Laos 1970

Vientiane, the capital of Laos had, according to a local newspaper over 200 opium dens. But only one air-conditioned one: the one used by the American embassy personnel.

In the 1970’s Vientiane was, with Kabul (Afghanistan), one of the main travel destinations for the European and a few North American and Australian hippies. Living costs were minimal, a bed US 0.20 or, if you spent your nights in an opium den, a bamboo cot was included in the 25 cents fee for 5 pipes of opium (sufficient for a beginner.) Every Friday night there was free entertainment: the North Vietnamese Embassy showed the latest combat footage from the front of the Vietnam war; although, there was usually somebody from the US Embassy at the entrance to the North Vietnamese compound to take your picture.