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.
Most of the hippies hung out at the bungalow at the end of Dongpalan, Vientiane. A bed in a dormitory US 20 cents.
The central market: trestle tables laden with drugs. One kilo of marijuana, US $1. Raw opium US $400 kilo.
The opium den was usually a family business: husband, wife and very young daughter in this case.
The preparation of a pipe of opium: one drag is one pipe. Five pipes is enough for a beginner. cost, US 25 cents
When the pipe is ready, it is laid upside down on a oil lamp. One deep drag, if you interrupt your drag, the hole closes and the pipe has to be prepared again.
Smoking heroin, US 10 cents, but no cot included.
For many hippies, two side benefits were that smoking opium or heroin cut your appetite and a sleeping cot was included in the price of 5 opium pipes.