The Annamite Mountain Range stretches from Northern to Southern Laos and in many areas perilous road conditions and mountainous terrain make travel by four-wheel drive vehicle the only option. Dirt roads in some areas are rendered virtually impassable. Roads are occasionally severed completely, and provinces and towns isolated, due to land and mudslides. National Road No. 9 leads to the Vietnamese border. It is possible, at the discretion of the appropriate authorities, to import foreign vehicles into Laos for a short period for tourist purposes.
Travel agents can facilitate vehicle entry documents for a fee.
Cars and four- wheel drive vehicles can be hired in Vientiane. Passport photographs are required for a visa on arrival. Business and resident visas are difficult to obtain in Laos. Applications require official sponsorship and may take months to process. The Embassy is aware of scams where people wishing to work in Laos have purchased illegal working visas from unscrupulous agents.