Travel Essentials › Laos
Travel Essentials
Plugs: Types A, B, C, E and F, 230 V. Emergency: Police 191, Ambulance 195, Fire 190. Tipping: Not traditional, but rounding up or a small tip for guides, drivers and massage staff is appreciated. Tap water: Drink bottled or treated water.
Types A, B, C, E and F, 230 V
| Police | 191 |
| Ambulance | 195 |
| Fire | 190 |
Not traditional, but rounding up or a small tip for guides, drivers and massage staff is appreciated.
Greetings. Lao greet with the "nop": palms together at the chest and a slight bow, with "sabaidee". The higher the hands, the more respect. Foreign men may shake hands; women should wait for the other person to offer.
Monks and temples. Cover shoulders and knees at temples and when interacting with monks; women should not touch monks or hand items directly to them.
Head and feet. The head is considered sacred and feet the lowest part of the body; avoid touching people's heads and don't point feet at Buddha images or people.
Alms-giving etiquette (Luang Prabang). If joining the morning alms-giving ceremony, keep a respectful distance, stay quiet, and buy alms food from local vendors rather than tourist-oriented sellers; do not use flash photography close to monks.
Laos has a strong reputation as one of the safer and calmer countries in Southeast Asia for tourists, with low crime rates, though mild overcharging, transport-related scams and unattended-valuables theft occur.
Visa/border overcharging. Border officials sometimes demand a few extra dollars on top of the standard visa-on-arrival fee, citing weekend or overtime surcharges; a small overpayment is common practice, but confirm the official rate beforehand.
Motorbike rental "theft" scam. Some rental operators stage the theft of a rented bike and then demand a large payment; use reputable rental shops, photograph the bike's condition, and consider your own lock.
Counterfeit or dangerous alcohol. Bars, especially in backpacker areas, have in the past served drinks contaminated with methanol; stick to sealed, reputable-brand drinks and be wary of very cheap "buckets" or shots.
Women travelers. Solo women travelers report low harassment levels compared to many destinations; normal precautions in main tourist towns are sufficient, though isolated areas at night are best avoided.
Legal · Mostly Safe
There is no law criminalizing same-sex relations, and Laos is comparatively relaxed, but society is socially conservative with limited LGBTQ+ visibility outside tourist hubs; public displays of affection can draw attention, so discretion is advisable.
| Coffee (café) | 25,000 LAK | $1.25 |
| Local bus or metro ride | 10,000 LAK | $0.50 |
| Mid-range restaurant meal | 80,000 LAK | $4 |
| Hostel bed / budget room (night) | 150,000 LAK | $7.50 |
| Mid-range hotel (night) | 400,000 LAK | $20 |
| Daily budget, mid-range traveler | 1,200,000 LAK | $60 |
2026-09
The dry season (November-April) is best, with pleasant, cooler temperatures from November to February; March-May gets very hot, and the wet season (May-October) brings heavy but often brief downpours, especially August-September.