Practical Information
Practical Information
Electricity
The electrical outlets are 220 volts. The sockets can be either French (round) or American (flat). It is advisable to bring a transformer and a universal adapter. Some villages may experience regular power outages. In some remote villages, there may be no electricity. It's better to carry a flashlight or headlamp when traveling in Laos.
Currency and Exchange
The currency of Laos is the KIP (LAK). The Thai baht and the US dollar are also widely used. Euros can be easily exchanged at banks in Vientiane and Luang Prabang. You can use international credit cards to withdraw kips, bahts, or dollars at bank ATMs. Credit cards are accepted, especially in Vientiane, Luang Prabang, and Pakse, as well as in major hotels. The commission for credit card payments is between 3.5% and 5%.
Many ATMs are available in major cities. Note that a fee is charged for each withdrawal, and there is a withdrawal limit. You can check the exchange rate on xe.com.
If you bring cash, make sure to bring new bills. In Laos, torn or taped bills are often refused.
Language
The official language is Lao, which is the mother tongue of about 60% of Laotians. Lao is a tonal monosyllabic language from the Tai-Kadai language family and is similar to Thai, using a Thai-like script. Many Laotians understand and speak Thai due to cultural and linguistic proximity.
Laos is home to over 49 ethnic groups, each with its own language or dialect, such as Hmong and Khmu. English and French are the most widely spoken foreign languages, particularly in tourist contexts.
Basic Vocabulary
- Hello: sabaï dii
- Goodbye: Paï Kone Deu
- Thank you: Khop Tchaï
- Yes: Tchao
- No: Bo
- Please: Kalounaa
- Excuse me: Kho Tho
Phone and Internet
To call Laos from France, dial (00) + Laos country code (856) + province code (without the initial 0: Vientiane 21, Luang Prabang 71, Pakse 36) + the local number (6 digits).
To call France from Laos, dial (00) + France country code (33) + the local number (without the initial 0).
For sending a text message to a foreign number, replace the international code with (+), then dial the country code and the local number.
Laos has a good telephone network and internet connectivity in most regions. You can easily buy phone cards (SIM) for your mobile (prepaid cards) - costing about 20 USD/month for 3G or 4G access. With 3G, 4G, or Wi-Fi, you can call using WhatsApp, Messenger, etc.
The two main phone operators in Laos are Unitel and Lao Telecom. If your stay includes several days in the mountains, it is better to choose Lao Telecom, which covers the country even in remote areas. Unitel is reputed to be better in cities.
When buying phone or internet recharge cards, ensure they match your SIM card operator.
Useful Phone Numbers
- 191: Emergency Police
- 190: Firefighters
- +856 21 24 36 47: Tourist Police
Religion
The official religion is Theravada Buddhism or "the doctrine of the elders". More than 60% of the population, primarily Lao Loum, are Buddhists who fundamentally follow five precepts but do not commit to being vegetarian.
Buddhism is deeply integrated into the daily life of Laotians. The temple is not only a center for religious activities but also a communal house for the village or neighborhood. Sometimes, the temple serves as a local school and a place for cultural and educational dissemination. Monks enjoy great prestige and are highly respected.
Christians make up only 2% of the Lao population. In the mountains, animist cults are widespread, forming the cultural foundation of many minority ethnic groups. Animists believe in spirits and practice the worship of "Phi". There are several gods: forest god, earth god, god of the dead, mountain god.
Laotians practice Baci, a ceremony to recall the 32 souls of the human body, marking all life events: marriage, exams, travel departures, etc. This ceremony aims to bring you closer to your benevolent spirits, with white cords tied around your wrists to be kept for a minimum of three days.
Over time, there is religious harmony in Laos, where different beliefs coexist or assimilate.
Food
Though influenced by Thai and Vietnamese cuisines, such as Thai-originated Tom Yam soup and Vietnamese Pho, Laotian cuisine is distinctive, offering delicious dishes with delicate flavors from a mix of local ingredients, spices, and unique cooking techniques. Sticky rice is the staple, accompanied by pork, beef, or fish.
A distinctive feature of Laotian eating habits is using hands to eat, a common practice in many regions, often using sticky rice as a base to grasp other foods.
Some Laotian Specialties:
- Lap: Considered the national dish, made of raw meat or fish pounded with aromatic herbs and "cooked" in lemon juice.
- Tam Mak Houng: Spicy green papaya salad.
- Mok: Steamed preparations of meat or fish with coconut milk and spices, wrapped in banana leaves.
- Grilled Chicken and Fish: Fish stuffed with lemongrass and cooked on the barbecue.
- Khao Lam: Sweet sticky rice cooked in bamboo with coconut.
- Lemongrass Sausages, Dried Seaweed.
- Or Lam: A traditional Luang Prabang stew with eggplant, mushrooms, and various meats.
- Khao Niao: Steamed sticky rice.
- Dried Buffalo Meat: With a strong and unique flavor.
Etiquette
To avoid offending locals:
- Respond with joined hands when greeted.
- Remove shoes before entering a pagoda or house.
- Dress appropriately. In the presence of locals or at culturally sensitive places such as temples and pagodas, or during Baci ceremonies, ensure to cover knees and shoulders. Locals may judge negatively if you wear very short skirts or shorts in these places of worship.
- Maintain silence as a sign of respect during religious ceremonies.
- Do not touch someone's head, even if it is a child or elderly person.
- E-cigarettes are officially banned in Laos.
- Women should stay 3 meters away from monks.
- It is forbidden for tourists to touch or photograph animist symbols, as Laotians believe it disturbs the spirits.
If your travel program includes visits to villages or schools and you wish to donate school supplies, clothing, or medicine, it is better to give them to the school principal or village chief who will distribute them to those in need.
Holiday Calendar
- January: Bunkhun Khoa, Harvest Festival
- February: Lunar New Year
- April: Around April 15, Pimai, Laotian Buddhist New Year, the most important festival. All festivities take place around the pagodas.
- May: Visakha Busa, celebrating the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha
- Khao Phansa: Religious festival marking the start of the monk retreat. Families choose this moment to shave the heads of young boys entering the monastery for a short time or for life.
- May 1: Labor Day
- July: Buddhist Lent
- August: Festival of the Dead
- October: Bun Awk Phansa: end of the rainy season festival & Bun Nam: boat races
- December 2: National Day, anniversary of the Pathet Lao's rise to power (1975)
Airport Tax and Customs
All taxes and charges are included in the airfare, except for some low-cost airlines. Customs prohibit the export of antiques and Buddha effigies. Opium pipes are banned for export. Keep the currency and goods declaration form (cameras, photo equipment, jewelry). Customs may ask for them upon departure.
Food Hygiene
For nutrition, it is always better to peel fruits and vegetables. For safety, it is advised to consume only cooked vegetables. Never drink tap water. Ice is generally safe in hotels and restaurants but be cautious in remote provinces.
Bottled water (capsulated) is easily found; make sure it is opened in front of you. Avoid consuming undercooked foods (fish, meat, poultry, milk). Check expiration dates on product labels. Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly before each meal.
Safety
Generally, Laos is a safe country. Laotians are not aggressive. Although the risk is low, here are some tips to avoid problems:
- Do not wear valuable jewelry and/or watches.
- Do not display large sums of money or travelers' checks in public places.
- Leave your passport in a safe at the hotel or hotel reception instead of carrying it. If you need to carry your identification and important documents, ensure they are in a place inaccessible to pickpockets.
- Make multiple copies of your passport, credit card, travelers' checks, itinerary, airline tickets, and other important documents. Carry a copy with you and leave another with someone close.
- Prepare small change for purchases at markets, street stalls, and eateries to avoid inconveniencing vendors who may not have sufficient change.
Before leaving cars/trains, check to ensure you haven't forgotten anything.
Photos
It is preferable to bring your own film and be cautious of airport X-ray machines. Always ask permission before taking photos and do not pay in advance even if requested.
If participating in the Tak Bat, the monks' alms-giving, avoid intrusive photos or flash to not disturb the ceremony.
Tips and Etiquette
There are no professional guide training schools in Laos. Guides are usually helpful and available but may have limited language skills and cultural knowledge.
Regarding tips, it is customary to thank guides, drivers, and porters. Tipping is at your discretion and should be seen as a reward for services rendered rather than an obligation. Tips can be a sensitive issue during the trip. They are not mandatory and vary according to the traveler's budget and satisfaction with the services provided.
Typically, tips are given to guides, drivers, and porters. For guides, it is advisable to plan for about 3 EUR to 5 EUR per day per traveler if satisfied with their services. The tip for the driver is usually half that for the guide.
Insurance and Hospitals
It is advisable to purchase travel insurance in your home country before leaving. Ensure the insurance covers medical expenses abroad and potential medical repatriation costs. Bring your insurer's contact details for easier handling in case of need.
For medical emergencies or urgent situations, you can find contact numbers and addresses for some international clinics and hospitals and embassies on this link: https://gptravelvietnam.vietiso.com/travel-guide/co2-laos/useful-addresses.html