACLU you can call. The only English-language newspaper is owned by the government and is frequently hilarious. Rice farming looks awesome! The Bangkok Post is available so it's not like North Korea or anything. Web censorship is about the same as Thailand. I tried to find some quotes from organizations like Freedom House, but the sites were all blocked. I don't know what it's like outside of Vientiane other than Luang Prabang has a midnight curfew.

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Luang Prabang has a midnight curfew? Weird... I don't remember that at all...
I loved Vientiene and wished I could have stayed longer. Nothing like a Beer Laos (dark) and a crunchy bagette to start the day.

[roamer590]

I+m in my apartment in Vientiane now. Moved in yesterday.
Its good.

[zasterguava]

So did you move over with friends? Or have you since made friends with people you've met whilst being there? How easy is it to get to know people and settle in mantaining a reasonable social life?