The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the U.S. Embassy. It is available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. There are no railroads. Public transportation in Vientiane is generally poor and unreliable. Taxis are available, but meters and fixed rates do not exist.
Drivers speak little or no English.
Most taxis are old and poorly maintained. Traffic is increasing, particularly motorcycles, and local operators remain undisciplined. Pedestrians and drivers should exercise great caution at all times. Drivers often operate poorly maintained vehicles on crowded, potholed streets. Theoretically, the traffic moves on the right, but most cars, like pedestrians and bicycles, use all parts of the street.