Laos 2007
 

I haven't been to Vientiane in about 3 years, but I'm getting the itch to go over for a short visit. Has anyone been there in the past year and found any action, either on the streets or in any bars? Last time I was there a place called the Spider Beer Garden was a bit cruisy and there were a few hustlers on the street at night. Granted, it's not Bangkok, but I also liked the laid back, sleepy feel of the city And some good, inexpensive restaurants there, too. It's the special desserts that I'm curious about!

Lots of Lao boys cruise online these days. Go to gay.com and park yourself in the Laos room for a while (even if it's empty). They'll come to you.

Vientiane
 

Just hang around the fountain area after dark, and the boys will come to you and they will tell you were to go. Kok disco used to be popular, but after the new fancy hotel along the river was completed, I think the gay crowd has moved. But the boys will know.

Is this enforced?
 

Going to Laos soon, any information on places in Vientiane or Luang Prabang welcome.

Checking the US Consular advice sheet here is what is said: "RELATIONSHIPS WITH LAO CITIZENS: The Lao Government prohibits sexual contact between foreign citizens and Lao nationals except when the two parties have been married in accordance with Lao Family Law. Any foreigner who enters into a sexual relationship with a Lao national may be interrogated, detained, arrested, or jailed. Lao police have confiscated passports and imposed fines of up to $5000 on foreigners who enter into disapproved sexual relationships. The Lao party to the relationship may also be jailed without trial. Foreigners are not permitted to invite Lao nationals of the opposite sex to their hotel rooms; police may raid hotel rooms without notice or consent." etc...

Similar information is given on the UK and Australian Gov. websites.

Is this law enforced???

Long live the Moral Majority!

last time I was in Laos, some places it was enforced and some it was not. Most guest houses alwoded guest in the rooms. but you have to check this out.

Most hotels are not too happy with male guests in a room...........but a small tip usually gets the front desk on side.
Lao morality laws are a bit of a worry as the police are famously corrupt and catching a Farang/Lao doing it would potentially yield a large cash payment. So far I have been lucky

The restrictions regarding locals (male or female) in hotel rooms are enforced in just about all the decent places in town. The system of neighborhood spies is quite effective in keeping the owners intimidated. Beside the risk of losing their license for the owners, any boy you might get into your hotel is subject to recriminations as well. People still get sent to the coutryside for "re-education" in this little socialist paradise.

There are a bunch of fleabag places that rent by the hour late at night. Most of the local boys know where they are.

Lao friends
 

I have been going to Laos every year for the last ten-twelve years. Never had any problems with friends in my room, neither have any of them encountered any problems later. I have travelled to Luangprabang with local friends from Vientiane, and no problems whatever.

Any places you can recommand based on your experience? hotels, bars,etc...

Thx in advance!

A couple of weeks ago I was introduced to an elderly American recently returned from Vientiane.
He recommended the following:
SYRI 2 GH.,
63/6-7, Sethasirit rd.,
Vientiane.
- rates - vary from USD.6.oo (fan only.), to USD.10.oo,(air-cond.); a small but adequate b'fast. is included;
- tel. - (021)-241 345
Reportedly there is a small & g*y sauna just around the corner.

See also - http://www.AziaCity.com/bk/magazine/escapes
Usual disclaimers - E&OE . 'bye..

Many hotels
 

I have stayed in many different hotels, and even at the old Lane Xang there was no problems.

Of course, needless to say, discretion is adviced.

Follow-up....
 

Been there since I posted so let's share the information...but ain't much to say....

According to the guys I meet, this is an old law and they have never heard it has been enforced recently. Going to hotels with foreigners doesn t seem to be a problem at all.

The gayscene is quite small, and many guys on the scene tend to be more on the queeny side than on the macho side. It seems that to some extend, everybody knows everybody. A Lao guy I meet in Babylon could name 3 of the guys I slept with before I had told him any name... Contacts can be made beforehand through gaydar or gayromeo.

Vientiane :

-things open and close quickly: Kok and Image are closed
-no problem to bring guys at Anou Hotel (22 USD)
-Bor Pen Nyang is a str8 bar/pool/restaurant (riverfront at the 4th floor of a building), and some guys start the night here
-Soradith is mixed, probably the gayest place, but they comment it's les and less gay
-the Don Chan Palace is str8, but opened till 2am and some guys end the night there

Luang Prabang - it was the Lao New Year...great fun playing with water and flirting with the str8 guys...

-Khob Chai is gayfriendly and owned- located on the road that goes along the Namkhan River, near Wat Aphay, on the other side of the Phousi Mount
-LaoLao Garden just opposite has the same (cute) manager and (some cute) waiters, some guys meet there too
-Dao Faa, near the stadium, is the most popular disco, str8 but some guys go there. Closed at midnight. They might finish the night at the bowling...

news
 

Any more recent news on the Vientiane scene? I'll be going there in August for 3 days. Looking forward to the change of pace - and scenery - from Bangkok. I've been to Vientiane several times, so I basically know what to expect. But if there are any good new places to find good new faces, let me know! When I was there before I enjoyed a place called the Spider beer garden. The manager at Dragon Lodge had recommended it.