Laos
ລາວ
Laos has no Uber or Grab — the only real ride-hailing app is the homegrown LOCA, which covers Vientiane, Luang Prabang, and a handful of cities with fixed, no-haggle fares. Outside those hubs you're back to tuk-tuks, negotiated songthaews, and cash kip. Buy a local eSIM (Unitel or Laotel coverage) before you arrive, since signage and menus are mostly in Lao script and Google Translate's camera mode does a lot of heavy lifting.
Power & Plug
Sockets are a mix — type A/B (US-style) and C/E/F (Euro) all appear. A universal adapter is the safe bet. Power cuts happen outside the cities.
Basic phrases
Lao
- HelloສະບາຍດີSa-bai-dee
- Thank youຂອບໃຈKhop-jai
- Excuse me / SorryຂໍໂທດKho-thot
- Yesແມ່ນແລ້ວMaen-laeo
- Noບໍ່Bor
+10 more below
Tipping
Not expected but appreciated. Round up taxi fares; 5-10% at tourist-facing restaurants is generous. Tip trekking and river guides directly.
🚖Rideshare & Taxi
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Works almost everywhere except mainland China. Offline maps are critical when roaming.
💬Translation
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All Lao phrases
What to know before you go
✓ Do
- Greet with a 'nop' — palms pressed together at the chest with a slight bow.
- Dress modestly at temples: cover shoulders and knees, remove shoes before entering.
- Touch nothing on a monk if you're a woman; hand items via a man or place them down.
- Keep your cool — raising your voice or showing anger causes loss of face.
- Don't touch anyone's head, and don't point your feet at people or Buddha images.
✕Don't
- Touching a monk or handing things directly to one (for women).
- Public displays of affection.
- Disrespecting Buddha images — no climbing on statues for photos.
⚠️ Common scams to know
- Tuk-tuk drivers quoting wildly inflated fares — agree the price before getting in.
- Slow-boat and bus 'VIP' upgrades that don't match what's advertised.
- Inflated currency-exchange rates at unofficial street stalls; use banks or LOCA PAY.