And the Laotian embassy is issuing more visas every year. Still, it's a challenge. Hmong families often save for years to make the journey to see relatives and friends who are now aging and ill. The visitors take money and other gifts. Vang says Laotian officials won't give visas to those they suspect are guerrilla supporters or opponents of the government.
Some areas are unsafe.
Unexploded bombs and land mines still dot the landscape. Vang says part of his job is to prepare his customers for what amounts to culture shock. When the sun goes down, you have to use a flashlight. And this is one thing you have to prepare. Secondly, before you going to travel to this, make sure you going to take a shot because the food, the water is totally different.