Laos

Travel tips for Laos: safety advisories, currency and cash vs. card, tap water, plugs, local phrases, food, and advice from travelers.

Cash and cards

Carry some cash. While QR apps like Loca Pay let tourists link foreign cards for widespread cashless payments in cities, physical cards are rarely accepted without a 3-4% surcharge. Cash remains king for many hotels and vendors, so always carry local notes.

Try the food

  • Larb (ລາບ): A vibrant minced meat salad tossed with fresh herbs, lime juice, chilies, and toasted ground rice.
  • Tam Mak Hoong (ຕຳໝາກຫຸ່ງ): A fiercely spicy and sour green papaya salad pounded with garlic, tomatoes, and fermented fish sauce.
  • Mok Pa (ໝົກປາ): Flaky fish mixed with lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and dill, steamed to perfection inside a banana leaf.
  • Khao Piak Sen (ເຂົ້າປຽກເສັ້ນ): A comforting, thick tapioca and rice noodle soup served in a rich chicken or pork broth.

Say it in Lao

  • Hello: ສະບາຍດີ (Sabaidee)
  • Thank you: ຂອບໃຈ (Khop chai)
  • Please: ກະລຸນາ (Kaluna)
  • Excuse me: ຂໍໂທດ (Kho thot)
  • How much is this?: ອັນນີ້ເທົ່າໃດ? (An ni thao dai?)
  • The bill please: ຄິດເງິນແດ່ (Khit ngoen dae)
  • Yes: ເຈົ້າ (Chao)
  • No: ບໍ່ (Bo)

Essentials

Voltage
230V, 50Hz
Driving
Right side
SIM tip
Purchase a Unitel or Lao Telecom tourist SIM card at the airport upon arrival, or install an eSIM prior to landing for immediate data access.

Etiquette

Never touch anyone on the head, as it is considered the most sacred part of the body, and always point your feet away from people and religious objects.

Airports in Laos