Laos travel tips

Tucked away in the heart of Southeast Asia, Laos captivates travelers with its serene landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and laid-back charm. From ancient temples in Luang Prabang to the tranquil flow of the Mekong River, this peaceful country offers a unique escape from the hustle and bustle. To make the most of your journey, check out these essential travel tips just for you.

Laos Visa

To enter Laos for tourism purposes, citizens of the following countries are able to travel in Laos without a Laos Visa: Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Greece, Russia, Japan, South Korea and ASEAN Countries.

And the below countries can get the Visa on Arrival at the airport in Laos or apply for the E-Visa before flying to Laos and can apply by this link: https://laoevisa.gov.la

US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Italy, France, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgary, Ireland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, South Africa, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, Ecuador, etc.

With the above countries, although you can get the Visa on Arrival (VOA), in our experience you should apply and receive Laos E-Visa before flying to the country instead of getting a VOA. The reason is that applying and receiving Laos E-Visa by yourself now is quick and simple. Moreover, with E-Visa available, when you arrive at the airport in Laos, you will be able to enter the country quickly and you don’t need to wait too much time at the airport to apply for a VOA.

When you start to apply or after receiving your Laos E-Visa, kindly take time to double check and make sure all the information in the E-visa are exactly with the information in your passport and in your international flight (Ex: full names, number of passport, date of expiry, date of birth, gender, period of entry Laos, name of airport/City when entering Laos, etc.)

Do’s and Don’ts in Laos

Pick up some Laos phrases

Learning a few Lao phrases is a good way to impress and mingle with the Laotians. When greeting, you can say “Sabai dee”. It is Laos’ equivalent of “hello” and literally means “it goes well”. When you want to thank someone, you say “Khob chai”.

Bargain when doing shopping

Good bargains can be made when buying in local markets or doing shopping on the streets but not shopping malls that usually have price tags on commodities. The best tip is to lower the price about a half, or if you are still not satisfied, just walk away gently. You have the right to bargain but don’t be too greedy and tight-fisted.

Bring cash

When traveling in Laos, cash will be your best friend as for some small shops on the streets, they accept cash only. With US$ 50 buying you a little over a million Laotian Kip, you become an instant millionaire the moment you arrive in Laos. Lao currency, the Kip, is available in 50,000K, 20,000K, 10,000K, 5000K, 2000K, 1000K and 500K notes.

1 USD will be around 22.000 Kip Laos

Wear respectful clothes

Whether you are visiting tourist attractions or just walking in the streets, you should make sure you’re not wearing revealing clothing. Always be sure to cover your arms, shoulders, and knees, especially when entering temples and other sacred sites. If you unfortunately discover you are dressed too revealingly, you might have to put on a Lao skirt before you enter the sacred places.

Take off your shoes before entering a temple

You don’t have to remove your shoes when you just want to walk around the temple grounds. But if you want to go inside the temples/pagodas, take them off before you enter and put them in a dedicated location.

Don’t give gifts to children

Giving kids money, stationery, or any other form of gift will not really help them. Instead, it encourages begging, which is already an epidemic in many underdeveloped countries.

Don’t drink homemade or unlabeled alcohol

When you are in Laos, especially in Vang Vieng, do not drink any homemade or unlabeled alcohol, it may contain harmful substances, particularly methanol.

Don’t ride a motorbike here

We advise against hiring motorbikes as Laos is notorious for motorbike accidents, but if you do hire one, heed sensible advice on traffic rules before heading out onto the seemingly chaotic roads.