I want to go to the rural areas with nature, among other things. How do I get a visa? I've tried to get into China from Luang Namtha, Lao PDR but they wouldn't let me in because I didn't have a visa.

Is there somewhere in Laos I can go to get one? How does one apply?

Are you in Laos right now? I thought you were working in the states.

Anyways, I imagine you just go to the Chinese embassy in Vientiane and provide the necessary paperwork and they'll process it in a timely manner. It is going to cost you some serious money though because the US and China don't have the best relationship.

If you're in the US then apply for the visa in the US because the cost will be much lower.

That is easy, apply, pay and fly

Buk Nut wrote on 23^rd Nov, 2014 at 11:01pm:

Peter, I don't even understand that last post.

I'm fine with that, although buying mangoes is a waste, when you could just plant some mango trees on your property. They take a long time to grow, though.

This is probably because you live in the city. I know for sure it's different in the countryside. Even in Laos, people in the city let me down big time, but I just went back into the countryside to find people that were better suited for me. In the city they're already that way in most of the world, so I don't think I would get too shocked. It's just something you grow to expect.

Why don't I like people in the city, you ask? I don't have any problem with them, some of them are very nice people but they just aren't for me. I don't care about things such as the latest trends, popular music, social media and flashy things. I prefer the solitude and isolation that comes with country life. My only problem is when the trends start flooding into the countryside and leave me with no refuge.

Even in 2013, I was very disappointed with the cities in Laos. There was barely any development but the girls still chose to wear jeans instead of sinh. I was very disgusted with the Lao girls in the city recently, so in 10-20 years do you think anything will change? I already know what to expect, so posting pictures of stupid cars like one user did won't really do anything, as this is a fact I've been well aware of for a long time.

When I'm in Laos I will just stay in the cities upon arrival and then quickly leave to the countryside, where people are different. Sometimes people in the countryside aren't friendly though. Sometimes they don't talk to outsiders at all, and they can even appear to be cold. This is just a random variable.

A lot of people in the countryside of Laos don't even know how to speak Lao, either, because they never attend school, so I can't communicate with them.