Australia Canberra (Tel: 02-6286 4S95; lao.embassyTel:interaa.net.au; 1 Dalman Cres, O'Malley, Canberra, ACT 2606)

Cambodia Phnom Penh (Tel: 023-982632; Fax: 720907; 15-17 Mao Tse Tung Blvd, Phnom Penh)

China Beijing (Tel: 010-6532 1224; fax 6532 6748; 11Dongsie Jie, Sanlitun, Chao Yang, Beijing 100600); Kunming (Tel: 0871-317 6624; fax 317 8556; Rm 3226, Camelia Hotel, 154 E Dong Feng Rd, 650041, Kunming)

France Paris (Tel: 0145 53 02 98; www.laoparis.com; 74 Ave Raymond Poincare, 75116 Paris)

Germany Berlin (Tel: 0 30 890 606 47; fax 890 606 48; Bismarckallee2A; 14193 Berlin) Hong Kong (Tel: 0852 25441186; 14th floor, Arion Com­mercial Centre, 2-12 Queen's Road West, Sheung Wan)

Japan Tokyo (Tel: 35 411 2291; 3-3-22 Nishi Azabe, Minato-Ku)

Myanmar Yangon (Burma; Tel: 01-222482; fax 227446; A1 Diplomatic Headquarters, Tawwin (Fraser) Rd, Yangon)

Thailand Bangkok (Tel: 0 2539 6667; fax 0 2539 6678; www.bkklaoembassy.com; 520,502/1-3 Soi Ramkha-mhaeng 39, Th Pracha Uthit, Wangthonglang, Bangkok 10310); Khon Kaen ((Tel: 043 223473; fax 223849; 19/1-3 Th Phothisan, Khon Kaen)

USA New York (Tel: 212-832 2734; fax 750 0039; 317 E 51st St, New York, NY 10022); Washington, DC Tel: 202-332 6416; fax 332 4923; www.laoembassy.com; 2222 S St NW, Washington, DC 20008)

Vietnam Da Nang (Tel: 051-821208; fax 822628; 12 Tran Quy-Cap, Da Nang); Hanoi (Tel: 04-942 4576; fax 822 8414; 22 Tran Binh Trong, Hanoi); Ho Chi Minh City (Tel: 08-829 7667; fax 829 9272; 181 Hai Ba Trung, Ho Chi Minh City)

Embassies & Consulates in Laos

Of the 75 or so nations that have diplomatic relations with Laos, around 25 maintain em­bassies and consulates in Vientiane. Many of the remainder, for example Canada and the UK, are served by their embassies in Bangkok, Hanoi or Beijing. Opening hours for the embassies of neighboring countries with valid border crossings are given here.

Principal consular offices in Vientiane (area code Tel: 021):

Australia (Map pp88-9; Tel: 413600; Th. Nehru, Ban Phonxai) Also looks after nation­als of Britain, Canada and New Zealand. The Australian embassy is set to move to Th Tha Deua, just past the Australian Club at Km 4, during the life of this book.

Cambodia (Map pp88-9; Tel: 314952; fax 314951; Km 3, Th Tha Deua, Ban That Khao; at 7.30-11.00 am & 2-5pm Mon-Fri) Issues visas for US$20.

China (Map pp88-9; Tel: 315105; fax 315104; Th Wat NakNyai, Ban Wat Nak; at 9.11.30am Mon-Fri) Issues visas in four working days.

France (Map p92; Tel: 215258, 215259; www.ambafrance-laos.org; Th Setthathirat, Ban Si Saket)

Germany (Map pp88-9; Tel: 312111,312110; Th Sok PaLuang)

Myanmar (Burma; Map pp88-9; Tel: 314910; Th SokPa Luang; S 8.30am-noon & 1-4.30pm Mon-Fri) Issues tourist visas in three days for US$20.

Thailand Embassy (Map pp88-9; tel: 900238; www.thaiembassy.org/vientiane Th Phonkheng; (at 8.30am-noon & 1-3.30pm Mon-Fri) Consulate (Map pp88-9; Th That Luang; hSam-noon & 1-4.30pm) Come here for visa renewals, extensions etc

USA (Tel: 267000; http://vientianeembassy.gov; The That Dam (Th Bartholomie))

Vietnam (Map pp88-9; Tel: 413400; The That Luang; at 8-11.30am & 1-4.30pm Mon-Fri) Issues tourist visas in three working days for US$50, or in one day for US$55.