American Express Representative agent in Laos is Diethelm Travel, on the corner of Setthathilat Road and Nam Phou Place (tel 021/213833).

Banks and Exchange Banque pour le Commerce ExtA©rieur Lao (BCEL), Pangkham Road; Bangkok Bank, Hatsady Road and Siam Commercial Bank, Lane Xang Avenue, exchange travellers' cheques and do cash advances on Visa and Mastercard; Lao May Bank maintains an exchange booth (Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm, Sat & Sun 8.30am-3.30pm) on Samsenthai Road that handles cash and travellers' cheques only.

Embassies and consulates Australia, Nehru Road (tel 021/413610 or 413805); Cambodia, near That Khao, Thadua Road (tel 021/314952 or 315251); China, near Wat Nak Noi, Wat Nak Road (tel 021/315100 or 315103); France, Setthathilat Road (tel 021/215253 or 215257-9); Germany, Sok Pa Louang Road (tel 021/312110-3); India, near Wat Phaxai, That Louang Road (tel 021/413802); Indonesia, Phon Kheng Road, Ban Phon Sa-at (tel 021/413909 or 413910); Malaysia, near Wat Phaxai, That Louang Road (tel 021/414205 or 414206); Philippines, near Wat Nak, Salakoktane Road (tel 021/315179); Sweden, near Wat Nak, Sok Pa Louang Road (tel 021/315018); Thailand (visa section), across from the Lao National Tourism Authority building, Lane Xang Avenue (tel 021/214582); United States, near That Dam, Bartholonie Road (tel 021/213966 or 212581); Vietnam, near Wat Phaxai, That Louang Road (tel 021/413400-4).

Emergencies Dial 190 in case of fire, 195 for an ambulance, or 191 for police. In the event of an accident dial 413306 for the Friendship Hospital Trauma Centre.

Hospitals and clinics Australian Clinic, Nehru Road (tel 021/413603), by appointment only, with vaccinations on Thursdays; International Clinic, Mahosot Hospital Compound, Fa Ngum Road (tel 021/214022), open 24hr; Mahosot Hospital, Mahosot Road (tel 021/214018); Setthathilat Hospital, Phon Sa-at Road (tel 021/413720); Swedish Clinic, near Swedish Embassy, near Wat Nak, Sok Pa Louang Road (tel 021/315015).

Immigration department Hatsady Road near junction with Lane Xang Avenue (tel 021/212520); open Mon-Fri 8am-noon & 1-4pm.

Internet access PlaNet CyberCentre, on the corner of Manthatoulat and Setthathilat roads (tel 021/218972-4), $2 per 25 minutes, open Mon-Sat 8.30am-10pm & Sun 9am-8pm; KPL: Internet & Email, Setthathilat Road (tel 021/212450), 600K per minute, open daily 8.30am-10.30pm; Intercom Computer, Samsenthai Road (tel 021/219222), 500K per minute, open daily 8am-7pm.

Language Courses Centre de Langue FranA§aise, Lane Xang Avenue (tel 021/215764); Lao-American Language Center, Phon Kheng Road, Ban Phon Sa-at (tel 021/414321).

Massage and herbal sauna Massage at $1.50-3 per hour and saunas for $0.50-1.50 at: Ajan Amphone, next to Wat Chanthabouli, Chao Anou Road (Mon-Fri 2-5pm, Sat & Sun 10am-7pm); HA?pital de MA©dicine Traditionnelle, near Wat Si Amphon; Wat Sok Pa Louang, Wat Sok Pa Louang Road.

Pharmacies The best pharmacies are on Mahosot Road in the vicinity of the Morning Market.

Post office The GPO is on the corner of Khou Viang Road and Lane Xang Avenue. Poste restante is held for up to three months (Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat 8am-4pm, Sun 8am-noon).

Telephone services International calls and faxes at Telecom, Setthathilat Road (daily 7am-10pm).

Tour agencies Diethlem, Nam Phou Place (tel 021/215920); Inter-Lao Tourisme, Setthathilat Road (tel 021/214832); Lane Xang, Pangkham Road (tel 021/213198); Lao Tourism, Lane Xang Avenue (tel 021/216671); Lao Travel Service, Lane Xang Avenue (tel 021/216603-4); Phudoi Travel, Phonxai Road (tel 021/413888); Sodetour, Fa Ngum Road (tel 021/216314).