Luang Prabang, Laos’ historic capital, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995. Luang Prabang is considered the spiritual center of Laos, with several attractions, including Indochinese architecture, Buddhist monasteries, and varied cultures.
Luang Prabang is located on the banks of the Mekong River, approximately 425 kilometers from Vientiane in northern Laos. The present population is at around 22,000 people. It was once the first capital of Laos. UNESCO now recognizes Luang Prabang as one of the world’s physical cultural heritage sites.
It attracts tourists from the start due to its serene and old beauty, buildings with Laotian and French architecture, and the friendliness of the locals. Everything about the beauty and culture of the ancient town will make tourists fall in love.
The climate in Laos is similar to that of Vietnam, with typical temperatures ranging from 24°C to 33°C. Like northern Vietnam, Luang Prabang has four seasons.
Laos has a tropical monsoon climate with two seasons: dry and wet. The rainy season lasts from May to November, while the dry season lasts from December to April. You can make the finest selections based on your strategy and the weather you prefer.
To visit Luang Prabang from France, you need to apply for a Laos visa online through our website. We have assisted several travelers with a wide range of travel needs. We know what you need for a 60-day Laos tourist visa.
Savannakhet is Laos’ second largest city (after Vientiane) and is located on the banks of the Mekong River, bordering Thailand and Vietnam. The city is home to a number of ethnic communities, including Laotian, Thai, Chinese, and Vietnamese. Sacred Buddhist stupas like That Ing Hang and That Phonh, as well as 20 national protected areas dot the Savannakhet Province, are must-sees.
Here are some interesting facts about Savannakhet:
Historical Significance: The city has a long history, stretching back to the Khmer Empire. In and around Savannakhet, you may still see relics of this heritage, including temples and ruins.
French Colonial Influence: Savannakhet, like much of Laos, was under French colonial administration for a long time. The city’s architecture reflects this impact, with many colonial-era structures still intact.
Friendship Bridge II: The Second Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge, which connects Savannakhet to Mukdahan in Thailand, is located in Savannakhet. This bridge is critical for regional trade and transportation.
Dinosaur Museum: The Dinosaur Museum in Savannakhet exhibits a collection of dinosaur fossils and information about the prehistoric animals that once inhabited the region. It is a one-of-a-kind attraction for paleontology enthusiasts.
Laid-Back Atmosphere: Savannakhet has a more peaceful and laid-back ambiance than the busy capital, Vientiane. It’s a spot where you may explore and appreciate the local culture at your leisure.
Local Cuisine: Savannakhet, like the rest of Laos, provides a variety of wonderful Lao foods, including the famed sticky rice and numerous noodle meals. Don’t pass up the opportunity to sample the local food.
Natural Beauty: The surrounding area is noted for its natural beauty, with breathtaking scenery along the Mekong River and outdoor activities such as hiking and cycling.
Festivals: Savannakhet, like other Lao cities, celebrates a variety of festivals throughout the year, including traditional Buddhist festivals and cultural activities.
Friendly Locals: Visitors frequently comment on the warmth and friendliness of the locals. It is customary to be greeted warmly by the people of Savannakhet.
No, you cannot enter Laos if your passport expires within 6 months of your arrival date. This is a requirement of the Lao government, and airlines will not allow you to board a flight to Laos if your passport does not meet this requirement.
It is important to note that this requirement is for the validity of your passport, not the date that you applied for your visa. If you have a valid visa, but your passport expires within 6 months of your arrival date, you will still not be allowed to enter Laos.
If your passport is expiring soon, you should renew it before you travel to Laos. You can renew your passport at your local passport office.
Here are some tips for renewing your passport:
Best Time to Apply for the Renewal of Your Passport: When applying for a passport renewal, it is all about time. If your passport is likely to expire within the next 06 months or has expired within the last 12 months, you can apply for a passport renewal. If your passport has been expired for longer than 12 months, you will be unable to renew it. In that situation, you will need to apply for a new passport. It is advised that you apply at least six months before your passport’s expiration date. The reason for this is that if the application procedure takes too long, you will have your passport renewed by the time your first one expires.
Online Application for Renewal of Passport: Applying online is the most convenient way to renew your passport. You will just need to go to the online official website, fill out the application form for passport renewal, and then submit the form after paying the necessary amount for passport renewal. It is advised that you apply online since it will save you a lot of time and will only take you 10 to 15 minutes. If you make an error while applying for a passport renewal, simply contact the customer support number shown on the website, and they will assist you in resolving the problem.
Pay the passport renewal fee: You must pay the passport renewal charge. The passport renewal fee varies based on the kind of passport and the applicant’s age.
Yes, French passport holders can apply for a visa on arrival in Laos. French citizens should fill out the visa application form in advance to save time on arrival.
Laos visas are easily obtained on arrival at all points of entry, including the busiest international airports. Visitors wishing to get a visa on arrival in Laos must have the visa fee in cash; card payments are not accepted.
Passengers from France who choose the visa on arrival should plan ahead of time. Long lineups may form at the visa-on-arrival window.
French travelers are urged to apply online whenever feasible for a speedier and more convenient process.
Laos visas for French citizens may be obtained upon arrival at the following international airports:
Wattay International Airport in Vientiane Capital.
Luang Prabang International Airport in Luang Prabang Province.
Pakse Internatioanl Airport in Champasak Province.
Yes. French nationals need a valid visa corresponding to their purpose of visiting Laos Additionally, the Government of Laos has a list of countries whose nationals are exempt from visas when they visit Laos.
There are several ways that French passport holders can apply for a Laos tourist visa. So let us explore all those options:
On the Laos Immigration Services website: You may also apply for a Laos tourist visa on the website of the Laos Immigration Services. The visa application process is simple and quick. In less than 20 minutes, you can complete the online application form with some essential information. At present, applying online is one of the most popular ways to apply for a visa.
Through the Embassy of Laos: You can apply for additional Laos visas listed earlier in this article at the Laos Embassy in France. To apply, fill out the application form, submit your papers, pay the visa money, and wait for your Visa to be issued.
On Arrival: French nationals can apply for a tourist or business visa at the airport. However, if the port of entry is crowded, the visa application procedure might be lengthy.
No, the Lao visa multiple entry functionality is unavailable with this Laos eVisa. This travel document is only valid for a single entry into Laos. You can stay in Laos for up to 30 days if you enter the nation with this e-visa.
When you apply for a Laos eVisa from Qatar, you will obtain an online eVisa via email with a validity period of up to 60 days. You must enter Laos during that time frame. Once you enter Laos, you can stay for up to 30 days for each entry.
The Laos e-Visa for Qatari citizens can only be used at two border crossings. If you arrive at a border other than these two, you will need to apply for a standard visa. The two border crossings used to enter the country using an eVisa are:
Once your visa application has been approved, you will get your Laos e-Visa by email in PDF format. You should print it out before departing to Laos. Before entering Laos, you must present your travel passport and a valid visa (the visa that was given to you). You’ll need to provide evidence of a return airline ticket and sufficient finances.
The passport must be the same one you used to apply. After inspecting your travel documents and (if appropriate) your luggage, Laos officials will decide whether you can enter the country.
It is critical to comply with Laos border agents and answer whatever inquiries they may have. After all, they are the ones who will determine whether or not you will enter Laos.
Whether you have a calendar in your car, hanging around the house, or just use the one on your phone, everyone refers to their calendar from time to time, don’t they? But while there are always some differences in calendars around the world, none are more unique than the Ethiopian calendar.
So, why is the Ethiopian calendar so special? Well, there are actually a number of reasons that make it stand out from the calendars used around the world. In this article, we will learn some interesting Ethiopian time and date facts that make the country’s calendar so unique.
Ethiopian Calendar Today
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church was the first to adopt the Ethiopian calendar, using a version that includes the Ethiopian Orthodox Church’s fasting dates in addition to the official standard calendar. The Ethiopian calendar is similar to the Egyptian Coptic calendar in that both have 13 months, 12 of which have 30 days, with a leap month at the end of the year called Pagume, which means “forgotten day” in Greek. The last month of a leap year has five or six days.
The Ethiopian calendar is also similar to the Egyptian Coptic calendar, with a year of 365 days and a leap year of 366 days every four years. The Ethiopian calendar, which originally originated in the Orthodox Tewahedo Church, has also influenced the structure and existence of the calendar.What year is it in Ethiopia?
The current year in Ethiopia is 2016. The Ethiopian year begins on 11 September, or 12 September in leap years in the Gregorian calendar. It is seven to eight years later than the Gregorian calendar year because of the different calculations used to determine the date of Jesus’ birth.
The Ethiopian calendar is different from the Coptic and Julian calendars; there is a difference of 276 years between the Coptic and Ethiopian calendars. Nevertheless, the Ethiopian calendar is closely related to the rules and different calculations influenced by the Coptic Church and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. Ethiopia is the only African country that uses its own calendar system
Interesting fact about Ethiopian times
Seven years behind the rest of the world
Understanding the difference between the Ethiopian calendar and the more traditional Gregorian calendar is quite complicated. However, explaining the 7-year difference is actually surprisingly simple; in the Ethiopian calendar, it is believed that Jesus Christ was born in 7 BC.
The calendar counts days from that year, while other calendars (most commonly the Gregorian calendar) count days from the year Jesus was born in 1 AD. Many of the countries that use the Gregorian calendar today have been influenced by the Church of Rome, but Ethiopia has not been subjected to any outside influences, so it continues to use its own historical calendar, which means it is 7 years behind.
There are 13 months in a year
While the Gregorian calendar may be the most commonly used calendar in the world (especially in Western countries), Ethiopia is not the only country that uses its own calendar. However, even though many other calendars follow a 12-month pattern, the Ethiopian calendar is unique in this case because it has 13 months.
In the Ethiopian calendar, each month has 30 days and the last month of Pagum usually has 5 days or 6 days in leap years. So the total number of days is the same, but the layout is very different.
Christmas in January
If we convert the Ethiopian calendar to the Gregorian calendar, then Christmas will be celebrated on 7 January. In Ethiopia, Christmas is actually celebrated on the 29th day of the month of Tahsas, and the Christmas celebrations, although also very similar in many ways, are slightly different.
Christmas in Ethiopia is called Ganna (also known as Genna) and the day is usually marked by visits to churches, but there is also music and games. Gift-giving is not usually part of the celebrations, although some families do give gifts to younger children during this time.
Ethiopian New Year to be celebrated in September
It’s not just Christmas that has changed the setup of the Ethiopian calendar – the New Year actually falls in September. But why is this the case? Well, the layout of the calendar is the main reason, but there are some who believe that the Ethiopian calendar is set up this way because during this time of year the days and nights are equal.
The Ethiopian New Year holiday is known as Enkutatash, which roughly translates as “gift of jewels”, a meaning derived from the legend of King Solomon presenting jewels to the Queen of Sheba during her historic visit to Jerusalem. Upon her return to Ethiopia in September, there were celebrations and gifts.
Noon is at Six O’clock
The calendar measures time, but when marking dates, each day is measured in hours, minutes and seconds. This is where things change a bit in Ethiopia, because in Ethiopia, noon is not what you think it is – noon actually means six o’clock.
But why is that? Well, it’s because in Ethiopia, the day is measured differently and therefore the clocks work slightly differently. Instead of a 24-hour clock, you may be familiar with measuring each day with two 12-hour clocks. Dusk to dawn is one 12-hour period and dawn to dusk is another 12-hour period.
So instead of a 24-hour day, the day is measured in two 12-hour segments. This 12 and 12 system can be a bit confusing, but many foreigners actually report how easy it is to grasp after a while. So if you are visiting Ethiopia, make sure you familiarise yourself with Ethiopian time.
Public Holidays in Ethiopia
Holidays: 7 Jan : Ethiopian Christmas Day 20 Jan : Epiphany / Timkat 2 Mar : Adwa Victory Day 10 Apr : Eid al-Fitr 1 May: International Labor Day 3 May: Ethiopian Good Friday 5 May : Fasika 5 May : Patriots’ Day 28 May : Derg Downfall Day 17 Jun : Eid al-Adha 11 Sep : Ethiopian New Year 16 Sep : The Prophet’s Birthday 27 Sep : Meskel
Converting Ethiopian Date to Gregorian:
To convert an Ethiopian date (EY, EM, ED) to the Gregorian calendar, follow these steps.
First, add 7 or 8 years to the Ethiopian year (EY) to conform to the Gregorian calendar, adjusting for the leap year cycle. Subtract 1 from the Ethiopian month (EM) to calculate the Ethiopian month starting at 1. The Ethiopian day (ED) does not change. If the Ethiopian year is a leap year, add 1 day to the converted Gregorian date. For example, if the date in Ethiopia is April 25, 2015, the conversion will be the Gregorian date March 25, 2022.
Gregorian Date to Ethiopian Conversion:
Converting Gregorian dates (GY, GM, GD) to Ethiopian dates requires several steps. To account for the leap year cycle, 7 or 8 years are subtracted from the Gregorian year (GY) to be consistent with the Ethiopian calendar. Add 1 to the Gregorian calendar month (GM) to accommodate Ethiopian months starting with 1. If the Gregorian calendar year is a leap year, subtract 1 day from the converted Ethiopian date. For example, if the Gregorian date is 2022-03-25, the converted Ethiopian date is 2014-04-25.
However, you don’t have to do all these calculations yourself. We have created a user-friendly Ethiopian calendar converter above that allows you to effortlessly convert any date between Ethiopian calendar and Gregorian calendar and vice versa. Simply enter your dates and our converter does the rest, ensuring accurate and seamless conversions between the two calendar systems without the need for manual calculations.
The quickest and most convenient way to travel to Laos from Qatar is by plane. There are no direct flights from Qatar to Laos. However, a variety of airlines provide connecting flights. Some of the most common airlines that fly to Laos are as follows:
Qatar Airways
Thai Airways
Vietnam Airlines
Bangkok Airways
AirAsia
The flight time from Qatar to Laos will vary depending on your connecting airport and the length of your layover. However, it is typically around 10-12 hours. The fastest flight from Qatar to Laos is from Doha to Luang Prabang, with an average flight time of 11h 35m.
When you arrive in Laos, you must clear immigration and customs. You must show your passport, visa (if necessary), and arrival card. You may also be required to present evidence of finances and your next destination.
submitted your application, you can request a refund within 4 hours from the date/time of order success. After that time, your visa services order to Laos is non-refundable.
This rule does have a few exceptions. If you are refused a visa, for example, you may be eligible for the service fee. However, you will almost never be able to claim a refund for an eVisa that you do not use.
If you are unclear if your eVisa will be accepted, it is recommended to err on the side of caution and purchase it closer to your departure date. You may also get travel insurance that will cover the expenses of visa cancellation if you are unable to utilize your eVisa for any reason.
