Warning
Between March and December 2000 there was a series of small bombings and attempted bombings in Vientiane, Savannakhet and Pakse, but since then they seem to have stopped. As of 2001, most areas of the country are considered secure. The western portion of Rte 7 in Xieng Khuang Province, between Muang Phu Khun and Phonsavan, has recently opened to regular bus traffic - ask around in Vientiane or Luang Prabang to make sure the situation is still safe. The Saisombun Special Zone, considered a 'troubled' area, is definitely not safe. Taking drugs in foreign countries is always going to be iffy, but it's especially high-risk in Laos. Penalties for possession of illicit drugs are also very harsh. Reports have begun to filter back of tourists dying from opium overdoses.