Laos Travel: What To Know

Laos is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia with a population of around 6.5 million to 6.8 million people. It is bordered by Thailand, Myanmar, China, Vietnam, and Cambodia and its capital city is Vientiane.

Laos is a fascinating country with a rich history and culture, and an abundance of natural beauty. Here are some key things to know before travelling to Laos:

- The country is officially named the Lao People's Democratic Republic, while the people are referred to as Lao and the language is referred to as Lao.

- Laos was a French protectorate until 1953 and French influences can still be seen and felt in the country, particularly in the food and architecture.

- Laos has a primarily Buddhist population and it is important to be respectful of their culture, religion, and habits.

- The local currency is the Lao kip and it is recommended to carry cash when travelling throughout the country as ATMs and banks may be scarce.

- Laos is known for its delicious food, including sticky rice, papaya salad, and marinated meat called larb.

- Laos has a variety of transportation options, including buses, trains, and motorbike rentals, but travel can be slow due to poor infrastructure and mountainous terrain.

- It is important to be cautious when consuming alcohol and drugs in Laos as there may be negative consequences.

- Laos has a low rate of violent crime, but vehicle accidents and dengue fever are common safety concerns.

- The best times to visit Laos are during the dry season from January to February, avoiding the monsoon season from May to November.

Laos has a strong French influence, with French food, wine, and cute cafes

Laos has a strong French influence, with remnants of colonisation remaining in its major towns. You'll find French food, wine, and cute cafes throughout the country.

French explorers arrived in Laos in the 19th century, bringing their language with them. Although only some older people in Laos speak French today, the country's French colonial history is still evident in its food and architecture.

French-style colonial buildings can be found in Vientiane, the country's capital, and other major towns. You'll also find French influence in Laos' cuisine, with baguettes sold on the street and French restaurants common and popular in Vientiane.

If you're looking for a taste of France in Laos, you can indulge in baguette sandwiches or sweet and savoury crêpes from food carts or local cafes. Most cafes in popular tourist destinations such as Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and Vientiane offer set breakfasts with eggs, omelettes and baguettes.

For those with a sweet tooth, crêpes are available in sweet varieties such as banana and Nutella, topped with condensed milk and powdered chocolate. You can also find French pastries and treats in the many wonderful French bakeries in Vientiane.

Wash down your French treats with a cup of café au lait, or indulge in a pain au chocolat—both of which rival those found in Paris. Bon appetit!

Laos is a very safe country, but there are landmines and UXOs in off-the-beaten-path places

Laos is a very safe country to visit. Violent crime is low, and the locals are exceptionally kind to visitors. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to safety. Firstly, avoid driving scooters as vehicle accidents are a significant threat to safety. Additionally, dengue fever, a mosquito-borne illness, is prevalent in Southeast Asia, so take the necessary precautions.

Another important consideration is the presence of landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Laos. During the Vietnam War, Laos was heavily bombed with more than 2 million tons of explosives, including cluster bombs and an estimated 260 million cluster munitions. It is estimated that 30% of these munitions did not detonate, and even decades later, they continue to pose a threat to life and limb. While travellers may not be at direct risk in frequently visited areas, certain off-the-beaten-path places are yet to be cleared of these explosives. The Plain of Jars, Laos' answer to Stonehenge, is one such example.

It is crucial to exercise caution and stay on designated paths when visiting areas that may be contaminated with landmines or UXO. If you come across any suspicious items, do not touch or handle them. Instead, report their location to the local authorities or bomb disposal experts. Organisations like the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) are actively working to clear these explosives and assist those affected by them.

The local currency is Lao kip, and it's important to carry cash as credit cards are rarely accepted

The local currency in Laos is the Lao kip, denoted by LAK and the symbols ₭ or ₭N. Kip comes in denominations of 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000 and 100,000 notes. Although the kip is the official currency, the US dollar is widely accepted, and it is recommended to carry some US dollars in cash. In Vientiane and Luang Prabang, you can exchange hard currency at licensed exchange shops or banks, and in other major towns, Thai baht and US dollars are also accepted in markets, hotels and restaurants.

It is important to carry cash in Laos as credit cards are rarely accepted outside of larger hotels, more expensive restaurants, and boutiques. In more remote parts of the country, you will need to have a supply of cash. Cash advances can be taken on major credit cards in most Vientiane banks, and there are a number of ATMs in the capital. ATMs can also be found in Luang Prabang and some other large towns, but they are less reliable than cash machines in other countries due to local conditions such as power cuts.

Kip is non-exchangeable outside of Laos, so it is recommended to keep your exchange receipts so that you can exchange any remaining kip back to a hard currency when you leave the country.

Laos is a slow-paced country, and public transport is slow

Laos is a slow-paced country, and this is reflected in its public transport system. The country's mountainous topography and lack of development mean that there are few reliable transportation routes. This inaccessibility has historically made it difficult for any government to maintain a presence in areas outside the main cities, and communication between villages and ethnic groups is limited.

Laos has a range of modern transportation systems, including highways and airports, but its road system is not extensive. There are roughly 21,716 kilometres of roadway in Laos, but only about half of these roads are paved. The country's main thoroughfare is Route 13, which stretches from Luang Prabang to the Cambodian border, passing through Vientiane, Savannakhet, and Pakse. However, even on this major route, buses can take all day to travel 200 kilometres due to winding roads, frequent stops, and slow vehicles.

Travellers should be prepared for long journeys and unpredictable timetables. Buses are often cramped and uncomfortable, and breakdowns are common. In more rural areas, public transport options may be limited to songthaews (converted pick-up trucks) or even ox-carts. River travel, once a popular means of transport, has declined in recent years due to improved roads, but slow boats and passenger boats still operate on some routes. Speedboats are a faster but more expensive and riskier option for those looking to shave time off their journey.

Laos is a Buddhist country, and you should be respectful of their culture and religion

Buddhism in Laos is fused with other faiths, borrowing elements from animism or 'spirit worship'. An example of this syncretism is the spirit houses, known as 'sarn' or 'sarn pha phoum', which are small model houses that serve as homes for spirits or ghosts ('phi') associated with the site. It is common for the Lao people to make offerings to these spirits and ghosts, such as daily offerings of food and flowers.

Monks, nuns and other lay spiritual leaders are highly respected within their communities. They have various responsibilities, including leading religious ceremonies, interpreting dreams, acting as traditional medical practitioners, and providing counselling. It is common to see exchanges between Buddhist monks and laypeople through almsgiving, where laypeople will kneel and remove their shoes as monks pass by in a procession to collect food offerings.

The Buddhist temple complex, or 'wat', is central to community life. Each village has its own wat, which becomes the focal point of village festivities and rituals. Most Lao people will visit their local wat during special holidays and ask for blessings from monks for weddings, births or funerals.

When visiting Laos, it is important to be respectful of these cultural and religious traditions. This includes dressing modestly when visiting temples and removing shoes before entering. It is also considered offensive to touch a Buddha image or animist shrine. Additionally, women should not touch a monk or his robes and should use a male friend or family member as an intermediary if they need to hand something to a monk.

The Lao people are generally patient with tourists, but it is important to respect their culture, religion and habits. Learning some basic phrases in the local language, such as how to say "hello" and "thank you", is also appreciated.

Frequently asked questions