Another thing is that when I first began talking to her she told me she was from Thailand, not Laos. Eventually I came to realize this wasn't the case, and confronted her with it, but she kept insisting she was from Thailand. Eventually she did tell me the truth that she was from Laos, not Thailand, and then also told me more about herself and her life, the province she was born in, etc. But she also insisted she did not lie and it was just a misunderstanding between us (which I do not feel is accurate). I have the impression she has been honest with me ever since then, but don't really understand why she lied to me about this at all, since it seems like a pointless lie.

Any thoughts?

Relationship with Lao Citizens: Lao law 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 risks being interrogated, detained, arrested, or fined. Lao police have confiscated passports and imposed fines of up to $5,000 on foreigners who enter into unapproved sexual relationships. The Lao party to the relationship may 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.

If you plan to marry a Lao national, you are required by Lao law to obtain prior permission from the Lao Government. The formal application process can take as long as a year. You can obtain information about these requirements from the U.S. Embassy in Vientiane. The Lao Government will not issue a marriage certificate unless the correct procedures are followed. Any attempt to circumvent Lao regulations may result in arrest, imprisonment, a fine of $500 to $5,000 and deportation. If you cohabit with or enter into a close relationship with a Lao national, you may be accused by Lao authorities of entering into an illegal marriage and be subject to these same penalties. If you wish to become engaged to a Lao national, you must also obtain prior permission from the chief of the village where the Lao national resides. Failure to obtain prior permission can result in a fine of $500 to $5,000. Lao police may impose a large fine on a foreign citizen a few days after he or she holds an engagement ceremony with a Lao citizen based on the suspicion that the couple subsequently had sexual relations out of wedlock.

Hi everyone.  To introduce myself and my situation: I am American. I met a Lao woman in an international chat room who I've known for a few months now. We chat regularly. I find her very nice and we seem to get along well. But I have a few concerns and was hoping I could get some feedback from forum members.

She would like me to come to Laos to spend time with her. She says we could stay together and travel together while I was here. I have read though, that even being in the same room with a Lao woman (unless she is your wife) is illegal for a foreigner, let alone living together, so it I don't see how it would be possible to do this. It seems I would constantly be at risk of a run in with the police and could at the very least receive a large fine. She says this isn't really so and I would see how things were if I came to Laos. I would like to get more people's perspective on this.

Another thing is that when I first began talking to her she told me she was from Thailand, not Laos. Eventually I came to realize this wasn't the case, and confronted her with it, but she kept insisting she was from Thailand. Eventually she did tell me the truth that she was from Laos, not Thailand, and then also told me more about herself and her life, the province she was born in, etc. But she also insisted she did not lie and it was just a misunderstanding between us (which I do not feel is accurate). I have the impression she has been honest with me ever since then, but don't really understand why she lied to me about this at all, since it seems like a pointless lie.

Any thoughts?

When I was reading on the topic, I came across a statement that it is illegal for a foreign man and a Lao national to even be alone in the same room together at any time? Is this true?