-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Laos topographic mapping
Date: Tue, 01 Feb 2005 17:07:04 +1100
From: Brendan Whyte <[log in to unmask]>
To: Maps and Air Photo Systems Forum <[log in to unmask]>
Topographic maps of Lao are available from the map sales counter at the
Institut Geographique Nationale. This is located in a compound directly
west of Patuxai, the large Arc-de-Triomphe thing in Vientiane. The main
entrance to the compound is on the western side: Head down the road
heading WNW from Patuxai, and the compound is on your left. Take the
first right, and the entrance should be on your right.
The maps sales counter is directly inside the door of the main building.
Topographic maps of Lao are available at
1:1,000,000
1:500,000
1:200,000
and 1:100,000 scales
There is some even larger scale coverage, but no more info was available.
They are in French (All-Roman script, French language key), but based on
Russian mapping styles/sheet lines etc.
They date from the late 1980s on.
Some US 1:250,000 (JOGs) and 1:50,000 Vietnam-war era sheets are also
available.
There is in addition a 3-sheet 1:10,000 map of Vientiane, c.1990, but in
Lao only.
There appear to be print-on-demand large-scale GIS mapping of Vientiane
and other cities available, but more information on this was unobtainable.
Maps cost 8,000kip each (I think the Vientiane sheets were 7,000 each).
There are 10,000kip to the US$ [actual bank rate is 10,300 or so, but
everyone accepts US$ at a simple rate of 10,000 kip per $1], so that is
an incredibly cheap $0.80 each! Thus an entire 1:200,000 set of 51
sheets will cost US$40 if bought in person.
There is no difficulty in purchasing the maps, and staff are most
helpful, even though they do not speak English in general. Sample maps
are mounted on the wall. Point to the series you are interested in, and
staff haul out a set bound together into a massive book. Write down the
sheet numbers you want after viewing the maps, and they pull them for
you on the spot, and write up a receipt. Payment is made in cash [kip or
US$ equally accepted, US$ preferable for large purchases purely because
there are no notes in kip above 20,000 (US$2)!!], which together with
invoice is presented at a cash counter nearby.
Unlike in Cambodia, the government in Lao has reduced the 2hour siesta
to one hour, so the IGN should be open 8-12 and 1-5, Monday-Friday. Best
to aim for the middle of the morning to be sure.
Mail or telephone orders are unlikely to succeed.
The set of Laos at 1:200,000 appears to be available from White Lotus
press <http://www.thailine.com/lotus/index.html>, a Bangkok based
publisher/bookseller, and is listed in the complete catalogue listing
for Laos:
http://www.thailine.com/lotus/lists/laos.htm
M/048 - - US$255.00
COMPLETE SET OF REPUB. DEMOCRATIQUE LAO 1: 200 000 (51 SHEETS)
also listed:
X2523 - National Geographic Dept. of Lao PDR. - US$16.50
LAO SERIES OF TOURIST MAPS NO. 3 PAKXE, NO. 4 SAVANNAKHET, NO . 5 THAKHEK, A
(Vientiane, 1994)
3 folded col., maps, set of 3
White Lotus also have a separate listing of maps/atlases at
http://www.thailine.com/lotus/lists/maps-atlasses.htm
contact:
The White Lotus Co., Ltd
G.P.O. Box 1141
Bangkok 10501
Thailand
Tel. (66-2) 332-4915, (66-2) 741-6288-9 /
Fax (66-2) 311-4575, (66-2)741-6287
Email: [log in to unmask]
Dr Brendan Whyte
Assistant Map Curator
ERC Library
University of Melbourne
Vic 3010
AUSTRALIA
[log in to unmask]
Dr Brendan Whyte
Assistant Map Curator
ERC Library
University of Melbourne
Vic 3010
AUSTRALIA
[log in to unmask]
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