Things to Do in Laos

About Laos

Laos begins in your lungs. The first exhale after Wattay Airport mixes diesel with frangipani and the faint sweetness of river weed drying along the Mekong's banks. In Luang Prabang's peninsula, where the Nam Khan meets the mother river, monks in saffron robes walk the 5 AM alms line past colonial shophouses selling budget-friendly bowls of khao soi noodles that cost less than a bottle of water back home.

The night market on Sisavangvong Road hums with generators and the clack of bamboo steamers. Across town on Phousi Hill, the view stretches over rust-red temple roofs to limestone karsts that look like broken dragon teeth. Vang Vieng plays out on the Nam Song river, tubing bars blast Thai pop across chocolate-brown water where a Beerlao and a rope swing into currents strong enough to flip your tube won't strain a backpacker's daily budget.

In Vientiane's morning market, the smell of fermented fish sauce battles with fresh coriander at stalls where grandmothers sell brooms made from river reeds and teenagers haggle over knockoff North Face backpacks. The slow boat to Pakbeng takes two days, stopping at villages where children sell sticky rice in banana leaves for pocket change and the diesel engine competes with cicadas for soundtrack.

You'll get dusty, eat things you can't identify, and realize eight days is barely enough to understand why people sell everything back home for a motorbike and a map of Laos' Bolaven Plateau.

Landlocked Laos shares its long eastern border with Vietnam, and the overland crossing from Luang Prabang or Vientiane toward Hanoi is a longtime traveller favourite - see things to do in Vietnam to plan the other half of the trip.

Travel Tips

Transportation: The VIP bus from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng runs twice daily, book at Naluang station to avoid guesthouse markups that can double the fare. Songthaews (shared pickup trucks) charge per person between towns. But drivers wait until full, so early morning departures are fastest. Download the Loca app for Vientiane rides. Motorbike taxis are the quickest way across town and cost less than a coffee. For the 4000 Islands, the night bus to Pakse saves a hotel night, then connect to the local bus to Ban Nakasang. The mountain roads between Luang Prabang and Phonsavan will test Dramamine tolerance, sit up front if you're prone to motion sickness.

Money: ATMs in Laos dispense kip only, government banks charge withdrawal fees that add up quickly, so take out larger amounts less frequently. US dollars are widely accepted, but you'll get change in kip at rates that favor the vendor. Street stalls and buses need exact change. Smaller kip notes are your workhorse currency. Guesthouses often quote in dollars but prefer kip, always ask which currency they're using. Credit cards work at mid-range hotels and tour operators with a small surcharge. But cash dominates everywhere else. The exchange booth opposite Luang Prabang's post office consistently offers better rates than banks or hotels.

Cultural Respect: Never touch a monk's robes or sit higher than them on buses, learn to wai properly with hands together and a slight bow. Before entering homes or temples, remove shoes and observe prayer flags marking women's areas. In Luang Prabang's morning alms ceremony, maintain three meters distance and never use flash photography. When drinking lao-lao rice whiskey with locals, accept the first shot with both hands. Tipping isn't customary. But rounding up tuk-tuk fares shows appreciation. The head is sacred, don't pat children's heads or point your feet at Buddha statues. During Pi Mai (Lao New Year, mid-April), expect water fights that soak everything for three days straight, pack electronics in waterproof bags.

Food Safety: Morning market stalls with the longest lines are usually safest, the women making fresh noodle soups in Luang Prabang and Vientiane. Stick to bottled water and avoid ice in rural areas where purification is questionable. Beerlao is reliably safe from sealed bottles. Skip tap beer in plastic bags at roadside stands. Sticky rice stays fresh all day wrapped in banana leaves and costs less than bottled water. The grilled Mekong fish at Don Det's sunset market comes straight from river to grill. But avoid raw vegetables you can't peel. Don't miss som tam (papaya salad), the spice level starts at 'medium' and escalates quickly. About 30% of visitors experience stomach issues. Pack medication and rehydration salts.

When to Visit

October through March brings Laos' best weather, temperatures hover around 25-30°C (77-86°F) with minimal rain. This is peak season: Luang Prabang guesthouses jump significantly in November, and the Gibbon Experience books solid weeks ahead. April hits 35°C (95°F) and marks Pi Mai New Year celebrations (April 13-15), when water fights shut down Vientiane for three days.

It's also the hottest month, expect 80% humidity and power cuts in rural areas. May through September is the monsoon: daily afternoon storms turn roads to mud and close some Bolaven Plateau routes. The upside? Hotel rates drop substantially, waterfalls like Kuang Si reach full power, and the 4000 Islands see half the crowds.

Budget travelers should target June-August when regional flights drop to their lowest and bungalows in Don Det rent for backpacker-friendly rates. Luxury travelers get better deals in shoulder seasons, October or March when high-end properties run significant discounts. Families with kids should avoid May's extreme heat and March's burning season when farmers torch fields and air quality deteriorates.

The Rocket Festival in May and boat racing festivals in October offer cultural depth without Pi Mai's chaos.