Revolutionary Laos established its first na­tional legal code in 1988, followed by a con­stitution two years later - the reverse order of how it's usually done. Although on paper certain rights are guaranteed, the reality is that you can be fined, detained or deported for any reason at any time, as has been demonstrated repeatedly in cases involving everything from a foreigner marrying a Lao national without government permission, to running a business that competes too efficiently with someone who has high government connections.

Your only consolation is that it's usually much worse for locals, and Lao officials gener­ally don't come after foreigners for petty, con­cocted offences. In most cases you must truly have committed a crime to find yourself in trouble with the law. However, as documented by Amnesty International (and corroborated by local expats), you could easily find yourself railroaded through the system without any legal representation.

If you stay away from anything you know to be illegal, you should be fine. If not, things might get messy - and expensive. Drug pos­session and using prostitutes are the most common crimes for which travelers are caught, often with the dealer or consort being the one to inform the authorities (and later take a cut of any "action" you might be forced to cough up).

If you are detained, ask to call your embassy or consulate in Laos, if there is one. A meet­ing or phone call between Lao officers and someone from your embassy/consulate can result in quicker adjudication and release, though unless you are genuinely innocent (as opposed to having been set up) the diplomats can do little and will probably advise you to just cough up the cash.

Police sometimes hint at bribes for traffic violations and other petty offences. In such cases the police typically offer a choice along the lines of 'Would you like to come down to the station to pay your fine, or would you like to take care of it here and now?' Presented with such a choice, it's up to you whether to expedite matters by paying a bribe, or fight corruption in Laos by doing things by the book.

Sexual Relationships

Sexual relationships between foreigners and Lao citizens who are not married are illegal. Permission for marriage or engagement to a Lao citizen must be submitted in a formal application to Lao authorities. Penalties for failing to register a relationship range from US$500 to US$5000, and possibly imprison­ment or deportation. Catching men in the act, or just witnessing them leaving a bar with a working girl, is a favorite excuse of the authorities for deporting falang they don't like.