Photo: Pha That Luang, Vientiane · CC0
First-Timer Guide 🇱🇦Laos: What to Know Before You Go
Destination Intel / Laos
A typical first trip here runs about $425 to $575 per person for 7 days at a mid-range style, before flights. This is a rough estimate from PINYA regional pricing, not hand-reviewed yet, and not a live price. Real cost moves with your dates and exchange rates. Get a tailored number in the Budget Calculator, or have The Crown price your exact trip.
Culture, Food and Etiquette
- Larb, minced meat (pork, chicken, or fish) mixed with toasted rice powder, fish sauce, lime, and herbs; the national dish
- Sticky rice (khao niao), eaten with almost every meal by hand; central to Lao identity and daily life
- Tam mak hoong, green papaya salad pounded in a mortar with chilli, lime, and fish sauce; spicier than the Thai version
- Or lam, a slow-cooked Luang Prabang stew with buffalo meat, eggplant, and wood ear mushrooms
- Beerlao, the country's beloved national lager; remarkably good and ubiquitous throughout the country
- Pi Mai Lao (Lao New Year, April), water festival where everyone douses strangers in water to wash away bad luck
- Tak Bat (Alms Giving) in Luang Prabang, monks collect offerings of sticky rice from residents at dawn daily; do not use flash photography
- Boun That Luang, national festival at the golden stupa in Vientiane; the country's largest religious gathering
- Boun Ok Phansa, end of Buddhist Lent; illuminated boats are floated down the Mekong River at night
Lao is the official language. English is spoken in tourist hubs (Luang Prabang, Vientiane, Vang Vieng) but very limited elsewhere.
Key phrases: "Sabaidee" (ສະບາຍດີ) means hello; "Khob jai" (ຂອບໃຈ) means thank you. French loan words appear in menus due to colonial history.
A warm smile goes a long way in communication.
- Dress modestly when visiting temples, cover shoulders and knees; remove shoes before entering
- The head is considered sacred; never touch someone's head, even a child's
- Do not point feet toward people, monks, or Buddha images, feet are considered spiritually low
- Women should never touch or hand objects directly to monks; place items on a cloth or surface nearby
Getting Around
- Domestic flights and buses link Vientiane, Luang Prabang and the south.
- A railway now connects Vientiane with Luang Prabang and the Chinese border.
- Boats travel the Mekong between some riverside towns.
Source: travel.state.gov
What moves the cost: Laos is an affordable destination overall, and the cool dry season and holidays are the busiest.
Common Questions
Do US citizens need a visa to visit Laos?+
Source: travel.state.gov
Is Laos safe for first-time travelers?+
Source: travel.state.gov
Latest for Laos
Updates for Laos will appear here as they are published. Every update cites official sources, so you can plan on it.